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Orphan Train Rider: One Boy's True Story
Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children were sent west on orphan trains to find new homes. Some were adopted by loving families; others were not as fortunate. In recent years, some of the riders have begun to share their stories. Andrea Warren alternates chapters about the history of the orphan trains with the story of Lee Nailling, who in 1926 rode an orphan train to Texas when he was nine years old.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 374 reviews
January 11, 2022
I really enjoying learning more about the orphan train riders. I read a historical fiction that has an orphan train rider in it earlier this month, so when I saw this non-fiction book about them I really wanted to read it to learn more about them. It is a short book, but I feel it give me more information about something I did not know happen a month ago.
March 29, 2018
This was a very engaging little book. It only takes a couple of hours to read it, and in those two hours you learn about a history in the United States that is seldom mentioned. In today’s world with its obsession of ancestry and DNA, this history puts a whole kink in the process for some. Several examples are given of various children. Examples are given of what some of the children became. You also find out about Lee’s story and his family in later years. All in all, this book gives your brain something to chew on, and not in a bad way, not in a good way, just very serious thought for pause. I highly recommend it.
October 29, 2015
A short and informative true story about a child's experience as an Orphan Train Rider. While it was interesting, it doesn't go into much depth. I do think it's worth the read and is an important story. I'd also encourage others who want more detail to read Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. It is a very touching piece of Historical Fiction that deals with the same subject matter.
October 11, 2020
Orphan Trains were used between 1854 and 1930 to send orphan children to new homes in the Midwest and West. Two hundred thousand children rode these trains.
This particular story was Lee Nailling , who in 1926 rode the orphan train to Texas.
Lee's mother died leaving his father to care for seven children. Lee and his brothers felt unloved and unwanted.
It was Charles Loring Brace, that organized and paid for the children finding new homes via train route to different places in the Midwest and West, along with the Children's Aid Society.
Lee and his brother didn't want to be split up but they were all sent to different homes.
Lee finally found the right family. Ben and Ollie Nailling. Ollie tucked him in at night and kissed him on the cheek. When it was time for breakfast they ate in the dinning room which was always for special occasions.
They had ham, bacon, eggs, grits, biscuts, potatoes , Jams and jellies.
The Naillings gave thanks to God for sending Lee to them. They a made him feel so welcome.
As an adult Lee helped Ollie run the business after Ben died. Lee was always thankful to be raised by the Naillings.
Lee was able to be in contact with his brothers. In 1984 the chamber of Commerce planned a family reunion for the surviving brothers.
This particular story was Lee Nailling , who in 1926 rode the orphan train to Texas.
Lee's mother died leaving his father to care for seven children. Lee and his brothers felt unloved and unwanted.
It was Charles Loring Brace, that organized and paid for the children finding new homes via train route to different places in the Midwest and West, along with the Children's Aid Society.
Lee and his brother didn't want to be split up but they were all sent to different homes.
Lee finally found the right family. Ben and Ollie Nailling. Ollie tucked him in at night and kissed him on the cheek. When it was time for breakfast they ate in the dinning room which was always for special occasions.
They had ham, bacon, eggs, grits, biscuts, potatoes , Jams and jellies.
The Naillings gave thanks to God for sending Lee to them. They a made him feel so welcome.
As an adult Lee helped Ollie run the business after Ben died. Lee was always thankful to be raised by the Naillings.
Lee was able to be in contact with his brothers. In 1984 the chamber of Commerce planned a family reunion for the surviving brothers.
September 13, 2008
A friend gave me this book as a cast off that didn't sell on eBay. I've read the first few chapters w/my daughter and I'm hooked. I can't believe I've never heard of this experience before now. None of my teachers ever spoke of this orphan train experience of so many children of the late 1850's and early 1900's. It's a sad read so far.. But I am also appalled that this is never spoken of, in history or the media. This should be part of school curricula...
Update: 9/12/08~ Finished this book last night. Don't know why it took me so long; it is a short book! I guess it's b/c of the many other books I'm reading! This was a good story, and I guess it was written primarily for elementary students- still I wish it could have gone into more depth. I was left feeling that I wanted more, more details of the growing up years. It started out telling the true story of a boy riding the trains who was placed with different families, then the rest of his life was summarized in a few short paragraphs.Maybe this will inspire me to pick up another biography of an orpahn train rider, but one with more than 100 pages that will tell the whole story.
