Wanderville

Gr 4–6—Somewhat reminiscent of the "Boxcar Children" series (Albert Whitman), this book centers around the "Orphan Train Movement" that occured between 1853 and 1929. Readers are introduced to 11-year-old Jack, who has been abandoned by his parents after the death of his older brother. Frances, also 11, and her younger brother, Harold, suffer a similar abandonment. Their unfortunate circumstances bring them together, along with other children, on a train headed to Kansas and a "better situation." As the train chugs closer to their destination, the children become concerned about rumors of horrible working conditions and abuse. Jack hatches a plan to escape and encourages Frances to join him. Readers will be swept away by the bravery of the young heroes. While background information about the era can be gleaned from the text, pair this title with Andrea Warren's Orphan Train Rider (Houghton Mifflin, 1996) for deeper historical context. Readers of series fiction who enjoy learning about the past will gravitate toward this accessible novel and will be impatient for the sequel.—Annette Herbert, F. E. Smith Elementary School, Cortland, NY