This haunting segment of United States history is about homeless children who traveled from New York City to find homes in the West and Southwest at the end of the 19th century. Some children found loving homes; others experienced horrendous physical and mental abuse.
Filled with vivid historical detail and heartfelt emotion, Noonan delivers a compelling look at a little-known event in United States history.
1899-1900 This second novel in the Orphan Train Trilogy follows four teen-aged children who are filled with hope, concern and uncertainty as they ride an orphan train to an unknown future. Once the train stops, however, it's a roll of the dice where they'll each end up.
Bridie McDonald, a wealthy spinster, finds in Catherine the daughter she has always wanted. Catherine learns to love Bridie and her new elegant home, but is concerned about Bridie's relationship with Jack, her mentally challenged handyman.
Though most of the citizens of Newberry, Illinois, befriend these children, some believe all the orphans from New York City are bastards of drunks and prostitutes and should be treated as such. Because of this attitude, movement between a normal daily life, to the occasions of physical and mental abuse is jarring and dramatic ... and memorable.
Catherine and Brian met at the orphanage in New York City and both were adopted in Newberry, Illinois. As they grew to care for their new parents, they also grew to care more for each other.
Excerpt
Brian was lean and muscular. His curly black hair and light blue eyes were an appealing combination with his sharp, linear features.
Tom said something that made Brian smile. Margaret and Bridie watched.
"Is he handsome, or is he?" Margaret asked. "Look at his beautiful blue eyes. He seems alert, intelligent, and healthy. We both like him." She watched Tom go to the table in the corner of the room. Margaret became excited, watching him sign papers. When Margaret turned to face Bridie, she noticed her looking toward Brian. "Can't keep your eyes off him, eh?"
"I'm not looking at the boy," Bridie responded. "Look at the girl standing next to him. Her name is Catherine Hayes." Bridie took Margaret by the arm and they stepped forward through the crowd, so they could get a closer look at Catherine.
"My dear Bridie, she is precious. She has the same strawberry blond hair as you, the same complexion, and her face is much like yours. Looking at her is like looking at you twenty years ago. Is there something you haven't told me about your past?"
"I hear chimes," Bridie said, nervously. "She's the one. The girl I've been looking for."
They watched Tom return to Brian and talk again. Tom took his arm to lead him away.
Brian looked at Catherine.
She grabbed his other arm, as if to hold him back and let go immediately, knowing she didn't have the right.
"Did you see that," Margaret asked. "They didn't want to be seperated. According to their name tags, they aren't brother and sister."
"I saw it clearly,"Bridie replied. "Did you see the look on their faces? Obviously, their feelings are mutual." Bridie knew first hand how it felt to lose someone she'd cared for.
"If you hear chimes, why are you waiting?" Margaret asked. "Oh! Oh! Too late, the Porters are back. They seem to like her."
"Too late, hell," Bridie snapped. She walked directly to Catherine and interrupted their conversation. "Catherine Hayes. That's a fine Irish name. Were both your parents Irish?"
"Excuse me, Bridie," Martha Porter said, indignantly. "We were talking to this young lady and we are quite interested in her."
"I can appreciate that," Bridie responded. "But I don't want to talk. I would like to take her home with me."
Professional Reviews
Orphan Train Trilogy
"A must read." This blog contains a short biography of author, an extensive description of each novel and book reviews.
BOOK REVIEW: BRIDIE’S DAUGHTER By Robert Noonan
[Reviewer Charlotte Liebel, M.Ed.]
The suspenseful and entertaining Bridie’s Daughter is Robert Noonan’s second book in the series, the Orphan Train Trilogy. Readers will recognize characters introduced in his first book called Wildflowers who create mysterious connections to new events with intriguing new adults and children. Their past circumstances return to haunt readers as they recognize signals of previous dangerous encounters. However, even without such knowledge, the author prepares an explanation with background. This book is explosive.
Noonan’s stories are reminiscent of American Literature by John Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath – 1939, Irving Stone The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Novel of Michelangelo – 1961, and Edith Wharton The House of Mirth – 2002. The Orphan Train Trilogy was inspired by an amazing saga of 200,000 orphaned American children during the years 1854 to 1929. Robert Noonan’s historical novels touch a mere portion of these lives.
Children of all ages awaken with anticipation in the early hours as the day arrives when they will board the Orphan Train. The orphans hope the journey from New York City to Western states leads to their adoption.