Update: 9/12/08~ Finished this book last night. Don't know why it took me so long; it is a short book! I guess it's b/c of the many other books I'm reading! This was a good story, and I guess it was written primarily for elementary students- still I wish it could have gone into more depth. I was left feeling that I wanted more, more details of the growing up years. It started out telling the true story of a boy riding the trains who was placed with different families, then the rest of his life was summarized in a few short paragraphs.Maybe this will inspire me to pick up another biography of an orpahn train rider, but one with more than 100 pages that will tell the whole story.
March 9, 2018
I really liked this. Sad it wasn’t longer.
April 15, 2025
interesting read and so sad that all this happened and that there were so many who could not care foe the children.
September 11, 2013
In years past, as today, there have always been children who find themselves needing a home outside of their birth families. In earlier times, families often took in orphaned, or needy children, then immigration and poor jobs and wages, made this all but impossible. This book tells the story of one man's solution to this problem. A pastor decided that there was a better solution than housing kids in orphanages. Thus the Orphan Trains were started from the Children's Aid Society.
Orphan Trains took inner city kids cross country to give families in the Midwest and south an opportunity to choose kids from the trains to become a part of their family. Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 children were placed into families by this method. This book tells one man's journey from his mother's death to his final placement into a good home. Lee Nailing tells his story from abandonment by his father, splitting up of his siblings, to becoming the "son" of a wonderful family. He eventually got in touch with a couple of his surviving siblings too. Parts of other children's experiences were interspersed within this story. Some poor experiences, but mostly good ones.
Children from these trains generally grew up to be good productive citizens, including one governor, a leader in Alaska, leaders in other children's aid groups, and other community leaders. Very interesting book, good for adults and for teaching children about this part of history. Pictures included.
Orphan Trains took inner city kids cross country to give families in the Midwest and south an opportunity to choose kids from the trains to become a part of their family. Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 children were placed into families by this method. This book tells one man's journey from his mother's death to his final placement into a good home. Lee Nailing tells his story from abandonment by his father, splitting up of his siblings, to becoming the "son" of a wonderful family. He eventually got in touch with a couple of his surviving siblings too. Parts of other children's experiences were interspersed within this story. Some poor experiences, but mostly good ones.
Children from these trains generally grew up to be good productive citizens, including one governor, a leader in Alaska, leaders in other children's aid groups, and other community leaders. Very interesting book, good for adults and for teaching children about this part of history. Pictures included.
June 5, 2021
This would be a good introduction to the basic history of the Orphan Trains. There are enough personal details to catch and hold the reader's attention through the descriptions of the organization. Warren skillfully weaves a good general history throughout the personal story of Lee Nailing. I really appreciated the straight forward simple method of recounting both stories. She lets Nailing tell his story with what details he remembers. Their fragmented nature makes them all the more poignant for their feeling of loss and confusion.
It is geared toward a young audience, but it may be too much for some young readers. It does delicately mention the reasons that some children were separated from their parents and the horrors that some of them went through after being placed.
It is geared toward a young audience, but it may be too much for some young readers. It does delicately mention the reasons that some children were separated from their parents and the horrors that some of them went through after being placed.
July 14, 2022
So much sadness in this world. The orphan train seems like it was in theory a decent solution to a problem and indeed many of the orphans ended up in better lives than they would’ve had. Nothing is guaranteed in this world.
October 2, 2021
Such a sad piece of United States history that few even know about. These poor children, I cannot even imagine. It was good to hear that one thrived in the end.
May 23, 2013
I learned about the book Orphan Train Rider: One Boy's True Story from a pastor at the church I attend when he referenced it during his sermon on grace. In this moving story of one orphaned boy, author Andrea Warren describes the role of Charles Loring Brace and the Children's Aid Society in establishing orphan trains. From the 1850's through the 1920's, over 200,000 children boarded these trains searching for families to take care of them. It also portrays the lives of unwanted, abandoned, and homeless children who were supposed to get a second chance at life through the orphan trains.
