Train to Somewhere

By Eve Bunting and Ronald Himler

A young girl hopes to find her mother as she rides an Orphan Train to find a new life out west in “this finely crafted, heart-wrenching story” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Marianne, heading west with fourteen other children on an Orphan Train, is sure her mother will show up at one of the stations along the way. When her mother left Marianne at the orphanage, hadn't she promised she'd come for her after making a new life in the West?

Stop after stop goes by, and there's no sign of her mother in the crowds that come to look over the children. No one shows any interest in adopting shy, plain Marianne, either. But that's all right: She has to be free for her mother to claim her. Then the train pulls into its final stop, a town called Somewhere . . .

An American Library Association, Notable Children’s Book
ALA Booklist Editor’s Choice
Jefferson Cup Award Honor Book

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Apr 17, 2000
• ISBN: 9780547346106

Eve Bunting

Eve Bunting was born in Ireland and came to California with her husband and three children. She is one of the most acclaimed and versatile children's book authors, with more than two hundred novels and picture books to her credit. Among her honors are many state awards, the Kerlan Award, the Golden Kite Award, the Regina Medal, the Mystery Writers of America and the Western Writers of America awards, and a PEN International Special Achievement award for her contribution to children's literature. In 2002, Ms. Bunting was chosen to be Irish-American Woman of the Year by the Irish-American Heritage Committee of New York.

Book preview

Clarion Books

Text copyright © 1996 by Eve Bunting

Illustrations copyright © 1996 by Ronald Himler

Illustrations executed in watercolor and gouache.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

clarionbooks.com

The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Bunting, Eve, 1928–

Train to Somewhere / Eve Bunting ; illustrated by Ronald Himler

p. cm.

Summary: In the late 1800s, Marianne travels westward on the Orphan Train in hopes of being placed with a caring family.

ISBN 0-395-71325-0 PA ISBN 0-618-04031-5

[1. Orphans—Fiction. 2. Orphan trains—Fiction.] I. Himler, Ronald, ill. II. Title.

PZ7.B91527Tq 1996

[Fic]—dc20 95-6787

CIP

AC

eISBN 978-0-547-34610-6

v3.0821

To Marjorie Naughton—E.B.

For Gloria—R.H.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Sandi Burk and

Reviews for Train to Somewhere

[sabrar-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an amazing historical fiction books for young students. It does have a deep topic and will mostly likely do better with students a little older like 4th or 5th grade. This book is about a Marianne who was put on a orphan train because her mother could no longer take care of her. Her mother promised her before she got on the train that she would come back fro her and Marianne held on tight to those words. They stopped in Chicago first and all the boys were taken first. Marianne was not taken and had to get back on the train. When finally at the last stop Marianne found a wonderful new family. This is a good historical fiction book because orphan trains did actually happen and is a good lesson to have for students.

[jennysbookbag.com · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story almost made me cry. I was both sad and happy for Marianne.

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There was a plethora of children who were orphans or homeless in Amerrica during the years of 1850's through the 1920's. There simply were not enough orphanages to accommodate all those in need. The solution was to place children on trains heading for the mid west where at specific stops, adults would look the children over, and then decide which one to take.Some children landed in good homes and were loved. Yet, others were used as unpaid help on farms or as house keepers. Naturally, those who wanted a child to love, picked the youngest ones first, leaving older ones to be chosen as workers. Based on this historical event, the author tells the story of Marianne, who with fourteen other children took the train to locations throughout the midwest in the hope they would first and foremost be wanted and loved. Sadly, Marianne was not a beautiful little child. She was heading toward teen age years, hoping against any probability that at one of the stops her biological mother would be there to claim and love her.Left at the orphanage, she was promised by her mother that she would come and get her when it was financially possible to raise her. With soft illustrations, Ronald Himler's art and Eve Bunting's ability to tell a poignant story, capture the readers emotions as they route for Marianne to be loved.Her one little friend Nora is easily taken on one of the first stops. Lying and telling the couple that Marianne is her sister, does not entice the couple to take two children.Alas, as the train approaches the very last stop, in a small town named "Somewhere," Marianne is the only child left. As tears softly fall on her face, she notices that there is one elder couple on the platform. They long for a child and as they tell her they wanted a boy, they readily accept that she is she is the one for them.

[imtanner2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautiful story about a girl trying to find her mom at the end of the 19th century.

[ccanizales-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an amazing, heart-warming story. The book gives background information about the children that were sent on trains to other cities to be exchanged. This particular story is about four kids who are sent on a train for families to adopt. The reason behind that is because the orphanage is crowded. One little girl has hope that her mother will come back for her. Marianne, the main character, never is reunited with her mother, but she does find a loving home. This is a good lesson for a social studies class. Recommended grades: 2nd-4th grade

[nsnide1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book for two reasons. The first reason why I liked this book is because I liked the plot of the story. Marianne, the narrator, is describing her trip on the Orphan Train; she goes stop to stop hoping her mom will come back and get her. The conflict then arises where she feels badly because she is not adopted. She eventually lets a couple adopt her. Due to how the plot was written it kept me wanting to read more. The second reason I liked this book was because of the illustrations that are included. The illustrations tied directly along with the story. I also enjoyed the fact that since the author did not show me a picture of Marianne right away, I didn't believe that I would see a picture of her. However, later on, the author has the illustrator place a picture within a scene of her getting her hair brushed on the train. The main message of this book is that sometimes people want something really badly and when they don't get it they get upset. The author wants to show that one should not be upset but rather embrace what they got instead because it may turn out to be better than you originally wanted. In the book the author has Mrs. Book, the character who adopts Marianne, discussing how she originally thought she wanted a handsome husband but that although Mr. Book was not as handsome as she would have liked, he turned out to be something she never expected.

