Search This Blog
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (7)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (1)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (2)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (3)
- Indiana (4)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (3)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (1)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (2)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (8)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (2)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (2)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.* (2)
International:
- Australia (2)
- Bolivia (1)
- Canada (3)
- China (1)
- England (20)
- France (1)
- Ghana (1)
- India (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (4)
- Italy (1)
- Poland (1)
- Russia (1)
- Scotland (3)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Friday, January 31, 2014
Magical Orphan Train Adventure Teaches Kids About Inner Strength
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Frances Sweeney isn't overly fond of the Lower East Side orphanage where she lives, but at least she and her little brother are together in the home. It's far better than starving on the streets, that's for sure. When she receives the news that she'll be boarding an "orphan train" bound for the Midwest, she doesn't know what to think. As long as the 11-year-old can sneak Harold aboard, maybe it will all turn out okay for the parent-less children.
Jack Holderman has much in common with Frances. He's also from the Lower East Side, he's also 11, he's also on the train. The difference? He has parents. But the Holdermans have little money with which to provide for their son—it's better to cut him off, send him to greener pastures (literally). Jack can't help feeling abandoned, especially considering all the horror stories he's hearing about orphans being placed with new families just to get abused and overworked.
As their train chugs toward Kansas, Frances and Jack decide they must escape. How will they survive on their own? They don't know, they just know it will be better than the alternative. And, when they meet another kid who's in charge of a magical land called Wanderville, it seems they've found the perfect home. But are the children really safe here? Can young orphans, on their own, really be safe anywhere?
Wanderville by Wendy McClure channels classic children's series, like Little House on the Prairie and The Boxcar Children, to tell a tale full of adventure, tenacity and hope. It's about children making their own way in the world, despite the many problems they encounter. While it seems a bit far-fetched at times, Wanderville is a positive, upbeat historical tale that will remind kids that they're stronger than they think they are—no matter what trials they may be facing.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of We Rode the Orphan Trains by Andrea Warren and Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Wanderville from the generous folks at Penguin. Thank you!
2 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
The Story People2 hours ago
-
Sunday Post/Sunday Salon3 hours ago
-
Sunday Salon: October 13, 20244 hours ago
-
-
The Devil Hath a Pleasing Shape by Terry Roberts15 hours ago
-
Haven’t done that yet?17 hours ago
-
Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall17 hours ago
-
Audiobook: The Hotel Balzaar19 hours ago
-
-
-
-
83. The Phantom Patrol1 day ago
-
-
-
Bookish Quote of the Day!!!2 days ago
-
-
A couple of autumn/winter reads2 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
Reading Recap September 20241 week ago
-
-
-
WIP Wrap-up for September 20241 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Review: The Duke and I1 month ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus2 months ago
-
Sunday Post2 months ago
-
-
-
The Music of 2024: Q23 months ago
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
Hmmm. Once again a book I had no idea existed. Sigh!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteYa ! It is a very good info. Thanks for sharing your post with us.Keep book writing with more helpful topics.