First person accounts describe the often ambivalent feelings of the children as they made their way to other parts of the country. Many did not understand what was happening, others knew that their journey would end their chances of being reunited with parents who had left them.
Although orphan trains were established with the best of intentions, these
accounts describe how the children felt shamed while being paraded in front of strangers and their anguish when separated from biological siblings. While some of these children found loving homes, others were mistreated by the families who adopted them.
Chapters alternate between historical information on the movement and personal details and memories of orphans like Lee Nailling and his brothers.
The most touching moment for me was when Lee, who had every reason to be bitter and hate the world, finally found a home. Fully intending to run away again before morning, he fell asleep and was awakened by a call to breakfast. As a part of "grace" said before the meal by his mother-to-be, the boy heard, "Father, thank you for sending our new son to us, for the privilege of allowing us to raise him."
Lee commented, "I'm sure my jaw dropped in amazement. Somebody was actually thankful I was there! Orphan Train Rider is a highly recommended read for young readers (as young as 8) to adults.
First person accounts describe the often ambivalent feelings of the children as they made their way to other parts of the country. Many did not understand what was happening, others knew that their journey would end their chances of being reunited with parents who had left them.
Although orphan trains were established with the best of intentions, these
accounts describe how the children felt shamed while being paraded in front of strangers and their anguish when separated from biological siblings. While some of these children found loving homes, others were mistreated by the families who adopted them.
Chapters alternate between historical information on the movement and personal details and memories of orphans like Lee Nailling and his brothers.
The most touching moment for me was when Lee, who had every reason to be bitter and hate the world, finally found a home. Fully intending to run away again before morning, he fell asleep and was awakened by a call to breakfast. As a part of "grace" said before the meal by his mother-to-be, the boy heard, "Father, thank you for sending our new son to us, for the privilege of allowing us to raise him."
Lee commented, "I'm sure my jaw dropped in amazement. Somebody was actually thankful I was there! Orphan Train Rider is a highly recommended read for young readers (as young as 8) to adults.
May 24, 2020
Having only just learned about Charles Brace and the ‘Orphan Trains’ this book, although short, portrays one (thankfully) happy ending for this set of brothers who were sent off on the train in the 1920’s. The photos even more than the prose is what is so terribly heart-wrenching.
Since over 200,000 children were put on those trains between 1854 and 1930 I truly wish we had more documentation and stories from them. It is shocking that this is such a little known fact of American history and not taught in schools. I had never even heard of an ‘Orphan Train’ until a book called “The Midnight Train Home” by Erika Tamar which I read previously.
Charles Brace certainly had the best interest of these children in mind and created a system that, in theory, should have worked. It is unfortunate to know that many of the children were ill treated and have never had a chance to speak out about it.
Kudos to Ms. Andrea Warren for bringing us at least this one story with a happy ending. Lord only knows how many more there are out there that did not end so happily.
Since over 200,000 children were put on those trains between 1854 and 1930 I truly wish we had more documentation and stories from them. It is shocking that this is such a little known fact of American history and not taught in schools. I had never even heard of an ‘Orphan Train’ until a book called “The Midnight Train Home” by Erika Tamar which I read previously.
Charles Brace certainly had the best interest of these children in mind and created a system that, in theory, should have worked. It is unfortunate to know that many of the children were ill treated and have never had a chance to speak out about it.
Kudos to Ms. Andrea Warren for bringing us at least this one story with a happy ending. Lord only knows how many more there are out there that did not end so happily.
March 6, 2016
So much information is packed into this short book. Warren paints a very detailed picture of the situations and circumstances different orphans faced. Warren follows the true story of one orphan, Lee, and adds historical references. I thought the book was very well-rounded. Though I've researched the orphan train saga, I learned a lot from these 72 pages.
I would say that this is acceptable for all readers. There is one sentence that states that some orphans were physically and sexually abused, but other than that, I didn't notice anything unacceptable. Some younger readers may not like the very real, dismal picture painted of the hopelessness of orphans in that time period.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and found it helpful for research.
