Holding tight to one another, vowing never to be separated, Oliver & Edward board the Orphan Train headed west to find a new home. The year is 1906 and the boys have been told that their mother has died and they are now alone. Follow the adventures of the Nordmark brothers as they travel from the streets of NYC to the vast farmlands of the Midwest. Will they be able to keep their promise? The future that awaits them will be full of twists & turns, surprises & anguish, all of which will shape their lives forever!
Excerpt
Peering out the sides of the wagon, Oliver and Edward could see in the distance a house on one side of the lane and a big barn on the other side. There were wooden pens around the barn and a smaller building, like a miniature barn, between the house and the big barn. "What's that small barn for?" Oliver asked excitedly. "Now that is the chicken coop," replied Mrs. Blaur. "One of your chores will be to gather the eggs that the chickens lay. Come with me," she said as the wagon pulled to a stop at the end of the lane. "I'll show you just what I mean." All set for their newest adventure, Oliver and Edward climbed over the sides of the wagon and raced eachother to the chicken coop. Just outside the door of the coop the boys found a wire pen that was full of baby chicks. Unable to contain his excitement, Oliver reached in and picked up a baby chick. "Fly little birdie, fly!" he exclaimed as he tossed the chick into the air as high as he could. Much to Oliver and Edward's dismay, the bird did not fly. Instead it came crashing to the ground at the boy's feet and lay lifeless in the dirt. "Oh, you stupid little street urchin!" screamed Mrs. Blaur. "A baby chick does not fly like a bird!" She stormed off into the farmhouse leaving the boys and Mr. Blaur standing alone with the fallen chick. Oliver felt just terrible. He had no idea that baby chicks could not fly. All of a sudden he did not feel so good about this farm adventure anymore. "You'll learn," replied Mr. Blaur as he bent and scooped up the dead chick. "You'll learn."
Professional Reviews
Minnesota Orphan Train Riders Assoc. - Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
"Excellent book, even adults would love it! It keeps one captivated wondering NOW what will happen to these two brothers. FLY LITTLE BIRD, FLY! touches brotherly love and the importance of family, in addition to the contribution of historical information." --Renee Wendinger, VP
The Sabetha Herald - Sabetha, Kansas
"A book I couldn't put down. What a sad life those little boys had and yet Oliver seemed to put a positive spin on it and come out on top!"
--Patty Locher, Reporter
This is a touching historical fiction story based on the author's real family history. Oliver Nordmark was only seven when a single day’s truancy landed him in a New York City youth detention center in 1905. Shortly thereafter, he was coldly informed that his mother had died and he and his three-year old brother were orphans. Life in the city orphanage was harsh, and when overcrowding caused city officials to ship the orphans out west by trains, it seemed an opportunity for a better life. Oliver took his young brother Edward under his wing, and they hoped to be taken in by a loving family. But would the people who met the train in Kansas want sons – or cheap labor? Fly Little Bird, Fly is a true story of life at the turn of the century, where little boys can’t count on fairness and two brothers learn “ the only one looking out for us -- is us.”
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?
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?
