(DeKalb) – Meet at the DeKalb Public Library on the second Tuesday of every month for a book club just for seniors.
Meet on Tuesday, January 13, at 11:00 a.m., to discuss The Orphan Train: A Novel by Christina Baker Kline.
Between 1854 and 1929, thousands of orphaned, abandoned, or poor children were put on trains to travel from East Coast cities to Midwest farmlands to suffer an unknown fate – either to be adopted by loving families or delivered to a life of hard labor and servitude. These were the Orphan Trains, and 150,000-250,000 children suffered this fate. Read about one such child in Christina Baker Kline’s novel, The Orphan Train.
As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly, a mere child, was sent via Orphan Train, from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.
Books will be available in the Adult Services Department. Some large print copies may be attainable.
From about 1850 through the early twentieth century, thousands of children were transferred from cities in the northeastern United States to live with families on farms throughout the Middle West, including DeKalb County, Illinois. Using the book “Orphan Train” for historical context, Michelle Donahoe from the DeKalb County History Center will provide local connections to this fascinating part of our local and national history.
This book club is intended for adults. No registration is required. It will be held in the Nancy D. Castle Collaboration Studio.
This program is part of the America 250 initiative, celebrating our nation throughout the year.
For additional information, please contact Kathy at kathyh@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 2110.
The DeKalb Public Library is open seven days a week. Visit www.dkpl.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for other library news and events.
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