by Christina Baker Kline
"Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to 'aging out' out of the foster care system. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren't as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life -- answers that will ultimately free them both."
image & summary from WorldCat
*************
According to the National Orphan Train Complex, about "250,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children were placed throughout the United States and Canada during the Orphan Train Movement" from 1854-1929. When the train pulled into a station, the children would be lined up so they could be "inspected" by the people looking for a child or cheap labor. A local committee was supposed to make sure the new parents were fit.
*************
Our Stuff
Much of the story revolves around cleaning the attic in 90+ year old Vivian's attic. Molly helps her as part of a community service project. I can relate to this with our trek across country and our effort to go through family keepsakes and pass them along to family.
The book starts with this quote from Women of the Dawn by Bunny McBride
“In portaging from one river to another, Wabanakis had to carry their canoes and all other possessions. Everyone knew the value of traveling light and understood that it required leaving some things behind. Nothing encumbered movement more than fear, which was often the most difficult burden to surrender.”
I've never mastered the art of traveling light. It was a major test to go through our North Street home and decide what things to leave behind when we moved across the country.
As teenaged Molly helps Vivian go through her possessions in the attic, Molly comes to understand they might not dispose of anything.
"After all, what does it matter? Why shouldn’t Vivian’s attic be filled with things that are meaningful to her? … Maybe it doesn’t matter how much gets done. Maybe the value is in the process – in touching each item, in naming and identifying, in acknowledging the significance of a cardigan, a pair of children’s boots.” (173)
This resonates with me because we've spent much time and effort this year going through family keepsakes - naming, identifying, and acknowledging the significance of various items. We're taking pictures and recording stories so future generations will know. There is great value in the process.
*************
“Vivian has given Molly’s community service sentence meaning. Now Molly wants to give something back. No one else knows Vivian’s story. There’s no one to read the documents of indenture, of adoption; no one to acknowledge the significance of the things she values, things that would be meaningful only to someone who cares about her. But Molly cares.” (177)
This made me think of Joe and and his step-father, Ray. Ray didn't have any biological children. Joe is telling Ray's story because he cares greatly about him and wants him to be remembered.
*************
Here are some family connections - Molly, one of the main characters, is a Penobscot Indian from Maine. Our ancestors were in Penobscot County, Maine - the Rowes beginning in the early 1800s. John Floyd arrived probably in the 1820s. Louisa Rowe and John Floyd married in 1831. Their son Edmond Floyd went to Michigan, married Elizabeth Allan. Their son, Harry Floyd was Mom's father.
Vivian/Dorothy/Ne, the orphan with numerous names, had red hair. Prejudices and commonly held beliefs about red heads are mentioned in this book. Seems that many books I read have main characters with red hair. Curious. I'm glad we celebrate red heads in our family!
On one of my visits to Sidell, Illinois I spoke with a local historian who said the Cathcart family might have taken one of the children from the orphan trains. This source mentions that about 150 orphans found homes around Danville, Illinois. Danville isn't far from Sidell. I need to do more research on this topic.
No comments:
Post a Comment