Trouble on the Orphan Train

The Imagination Station #18

by Marianne Hering

When they step into the Imagination Station, kids experience an unforgettable journey filled with action-packed adventure. With each book, they’re whisked away with cousins Patrick and Beth to embark on a new journey around the world and back in time.

This easy-to-read adventure is number 18 in the successful series that has now sold over 450,000 books in the series. Patrick and Beth arrive on an orphan train, heading west. They befriend an orphan who is falsely accused of being part of a train robbery. No one will adopt the child. Patrick and Beth stay with their new friend until the end of the line. All the while, they search for Eugene, who is missing somewhere in time.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Christian, Chapter Books

137 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2016

About the author

Marianne Hering is a prolific writer, having written hundreds of articles and a number of books for children and parents. For nine years she worked for several magazines in Focus on the Family’s periodicals department and became the editor of Clubhouse, a Focus on the Family children’s magazine with a circulation of more than 100,000.

As a book developer for Focus on the Family, she and coauthor / creative director Paul McCusker launched the Adventures in Odyssey book series The Imagination Station in 2010. Currently the series includes 19 books, with two more contracted for 2017 release. Paul bowed out of his role in 2015 to pursue other creative avenues. The combined sales are more than 450,000.

Currently Marianne is a freelance writer taking assignments. She and her husband live in Colorado with their twin sons.

Reviews

[Samuel West]

In this book Beth and Patrick went in the old Imagination Station because the new one wasn't working right. It took them to a train station where a robbery took place. The person who had robbed the bank wasn't caught, and Beth and Patrick were thought to be his spies. So, they went to jail and they found Eugene there. Then the Imagination appeared, but it only had two seats, so one of them had to be left behind. And that's how the book ended. I thought it was a good book because there were exciting chase scenes.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

rating by 9 and 10 year olds

[Mary T · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book because it featured Missouri, which was one of the states we were traveling through. I read it aloud to my 8yo son. I thought the Prologue would get us squared away since we hadn't read any others in the series, but we were confused from page 1. The jumping around of storylines made it hard to follow. I didn't like that there were identical illustrations on different pages (like an illustration of a certain character and then multiple other times when that character was mentioned, it used the same exact illustration). There wasn't that much of a redemptive quality to it -- just something we tried to get through. I imagine we should start at Book 1 (which we might eventually, to give the series one more try), but I'm not all that interested in Vikings. Sigh. We'll see...

[Hope Elias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for the 50 books in 50 states challenge! This is my Missouri state pick! Ryan Trahan and Hali haven't gotten to Missouri yet in their 50 states challenge but I thought I'd get a bit ahead for this one.

I've actually never read the Imagination Station series before. Starting in book 18 WAS a bit strange but I was able to follow decently enough. It certainly made me want to read the previous 17 books! And even the next book because I think it takes place during Daniel and the lions den.

The Jesse James stuff was cool! The train and the orphans reminded me of the start of Toy Story 3 😝
Woody: THE ORPHANS!!

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this barely worth reading, though it might be okay for young children. I picked it up because I thought it would be about the Orphan Train, however it barely scratches the surface of that topic, and mixes in Jesse James along with Pinkerton detectives. Perhaps part of the problem is that this is the 18th book in a series involving a couple of time-travelling children, and I don't know what went before. But it felt like the children jumped into the story and then suddenly it was over and they were off somewhen else. I certainly won't be trying any others in this series.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly good!

Main issue: Page 132: “Her stomach burned with worry. It felt as if she'd sipped a cup of bleach.”
Now I’m curious to know what bleach tastes like!
Drinking bleach is a suicide.
Drinking a cup of bleach is suicide.
You just taught kids how to commit suicide.

We started by bouncing through multiple timelines and ended on a cliff hanger.

[Debi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

My son and I read this together. He loves the AIO books. Since this had a train in it it was one of his favorites. Of course he said Jessie James belongs in jail.

[Judah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love how the " betrayer " puts the diamonds in the furnace because you knew that diamonds didn't burn.and I also like how he pickpockets Jesse James. :O

[GheenGirls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turtle is re-reading series: great! Return to library.

[Leah Wead · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this series. I love history and Odyssey and anything that has to do with the Imagination Station. This book takes you on an orphan train and might include some intense moments with bandits. The series keeps you guessing as the end of each book doesn't really conclude but makes you want to read the next book. I think this is a wonderful series and should be added to your collection.
Five stars.