This one was sweet, and I appreciated that it is a work of Christian fiction that doesn't hit readers over the head with religion like too many of them tend to do. I liked Bert's growing relationship with the Vogels, with his teacher, and how much he cares about his little sister, but the emotions in this book all felt dry to me. When he gets separated from Emma, the narrator tells us that Bert's heart is broken, but we don't see any visceral proof of that. The narrative itself was also dry, and I don't know how well it will hold kids' attention. It's a good pick for Little House on the Prairie fans, though.

I read this book voluntarily before publication. The Long Ride Home is about a brother and sister that leave New York to go to Iowa to find a home. Their mother passed away, and their father gave them to an orphanage in New York. Upon arriving in Iowa, the orphan children are placed into homes. The brother and sister are placed into different homes. A very nice read about what really happened in the 1920s. I read it all in one day. I wanted to know what happened to the children, and whether or not they found permanent homes.

I think that this book should be in every primary grade classroom! Not only was the story a good example of what it was like to be an orphan in the 1920’s, it would show today’s children how they should treat each other!
Bert was a shy 9 year old who traveled with his sister Emma from New York City to a small town in Iowa. Emma got chosen by a family who wanted a child to raise as their own, while Bert was chosen by the Vogel family, who needed help on their farm.
Emma is spoiled by her family, while Bert learns how to do chores and he is called “boy” by the Vogels.
You will have to read the book for yourself to see what happens to Bert and Emma, you will enjoy the ending!

A wonderful story for preteens. It has a good story and is well told. Reinforces many good principles for children. Great book to buy for grandkids. This copy was provided by NetGalley with no requirements to add a review.

A Christian YA about Emma and Bert are brother and sister. They were orphans and the orphanage sent them and other kids on a train to Iowa from New York City. It follows their adventure in finding a family, hardships, friendships and finding a home. I grabbed it because it looked like boxcar kids. I love it

Historical fiction is the best if properly done. The Orphan Train is sad but true, a boy and his sister are sent to Iowa aboard an Orphan Train. The little girl is immediately selected and goes off to live with a well off family and as the last child left, a family chooses him and he goes and lives on the farm. This read gives you the hopes and fears of an orphan boy and his inward struggle to be accepted. Little does he know his fears are not his own.

The first thing that struck me about this book was its cover and then I noticed that it was set in my home state of Iowa. I rarely find books set in Iowa so it made me even more curious about the book. Bert and his younger sister Emma are put on an orphan train from New York to Iowa with other children hoping to be adopted. Upon arriving in Iowa, Emma and Bert are separated from each other and sent to different homes. Ten year old Bert gets off to a shaky start as he adjusts to learning how to complete farm chores with his new guardian Mr. Vogel. He also continues to be bullied by another boy in school who had been with him on the orphan train. This book was filled with several heartfelt and (I won't lie about it) tear jerking moments especially when Bert is being separated from his sister. (The two kids had the same age difference between them as my own children and I couldn't help but think about what would happen if they were separated.) The decision that he faces at the book's conclusion would make for a great writing prompt or a class discussion for any teacher who might be using this book as a teacher read aloud. There are several references to Bible verses in this book so it would be better placed in a parochial classroom library. When my son and daughter are little bit older I will have them read this book. It has good messages in it about how we should treat others and furthermore how children can deal with bullies. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. All views expressed are my own.

Bert and Emma are siblings. They are also orphans on a train to Iowa hoping to find homes. They arrive and are separated into different families. They can still see each other at school, but Bert thinks he will not be adopted and will end up returning to New York City. He is frustrated, but does not want anyone to realize it.

Bert lives with the Vogels and helps around the farm. He feels like he is just a helper. What he doesn't realize is the live his new family feels for him.

Emma has been adopted and calls her new parents mama and daddy. This makes Bert sad. Could he find his forever home? Or will he be sent back to New York City? This is a must read. I highly recommend this novel!

The Long Ride Home Is a very touching story. It touched me deeply. I can't imagine me and my siblings being orphans and then becoming separated. The boys going to work and the girls being adopted. Then the boys possibly could go back to New York where THEY were from. Never to see them again - no way - I would have done what they did - Prayed - left it in GOD's hands - then what happened you won't believe - but you have to find out for yourselves.

Such a sad time in our history. This story is about the Orphan Trains. I've read so many of them. This one is fictional, but will still make a compelling read for a grade schooler.

I needed a change from all the other books I've been reading and this was it. I read it in one evening and thoroughly enjoyed it. It touched my heart and even drew tears more than once.
Unlike some of the other reviewers, I really enjoyed the Bible being in this story. I'm from the South and was raised on daily Bible verses at my Grandma's house. She read to us everyday and I'll never forget it. This story hit close to home with farming, gardening, animals, money being tight, and seeking the love and acceptance from adults.
The only thing in the story that seemed to be questionable was always having food on the table, including scraps for the dog.
Overall I loved this story and would love to read more just like it. I will look into the author and see if she has written any others.

My opinions are my own and not that of NetGalley who loaned me this ARC. Thank you NetGalley for the heart touching story.

*This is an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.*

Bert & his sister Emma are sent to Iowa on the Orphan Train. She lives with a well off family and he goes and lives on the farm. The book had enough suspense through out it that my kids were always sad to end for our reading time to end. This is a short, sweet read. It gives you a glimpse of the fears and hope of a 10 year old orphan boy.

I was scrolling through the titles on Netgalley when the cover of this book caught my attention. It has a  bunch of people lined up in front of the train. It reminded me of 'The Polar Express' which I really like and thus decided to request for it. And I loved it. Read on to find why I recommend this book.

Why do I recommend this Book?

It is a very short and heartwarming read. The innocence of Bert and Emma touched my heart. I loved how Bert selflessly takes care of Emma and later gives all his will to please the Vogels so he could stay near her. Even though Emma is a little self-involved, one can easily overlook it given that she is very young.

Bert is also honest and dedicated towards his work. He is kind to the animals and others around him. He does not complain even once while working on the field, only so that he can stay near Emma. 

The whole setting is very Dickenson. Steam trains, horse wagons, clothes, and an idyllic scenery brings a sense of calm to the reader.

There are a few beautiful illustrations in the book. They make the experience of reading better. I have the ebook but I am sure, they will be lovelier in the hard copy.

The story is narrated in the first person by Bert. His musings, fears, and learnings give a lot of food for thought. It is hard to imagine a 10-year-old behaving like such a grownup.

The Long Ride Home by Susan Lawrence is a great read aloud! Our family really enjoyed the ups and downs of this story and the author has a way of making you experience many emotions while you’re reading. My daughter says that it sucks you right in. The historical aspect was really sobering in the area of thinking of the challenges that little ones faced back in the day if they found themselves orphans. The story really tugged at our hearts and we are really blessed to have read it. I’m sure that we will be reading it again in the future.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Also posted on Amazon, Christianbook

I absolutely loved it! This one is for adults and children. I have read other books about this time in history, when orphans were taken by train to be adopted, some separated. Always so sad; I cried through a lot of The Long Way Home, and I knew I would from the beginning. Very well written and great story of 2 children, brother and sister.. I fell in love with Bert, what a sweet child! I was so scared it would end bad, but it has a very happy ending! I want to read it to my grandson who is 8, Bert reminds me of him although Bert was older. Read it in a couple of hours. I want to read more by the author, Susan R. Lawrence.

I'm always on the lookout for new, good, historical fiction books for children, so when I saw The Long Ride Home in a list of books available for review, I decided to take a look at it. We haven't read very much yet about the orphan trains, so I was hoping for a good, accurate story—but a positive one.
Bert Davidson and his sister Emma were boarding a train in New York City, and on their way to Iowa where they hoped to find a new home. Some older boys in their car, who hoped to get jobs on farms in Iowa kept heckling him all the way there. Bert almost hoped he would get sent back to New York where things were familiar—but at the same time he was afraid he would not be chosen by a family. Sure enough, at the end of the day, he was the only orphan left with no family.
The next morning, a family on a farm out of town said they might be interested in taking Bert in—but when he got there he found a man and woman who didn't smile. Almost immediately, Bert found himself working harder than he ever imagined he could. Soon, though, he knew he wanted to stay—but did the Vogels want him?
I enjoyed the realistic way the farm was portrayed. The smelly chickens, the cow who was normally gentle but didn't appreciate being ridden, and the barn cats all added to the delightful setting. The conflict between Bert and Frank, one of the older boys who rode the train with him, was very realistic, as well. I appreciated the way Bert finally resolved that conflict, at the same time as he was worrying about when he would have to go back to New York. This is a well-written story, and the first-person writing style adds to its appeal, in my opinion.
One thing that helped pull the story together was the mention, at various points along the way, of the Beatitudes and other passages from the Sermon on the Mount. Bert learned some important life lessons from hearing these passages read, and when he applied them to his own life, good things happened.
I recommend this book for any child who enjoys reading. It's not an intense, fast-paced story, but the action does keep moving, and there are some good lessons worked into it quite naturally.
I received a free ecopy of this book from NetGalley, and chose to write a review.

The Long Ride Home
by Susan R. Lawrence
BJU Press/JourneyForth

JourneyForth
Children's Fiction , Historical Fiction
Pub Date 04 Dec 2017

I am reviewing a copy of The Long Ride Home through BJU Press/JourneyForth And Netgalley:
Fans of The Orphan Train Series will love the book The Long Ride Home,
A brother and a sister leave the New York to head to the farmlands in Iowa where they will be cared for by two different families. Emma finds a family who wants young children, but Bert is more of a farmhand!
Mr and Mrs Vogel provide well for Bert, and he enjoys hearing Mr Vogel read but it doesn't feel quite like a family.
Soon though Bert realizes that perhaps the Vogel's are family after all.
I give The Long Ride Home, five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!

This historical fiction title focuses on a 10-year-old boy, Bert, and his younger sister Emma who are orphaned in New York, and sent west to Iowa on an "orphan train" in the 1920s. Told from Bert's point of view, this engaging and involving story follow the two children as they are sent to separate families with no guarantee of a permanent home. Despite being a "city boy," Bert takes to farm life and learns quickly how to handle all the daily chores, as well as starting school and making new friends. The children are some of the lucky ones, taken in by kind and caring families. Bert learns both trust and compassion from them - as they also learn to trust him - and from his teacher, and after taking a gamble on the Golden Rule, turns an enemy into a friend. The story and characters draw in the reader immediately, and Bert's fears and hopes are believable and heart felt. A very satisfying story.

This is such an uplifting story! I have read quite a few books about the subject of orphan trains and was a bit difficult to read at first due to the circumstances in which Emma and Bert were in. I was expecting a heartbreaking story but turned out to be a very light and feel-good read. I even feel that children might actually enjoy it as well. It was a quick read but very enjoyable.

A sweet, touching Orphan Train story that's sure to touch your heart. For some reason this put me in mind of the Little House books even though it's set in 1929. There's a small town full of good hearted people, a country school, farms, etc.

I don't care if this isn't strictly authentic. I still enjoyed it and I know young readers will too. Think Little House, Road to Avonlea, Anne of Green Gables, The Wind at my Back.....good wholesome reading!