What do you think?
Rate this book
Endurance : A gripping and emotional historical fiction novel inspired by real events
As an American child lost in Germany who must somehow find her way back to the United States, Dorthia knows that once she is there, she will have no home or family waiting for her, as she does not know how to find them.
From the uneasy streets of pre-war Germany in 1914 to the crowded avenues of New York City and then via an Orphan Train to Guymon, Oklahoma, join Dorthia as she uses her wits to navigate this new life fate has given her and struggles to fill the void left when her father is suddenly taken from her.
Will Dorthia be able to overcome the obstacles that plague her at every step?
Will she ever find the family she longs for?
Will she find all she is seeking in the Oklahoma Panhandle, a place history still refers to as No Man’s Land?
Find out in this standalone novel as the journey continues with Endurance, book seven in The Orphan Train Saga.
A standalone novel, also available in large print.
From the uneasy streets of pre-war Germany in 1914 to the crowded avenues of New York City and then via an Orphan Train to Guymon, Oklahoma, join Dorthia as she uses her wits to navigate this new life fate has given her and struggles to fill the void left when her father is suddenly taken from her.
Will Dorthia be able to overcome the obstacles that plague her at every step?
Will she ever find the family she longs for?
Will she find all she is seeking in the Oklahoma Panhandle, a place history still refers to as No Man’s Land?
Find out in this standalone novel as the journey continues with Endurance, book seven in The Orphan Train Saga.
A standalone novel, also available in large print.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 27, 2025
About the author
Sherry A. Burton
50 books191 followersSherry A. Burton is the author of The Orphan Train Saga novels, a planned eighteen book historical fiction saga that revolves around the Orphan Trains. Books in the saga include Discovery, Shameless, Treachery, Guardian, and Loyal.
Ezra’s Story, the first in The Orphan Train Saga spinoff series.
Sherry's fiction titles include Tears of Betrayal, Love in the Bluegrass, Seems Like Yesterday, The King of My Heart, Somewhere in My Dreams, Surviving the Storm, and Always Faithful, a Jerry McNeal Novella.
Born in Kentucky, Sherry and her Retired Navy Veteran husband live in Michigan’s thumb. When not in the writing chair, Sherry travels the country doing book signings and giving lectures on the orphan trains.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 27, 2025
Endurance is a powerful and moving conclusion to Sherry A. Burton’s Orphan Train Saga, capturing both the vast sweep of history and the intimate resilience of one young girl determined to survive. Dorthia’s journey from the tension of pre-war Germany to the overwhelming streets of New York City, and finally to the stark uncertainty of the Oklahoma Panhandle is rendered with emotional clarity and historical sensitivity. Each setting feels distinct and alive, underscoring how dislocation and loss shape her evolving sense of self.
What makes this novel especially compelling is its focus on inner strength. Dorthia’s grief, resourcefulness, and quiet courage are portrayed with honesty, allowing readers to fully inhabit her fears and hopes. Burton balances hardship with moments of kindness and connection, reminding us that endurance is not merely about survival, but about the human capacity to adapt, trust, and hope again.
As a standalone novel, Endurance is deeply satisfying, offering closure while honoring the broader themes of the series identity, belonging, and the search for family. It is an emotionally rich historical fiction that lingers long after the final page, and a fitting, heartfelt culmination to a remarkable saga.
What makes this novel especially compelling is its focus on inner strength. Dorthia’s grief, resourcefulness, and quiet courage are portrayed with honesty, allowing readers to fully inhabit her fears and hopes. Burton balances hardship with moments of kindness and connection, reminding us that endurance is not merely about survival, but about the human capacity to adapt, trust, and hope again.
As a standalone novel, Endurance is deeply satisfying, offering closure while honoring the broader themes of the series identity, belonging, and the search for family. It is an emotionally rich historical fiction that lingers long after the final page, and a fitting, heartfelt culmination to a remarkable saga.
December 29, 2025
Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝔼𝕟𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒂𝒈𝒂
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 7
𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗔. 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻
A little girl is left orphaned in a foreign country. She went from rich to a penniless orphan in the blink of an eye. Will she make it back to the United States? Will a seven-year-old be able to survive on the streets of pre-war Germany?
