Orphan Train Rider takes place from 1854 to 1930 during the time of orphan trains. Orphan trains took homeless children from cities in the East to new homes. Children got off these trains in the West, the Midwest, and the South.
In Warren’s book, one man’s memories of his childhood abandonment and adoption give a personal slant on the subject. Chapters telling the story of Lee Nailing, who took an orphan train west in 1926, alternate with chapters filling in background information about the trains and the experiences of other children who rode them to their destinies.
Throughout the book, black-and-white photos show both the people and places in Nailing’s story. These photos also show the broader topic of the orphan train experience. Young adults will find this a good resource on an intriguing subject.