The Orphan Train Adventures is a historical fiction series by Joan Lowery Nixon, set between 1856 and 1866 in various parts of the country. The series begins with A Family Apart , which introduces the Kelly family: a widow and her six children, who have been struggling to make ends meet in New York City. When one of the boys gets in trouble with the law and must either leave or serve time in the dreaded Tombs Prison, Mrs. Kelly makes the heartrending decision to place all the children in the care of the Children’s Aid Society. This Christian organization had developed a system of escorting orphaned or poverty-stricken children from New York to small towns and farm communities in the Midwest, where couples wanting children could adopt them. The trains which carried the groups of children became known as orphan trains, and the Kellys soon found themselves riding west on one of these, desperate to stay together but knowing it would be impossible.

Each of the seven books of The Orphan Train Adventures is from the viewpoint one or two of the Kelly children as they navigate the ups and downs of life after leaving New York. A Family Apart follows Frances Mary and Petey, Caught in the Act follows Mike, and In the Face of Danger follows Megan. Danny and Peg share the spotlight in A Place to Belong. A Dangerous Promise returns to Mike for more adventures, Peg is front and center in Keeping Secrets, and Circle of Love follows Frances Mary once again.

As the children’s lives unfold in each book, they intersect with real events and issues in history. Each child must also grapple with hurts from the past, challenges in the present, and tough decisions about the future. Their stories are told with sensitivity, tenderness, and humor, and when difficult topics arise, they are handled tactfully and insightfully. The author’s attention to historical accuracy is clear, and she succeeds in creating books that flow well as a series (without being formulaic) but can also stand alone as individual reads.

The Orphan Train Adventures would make great history readers for kids 8 and up, who are reading independently, but younger children could enjoy them when used as family read-alouds. As supplementary reading for a history curriculum, they can provide a kid’s-eye view on a number of topics, including slavery, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War (along with events leading up to and following it), Confederate & Union spies, famous outlaws, medicine men, native Americans, frontier life, farm life, city life, and more. Though not explicitly Christian novels, The Orphan Train Adventures portray faith in a favorable light, and their themes and conclusions are consistent with a Christian worldview.

Guest post written by Sara Luchuk, October 2025