About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is processing feelings of being left out, wondering where they fit in, or navigating a major family transition like adoption or fostering. It provides a safe, historical lens through which to explore the deep human need for a place to call home and the quiet strength it takes to keep hoping when things feel uncertain. Set in the late 1800s, the story follows Marianne as she travels west on an Orphan Train. While her peers are chosen at various stops, Marianne waits with a heavy secret: she believes her mother is waiting for her at the end of the line. Eve Bunting handles the heavy themes of abandonment and longing with incredible tenderness, making this a beautiful tool for normalizing complex emotions. It is best suited for children ages 5 to 9 who are ready for a story that is honest about sadness but ultimately affirms the beauty of found families.
