Searching, praying, Marianne Neumann was not looking for love. She was searching for her sister, praying for the children in her care and herself. The orphan train came to life within this character and those that surrounded her in this novel. It was a great second book in the series, and I was excited to see old favorite characters appear as well.

Marianne Neumann is “the weak” sister. But to the reader and the children on the journey she isn’t weak. She is capable and beautiful. Her ability to bring compassion and care to each child she met made this reader’s heart burst. She also made a certain young man feel the same way.

Drew is running from a past but not truly looking for a future, or so he thinks. His future is leading the Orphan trains and finding homes for children. Never going home himself, Drew becomes a friend to Marianne on their journey and soon sees that there are layers to this wonderful woman.

Both of these characters are searching for the feeling to belong. Drew thinks it’s in not facing his past, and Marianne is sure it is in finding her sister. Though many obstacles face these two they are drawn to a unity that only God could create.

Though the story is woven around these two, there are many other children that play a large role. We have Jethro a young boy with fire red hair and a personality to boot, seeking a family. A young girl afraid to be moved again and is blessed with a beautiful home. And a pair of brothers that learn the true is freeing, even if it is turning in one of their own. The children of this book were heart melting and breaking, it was as though you were meeting them and helping to find their families yourself.

Drew in the last few chapters was a hoot. I loved how he maneuvered to get what he and Marianne wanted in the end. Even when it made Marianne panic and probably have an anxiety attack. I know I would have. He made me smile and laugh after chapters that had a more serious tone.

Through this book it is easy to imagine being a member of this time and history. I could feel the emotions of each character and wanted so much for them all to have their happy endings. We get happy endings in this book, but in reality many of the true orphans didn’t or they were given false hope. I love that the author didn’t shy away from the dark and the light in this period of time.

I recommend this book to readers that enjoy historical fiction or are curious about this period in time. It is woven with facts and the authors ideas in a manner that makes it a masterpiece to read. I know that as we continue on this journey in this series we will find our happy endings as well.

Orphan trains were a long forgotten detail in US history. Did you know about them?