[magarcia-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story offers hope to any child who suffers major disappointments in life. Children are able to relate to this book even if sad, but all things can be overcome. It is sad but exhilarating in the end. Great reading for adults and children.

[dannien-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This historical fiction book, by Eve Bunting, tells the story of homeless children on the "Orphan Train," who travel west looking for a place to call home. Set in the late 1870s era, Bunting does a great job of describing the setting in the story, with help from the great painted illustrations. The story is mainly centered around two little girls, sisters actually, who get separated as different couples adopt them off of the train. Students will enjoy reading this story which sets up a great way to talk to students about orphans, families, and even a specific time period in history. The way Bunting repeats the phrases in the book, "I'm waiting for you, mama," as the girl wishes her biological mother would come to adopt her, will make students feel a easy connection to the text.

[kk903148 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"Train To Somewhere", is about a group of orphans that can no longer live in their orphan home. One of the women in charge takes a group of fourteen boys and girls on a train that is headed out west from New York. The children are sent west for the demand of people that are wanting to adopt. As they make there stops all of the little girls and big strong boys are the first to go. However, one little girl is only looking to be taken by her mother, who promised that she would come and get her. The little girl gets more and more sad due to the fact that they have gone through so many stops and she still does not find her mother. At the very last stop the little girl is the last one on the train. An older couple are the only ones there. The little girl finally realizes that she is not going to find her mother. She also allows the sweet older couple into her heart and lets them take her home.Personal Views: I think that the book is well written. The illustrations in the book are very simple but beautiful watercolors. I also think that the illustrations do a well job of helping tell the story. Extensions: 1. Create a train that goes in the classroom and have the children names things that they are grateful for when it comes to there parents.2. Create a paper person that the children have to cut out and color. Add 20s attire that also has to be colored and cut. This allows the children to learn how different things have changed as the years have passed.

[dukefan86 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting children's story about that portion of history, with very pretty illustrations. Young readers and listeners can relate to not wanting to be separated from best friends, and the fear of being picked last. Nice ending, and a good reminder that getting something different from what we expected can turn out to be better than what we thought we wanted.

[matthewbloome · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Both heartwrenching and wonderful this reveals a orphan's story of going to the west in search of a family she never expects. WONDERFUL!

[kris0812 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story is based on true events of orphan trains that traveled to the Midwest in hopes of finding homes for these children. Fourteen orphans ride the train in hopes of being adopted in one of the small towns along the way. Marianne has hopes that her real mother will be waiting for her at one of the stops.

[abruser_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

About the orphan trains. Story of the frienship between Marianne and Nora. Nora and Marianna wish to be sisters but are separated. Marrianne gets chosen last but is happy to be with her new family. Historical commentary about family and realtionships.

[mmwrigh3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A historical fiction story about the orphans in the late 1800s-early 1900s that were homeless and sent by train cross country to find homes. Marianne is scared but excited to have the chance to finally be reunited with her mother that left her at an orphanage to head West. Marianne never was reunited with her mother but found a home in the end.

[dayehsensei · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A sad, touching tale about a fictional girl, Marianne, who is placed on one of the very real orphan trains, heading west between the 1850s and 1920s. Marianne looks for her mother at each stop and gets increasingly sad and anxiety-ridden when she realizes that no one wants to adopt her.

[foster7_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story is told from the point of view of Marianne, a young orphan, who is traveling westward on the Orphan Train, with thirteen other orphans. She hopes to be reunited with her mother, even as the train stops at town after town, but never with her mother in sight. "Smile and look pleasant," the children are told, as people in each town come to look at them, choosing ones that appear cute or strong or funny. In one instance, when one orphan is chosen, her adoptive parent says to another woman, "Look at the one I got. She'll be a big help to me in the house. You should get one for your place." In another town, another parent says, "He'll be useful come harvest." Marianne stands by as the other children are selected, until she is the only child remaining. The final train stop is a town called 'Somewhere.' A couple carrying a small wooden toy train, admitted they hoped for a boy, but brought Marianne home with them. The story ends, in this case, with a new beginning for its main character. Ronald Himler's watercolor illustrations give the children and adoptive parents looks of anonymity, almost. Everyone blends together. And as the children are adopted, town by town, readers can see from the illustrations that there are fewer and fewer children, but Marianne always remains. Bunting takes her readers on this journey, conveying through words how anxious the children were, and how nonchalant the parents appeared to be. Based on the true story of the Orphan Train, this book teaches readers about a historical event. Beyond history, though, I think readers will feel for Marianne and hope that she will find a family and a home.

[brandaman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kind of sad ending, but good.