NETTIE AND NELLIE CROOK: ORPHAN TRAIN SISTERS by E. F. Abbott is based on the true experiences of twin girls in the early 20th century.
When their parents can no longer take care of them, Nettie and Nellie are taken by the Children’s Aid Society to live in an orphanage. Eventually, they travel to Kansas then South Dakota to be adopted.
Orphan train stories are popular with children. Readers will enjoy the biographical information and the historical photographs will bring the time period to life for readers.
Librarians will find that this new series is a good way to introduce middle grade youth to the heartbreaking reality of children’s lives in key time periods in American history. Although written as historical fiction, the books are based on real events. The titles are short and easy-to-read making them useful for classroom activities.
Other books in the new “Based on a True Story” series include Sybil Ludington: Revolutionary War Rider, John Lincoln Clem: Civil War Drummer Boy, and Mary Jamison: Native American Captive.
Published by Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan on February 16, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