At six-thirty on June 8, 1899, following breakfast, the boys and girls dress and pack their meager belongings at the dormitory. They are well mannered and supportive of one another. A young girl worries lest she not find loving parents while a child of ten comforts and reassures the three year old. There are few teenagers but Catherine Hayes and Brian Hampton are among the 20 boys and 17 girls from the orphanage.
During the train ride, Brian and Catherine become friends with Monica and Jason. Brian and Jason have each lived on the streets of New York and discuss details of their personal survival there. Catherine and Monica share their attraction toward the young boys and other personal data. Early on, readers champion the hopes of these beloved children.
Adoptive parents, too, have agendas for needing or wanting children in their households. Tender hearted parents of their small town where Catherine and Brian are adopted form family alliances. The losses of a child’s parents are features of their adaptations to adoptive parents throughout the unfolding stories that play heavily on people’s hearts in these tales. They tenderize even the most resolute reader.
Significant historical American Indian lore adds charm and links to future relational incidents because of a visit to the County Fair. One child chances to meet with a former friend at The Fair and the result is that several children become friends. Friendships and travel become the new adventure of their lives as bonds deepen. Children and adoptive parents become increasingly attached and share chaperon functions as train travel increases from one or another town.
Secrets of the past, child and adult courtships, involved confidences, and provocative encounters due to secret communications, all tend to complicate lives. Chaotic conflicts are artfully weaved by storyteller Robert Noonan so as to cause anxiety to his captive audiences.
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Robert Noonan's second book in his trilogy has just been released! Bridie's Daughter follows Wildflowers and if you haven't yet read it, I highly recommend it to you. These books are a taste of Americana that you don't want to miss!
The "orphan trains" moved across the country from 1854-1929. Reverend Charles Loring Brace was shocked in 1850 when he learned of and saw 10,000 homeless children prowling the streets of New York City. He founded a Society through which many of these desperate children were sent west to begin new lives.
And so another trip was planned; the orphan train would carry 37 children under the age of 15. They were optimistic that all of the children might find homes this time since other trips had carried as many as 150 orphans. The children came from many different places but they were able to meet and make new friends during the train trip. They would ride two days to their first destination in Illinois.
Two of the older children were immediately attracted to each other; Catherine and Brian easily found a way to meet and shared many hours together during their trip. Monica and Jason were their respective friends and they all speculated about what kind of homes they might find. Brian and Jason had been living on the streets, but Brian shared that he had dreams of becoming an engineer if he ever had a chance to go to school. In each seat on the train, whispers and dreams and fears were shared as children turned to others who could share their feelings.
Bridie McDonald was already waiting at the Newberry, Illinois train station as it rolled in. Her dear friends, Margaret and Tom Holmgren, who were hoping to find a boy to call their son, soon joined her. Bridie wanted a daughter and she would know her when she saw her. Indeed, that is exactly what happened and she moved quickly toward the young girl, Catherine, who was already deep in conversation with a couple.
Deciding it was only fair to let the young girl choose, the couple and then Bridie quickly shared with Catherine why they would like to have her come live with them. But Birdie had inside information--she had noticed the apparent relationship between Catherine and Brian and quickly highlighted that her good friends had asked Brian to come to live with them and that they lived only two streets away. How could Catherine fail to choose Bridie as she stood there with her twinkling eyes?!
The heartwarming stories of these new families will pull readers into each life--those of the children and those of the new parents. However, there in Newberry, one of the orphans, Monica, Catherine's friend, did not find the happiness she sought. Her story is one that also occasionally happened to those riding the trains. She was finally forced to leave the family that had adopted her, but she was smart enough and brave enough to find another life for herself; her story just might be the most gripping tale you'll read!
The orphans' saga leading to new lives with new families is one that you will always remember. I've found the stories very similar to the series "Little House on the Prairie," based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder that were set in the 1870-80s. So if you've enjoyed this family-oriented program centered on the Ingalls children or Wilder's books, you will indeed agree with me that Noonan's Trilogy is a Must-Read!
Tralee, Ireland. September 1948.
An arrogant, and highly agitated, priest arrives home after 40 years.
Days later he's dead. Suicide? Or did his past catch up with him?
Available Now! Rated 5 ***** by readers and listeners.
Sweet Revenge is a romantic tale of a spirited woman and a lusty bloke. However, can they both fight against their bitterness for each other to free up their passions?