I would say that this is acceptable for all readers. There is one sentence that states that some orphans were physically and sexually abused, but other than that, I didn't notice anything unacceptable. Some younger readers may not like the very real, dismal picture painted of the hopelessness of orphans in that time period.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and found it helpful for research.
September 15, 2025
While this is a children's book, I was drawn to it because it highlights a piece of American history that I had never heard of before. From 1854-1930, thousands of orphans and abandoned children were shipped by train from the cities in the East to smaller communities in the Midwest, South, and West, where they were taken in by families. This book highlights the experiences of Lee Nailling, the middle child in a family of seven children, whose mother died of complications from the birth of the youngest. Their father found himself unable to care for his children, and the Lee and his brother Leo were sent to an orphanage. Eventually, they were sent on an orphan train west, and ended up in Texas, where he grew up and eventually had his own family.
The book tells Lee's story with information about the history of the orphan train program alternating chapters. Even though this book is targeted for a young audience, there is an incredible level of information and detail in here that sheds light on the orphan trains. While it suggests that the program was, overall, successful, it also shows how the process was traumatic for many of the children that experienced it. I learned a great deal, and I'm glad to have crossed paths with this little book.
The book tells Lee's story with information about the history of the orphan train program alternating chapters. Even though this book is targeted for a young audience, there is an incredible level of information and detail in here that sheds light on the orphan trains. While it suggests that the program was, overall, successful, it also shows how the process was traumatic for many of the children that experienced it. I learned a great deal, and I'm glad to have crossed paths with this little book.
October 20, 2023
This is a very interesting look at the orphan trains of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s written for children. It gave quite a bit of general information while focusing on the fate of one family in particular. The author was very balanced in presenting both the benefits and drawbacks of the program. Some children were placed with loving families and did very well; others were viewed more as servants or even abused at times. (This abuse is stated, but no details are given that would trouble young readers.)
October 13, 2019
This biographical review of true accounts from orphan train riders gives a true insight into the hearts and souls of the actual orphans. Following one boy through the book, the ups and downs in an orphan’s life are quite dramatic. Other true stories are interspersed throughout the story line to give comparative accounts. It is an amazing story of how one man’a idea of unique train use changed hundreds of thousands of lives.
September 28, 2021
Really well-done youth nonfiction. I was surprised at how involved I was in the story, considering I was reading it during my lunch hour. Orphan Trains are such a morbidly fascinating piece of US history, and this author really did a nice job laying out the facts while centering the story on Lee and his brothers.
December 30, 2024
Until this book came up in my feed, I was ignorant to this entire portion of history. What an incredible (and terrible) thing, to be put on a train and separated from the family you know.
This story leaves me with a desire to learn more about the Orphan Train Society.
Being an adopted soul myself, it touched my heart. ❤️
This story leaves me with a desire to learn more about the Orphan Train Society.
Being an adopted soul myself, it touched my heart. ❤️
July 20, 2024
A quick read on one child’s journey aboard the “Orphan Train” (Lee Nailling) interspersed with facts about the Orphan Train. What it was, why it happened, and when it ended. I was not aware that about 150,000 orphans were put on trains between 1854 - 1929 when it was stopped.
October 19, 2018
A short fascinating account of one orphan train rider, a phenomenon of American history of which I was unaware.
November 16, 2018
I had no idea that such trains existed and I could never imagine some of the things described in this little book.
December 27, 2020
This is a short book about 80 or so pages that I listened to in just over an hour. I very much enjoyed it; I only wish it was longer.
September 21, 2021
A very brief but important reflection on a part of American history that I hadn't heard much about previously. A really good read (listen) :)
October 5, 2021
After going to Bailey Yard in Kansas, I wanted to read more about the trains. Sadly, there are few books on the topic, but I found this one, that I found informative and enlightening.
August 24, 2022
An accessible summary of orphan trains, with personal stories of a few riders. A bit dated but still a decent introduction.
August 25, 2022
Good information. Nice quick story.
January 10, 2025
A short history novel about what America was like for Orphans in the 1850s to early 1900s.
November 14, 2022
This book revealed a chapter of US history of which I was unaware. It was both a sad chapter and a hopeful one.
January 16, 2019
Real story with facts and details from other accounts and records from the period of the orphan trains.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 374 reviews