For a middle grade book this had an interesting plot and over all storyline. I generally don't read middle grade but the synopsis grabbed me. I would suggest this book for younger readers who need a bit more to keep their interests. Historical fiction readers would enjoy.

This is a nice children's book of an orphan finding a family. I find this similar in tone to the Boxcar Children, in terms of the targeted age and family geared plot.

It's a very enjoyable read. I think readers can learn a lot from Bert's hard work ethic. It also gives a good picture on how people lived in rural areas in the early twentieth century.

I definitely recommend this for ages 8+

Disclaimer: I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the story and the characters and I wished them well, but I thought this book was almost too simplistic of a story. I have read other books about the orphan trains and this one did not feel like real people, but more a characters in a book. I enjoyed the read, but found it not clear in details or explanations.

I went into this book blind. I did not know what it would be about. I merely saw the cover and wanted to give it a chance. The story was unique and heart touching. It follows a boy named Bert and his little sister Emma. 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 think the religion was a little thick but other than that I enjoyed the story.

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I'm slightly surprised that I am in the minority on this one.

Books like this always tug at my heartstrings though, I think partly because I have children.
I love the idea behind the book, and the characters were all quite likeable, especially once everyone started to "warm up"
In the beginning, it seemed to take the Vogels awhile to express emotions towards Bert.

It was a quick read, which you all know is a godsend for me!
There were a few spots in the writing that seemed a bit off. Like the story would jump from one location to the next very quickly, and without any indication of how they got there...If I can recall correctly this happened earlier in the book when they went to church and on another 1-2 occasions as well.
It was a little confusing, as I like to get the whole picture, but still a great book!

Cute middle grade book about a young boy and his sister who take the orphan train to Iowa. This was a simple, sweet story and I think young readers would really enjoy it!

*thank you to NetGalley and BJU Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

4 stars.
Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed each and every page of this! Set in 1929 a orphan brother (Bert), and sister (Emma), take a train from New York to Iowa in hopes of being placed with parents. Both end up going to different families, but they still see each other at school. This story us about the new life they live there which is very different to the lifestyle they lived in New York but they quickly adapt and end up really enjoying themselves. Along the way obstacles occur just like in real life and through this book we are taught how to overcome them. I loved pretty much all the characters but one of the best parts was when Bert, who gets bullied by another boy named Frank, decided to use advice given to him and treat his enemy as he would want to be treated. It shows that a little kindness can go along way. Beautifully written, this amazing book is a wonderful read and easy enough to follow for younger readers. I am very grateful to the publishers for allowing me to read this. This is truly a fantastic book.

Bert and his little sister Emma take a train with other orphans to Iowa. Emma finds a home right off but Bert's journey is not as simple.

This middle grade story is straightforward and honestly doesn't have much to it. Bert is our main character and we make our way through his story through his eyes. His experiences as he struggles to learns about how to work on a farm, since he came from a city. That in itself isn't the problem I had with the story.

My problem was that there was no emotional pull. Bert seemed rather disconnected from what was happening around him, so I was as well.

I would recommend this to young readers.

This is a great view of both the time period and the situation. We're just now starting to see more kids' books about the orphan trains, and I think they provide a unique insight for my students into the history and children's perspective. The book is wholesome and clean, and my biggest complaint is that I want to know what happens to the brother and sister next!

I am currently reading two books about the life of Laura Eagles Wilder. One is an annotated version of the autobiography that she wrote in the 1920s. The other is her life's story, with comments about historical things that were happening at the time, and how they affected her life, and the things that happened to her, such as the settling of the Dakotans, and Kansas, and the Homestead act. It tells how hard life was for her, despite how she makes everything in her books sound as though well, by gum, we will manage because we are pioneers, and that is what we do.

There is often not enough to eat, and crops fail, and banks foreclose and life is hard.

So, then I take a break, and read this book, put out by a Christian publishing house, and although life is hard, there is always plenty of food, (where is all that ham coming from), and although they are farmers, things seem to be going ok for the people in this book. The children from the orphan train all end up in Iowa, and for the most part, are happy, and healthy, and have a great school teacher.

And since it is a Christian publishing house, I had braced myself for preaching, but it was light enough that it almost didn't bother me too much. We were not lectured, just a bit of bible reading thrown in from time to time.

What bothered me the most was just how perfect it all was, the ideal small town, out of <em>Meet me in St. Louis</em> where people are good, and the only thing that is hard to take is a bully taunting you.

As I said, at the top of this review, this white-washed view of the past is not true historical fiction. This is a bit like the Amish love stories that are put out, that there is a better life, if we only were hard working farmers, and lived in a small town, and had good friends, and well, read the Bible.

I know it is a children's book, and that is fine. But there is nothing here that feels as though it is historical fiction. This is a world that may have existed, but not quite like this. As the true life of Laurie Engles Wilder teaches us, sometimes being a farmer in the United States is not the best way to earn a living

Normally I would not rip this down to two stars, but I don't want anyone reading this expecting truer historical fiction. And the illustrations are too contemporary. They do not even look like children from the 1920s. And when the author says that Emma is wearing boots, the illustrator draws her in patent leather.

This book is not for me. Perhaps parochial schools will like it in their libraries.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.