Stephen Reily finds relief from living on the streets. He gets a job as a newsie, selling newspapers during the day and living at the Newsboys’ Boarding House. Sleeping on a cot, eating a hot meal, and attending classes at night help Stephen to survive. But his heart longs for a home, a place to belong. But who would adopt a street kid from Five Points, New York City in the late 1800’s?
Selected to ride the orphan train, Stephen encounters difficult circumstances until he is chosen to live on a farm in Nebraska. Through the patience of the couple who foster Stephen, he faces his fears. He struggles with forgiveness and faith in a God who he cannot see. Only a quilt square reminds Stephen of his dying mother and sister, who was sent to an orphanage. How will the women of the town use this scrap of fabric to comfort Stephen? Can a cast-off child find a home? A place to belong?
-
Sexual Content - 0/5
0/5
-
Violence - 1/5
1/5
-
Language - 0/5
0/5
-
Drugs and Alcohol - 2/5
2/5
Summary
From: Carol Pennington
Book Title: Riding the Rails to Home: A Newsie Rides the Orphan Train Book Author: Cleo Lampos What do you like about this book:
Stephen is 12 years old and he is homeless in New York City. His drunkard father has banished him to the streets. Determined to eat without stealing, Stephen finds a way to become a Newsie. As a turn of fate soon after his mother dies of illness, he finds himself on an orphan train headed to The West. Will he find the home he longs for, or will he be treated as a slave?
This is an excellent book. It was so enthralling I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in one setting. The story is both heart wrenching and heart warming. The author does a particularly amazing job of painting a realistic portrait of life on the street during this time period. There’s no doubt she did her research. I appreciate that it is a clean book. This is something I would have no issue reading to my grandchildren. There is a little violence in the story. I highly recommend it!
Your ratings of the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use on a scale of 1-5.
Sex:0
Violence:1
Language:0
Drug/Alcohol use:2