This story is emotional. My heart bleeds for Dorthia and especially for the real children who lived such a hard life. Have a tissue handy for sure.
Dorthia is resilient, a child who has to live on the streets from age seven until her late teens. She is resourceful, doing whatever it takes to feed and clothe herself. Some of those things are inferred without getting into the nitty gritty of the situation.
Though resilient and resourceful, she still felt the effects of loss: loss of love, loss of security, loss of a home, and loss of innocence. I especially appreciated that the story took her beyond this, offering the reader a glimpse of a better life.
Endurance is an emotional read. Learning about the orphan trains has been eye-opening. Though number seven in The Orphan Train Saga, it can be read as a standalone. You will probably want to go back and read the rest after reading this though.
𝔼𝕟𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒂𝒈𝒂
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 7
𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗔. 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻
A little girl is left orphaned in a foreign country. She went from rich to a penniless orphan in the blink of an eye. Will she make it back to the United States? Will a seven-year-old be able to survive on the streets of pre-war Germany?
This story is emotional. My heart bleeds for Dorthia and especially for the real children who lived such a hard life. Have a tissue handy for sure.
Dorthia is resilient, a child who has to live on the streets from age seven until her late teens. She is resourceful, doing whatever it takes to feed and clothe herself. Some of those things are inferred without getting into the nitty gritty of the situation.
Though resilient and resourceful, she still felt the effects of loss: loss of love, loss of security, loss of a home, and loss of innocence. I especially appreciated that the story took her beyond this, offering the reader a glimpse of a better life.
Endurance is an emotional read. Learning about the orphan trains has been eye-opening. Though number seven in The Orphan Train Saga, it can be read as a standalone. You will probably want to go back and read the rest after reading this though.
January 29, 2026
Awesome book!
I’m a big fan of Sherry A Burtons Jerry McNeal & orphan train series. This is the first time I’ve read this as it just came out. However, with the other books, no matter how many times I read/listen to them I find something new. That’s the evidence of a great author. I’ve read/listened to the Jerry McNeal series at least 15 times, and still catch something I missed before.
The orphan train series is awesome! It’s part history as well as telling how things were and how the Placing Out program helped so many children find new homes, families & a better life.
I’m a big fan of Sherry A Burtons Jerry McNeal & orphan train series. This is the first time I’ve read this as it just came out. However, with the other books, no matter how many times I read/listen to them I find something new. That’s the evidence of a great author. I’ve read/listened to the Jerry McNeal series at least 15 times, and still catch something I missed before.
The orphan train series is awesome! It’s part history as well as telling how things were and how the Placing Out program helped so many children find new homes, families & a better life.
December 30, 2025
Right to the heart...
From the viewpoint of the orphan Dorothia..straight talk, emotions, reality of the world at that time. Amazing courage, faith in herself and the blessings of good encounters with people...a little girl grew up alone...with help from kind souls, she found a family and love grew by leaps and bounds! More please!
From the viewpoint of the orphan Dorothia..straight talk, emotions, reality of the world at that time. Amazing courage, faith in herself and the blessings of good encounters with people...a little girl grew up alone...with help from kind souls, she found a family and love grew by leaps and bounds! More please!
February 7, 2026
I love these books. Part history with a little of this and a little of that. It’s truly amazing what some of these children had to live through. Today, DHS would definitely have been busy. But the orphan train program helped so many out. Amazing! Of course, Sherry A Burton is an awesome author. Her books make you feel what’s going on. Can’t wait for the next one!
December 29, 2025
Wow
This is a story of many! How we all work to survive, you do whatever you can. I believe you do whatever you need to!
This is a story of many! How we all work to survive, you do whatever you can. I believe you do whatever you need to!
January 18, 2026
A happy ending
Another wonderful story about the Orphan Trains. They did a good thing for all those children. And Dorthia had the family she always longed for.
Another wonderful story about the Orphan Trains. They did a good thing for all those children. And Dorthia had the family she always longed for.
Read
January 29, 2026Sherry A Burton is one of my favorite authors and she never fails to hold my attention in her books. I anxiously await the next book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews