The Orphan Trains Trilogy #1

The Little Sparrows

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Kearney, Cheyenne, Rawlins. Reno, Sacramento, San Francisco. At each train station, a few lucky orphans from the crowded streets of New York City receive the fulfillment of their a home and family. This "orphan train" is the vision of Charles Loring Brace, founder of the Children's Aid Society, who cannot bear to see innocent children abandoned in the overpopulated cities of the mid-nineteenth-century. Yet it is not just the orphans whose lives need mending -- follow the train along and watch God's hand restore love and laughter to the right family at the right time!

355 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,2003

This edition

Format
355 pages, Paperback
Published
January 1, 2003 by Multnomah
ISBN
9781590520635
ASIN
1590520637
Language
English

About the author

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Al Lacy has written more than ninety novels, including the Angel of Mercy, Battles of Destiny, and Journeys of the Stranger series. He and his wife, JoAnna Lacy, are coauthors of the Mail Order Bride, Hannah of Fort Bridger, and Shadow of Liberty series. The Lacys make their home in the Colorado Rockies.

Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 47 votes)
5 stars
19(40%)
4 stars
16(34%)
3 stars
12(26%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
47 reviews All reviews
April 17,2025
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This is an old Christian fiction book for kids. It has great explanations of the gospel throughout. However, it’s very outdated in the politically correct sense. Kids from hard places should not read this as it has very triggering themes. It’s also not a great picture of what foster care is really like. I’m sure there were actual stories from the orphan trains that are similar, but I’m sure there is much heartache left out. Of course, it was intended for a young audience, so I’m sure they were going for happy endings. It was well written and kept the readers attention nonetheless.
April 17,2025
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Like all of Al & Joanna Lacy's books this one is in your face unapologetically christian. A moving tale about the children who are sent west on the Orphan train and the families that will take them in.
April 17,2025
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This heathen was not interested in all the JEESUUUS in this book! I gave it a star because it is a book
April 17,2025
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I'm ok with books that can be predictable..but this one was just too much. There was way too much dialogue just going over ridiculous pieces of information that didn't add to the plot of the story at all. I think the overall idea for the story was great - showing different orphans who traveled on the orphan trails and their individual stories...but the way the author described them was just boring.
April 17,2025
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This was my first book by this author. I happened to pick up the first three in a thrift store and I'm so glad I did. While I'm not really a fan of religious books this book was written in a way that showed there is a higher power for everyone.

This book went through all of my emotions: anger at the fact people were so cruel to Jimmy just because of his speech impediment; sorrow for each child who had lost their parents or were forced into a life of abandonment; hope that each child would be adopted into a loving family; shock when the Marston parents came back.

This book hooked me from the description. Once I picked it up it was hard to put it back down. I'm so glad I have the next two so I can read them.
April 17,2025
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This book took me a little while to get into. I liked the subject matter of the orphan trains, but the flow of the first couple of chapters was more like an essay than a novel. I found it dry and almost juvenile in its structure. But I am glad that I did push through. As key characters began to be introduced, and the story took shape, I came to care about the children and hoped to find them placed with good families. Parts of this book were a bit preachy, rather than faith being woven into the story gently and naturally, it was often in the face of the reader, which again made conversations between characters a bit more stilted at times. I enjoyed the book enough to put a hold on the second in the series. Looking forward to being introduced to new communities and children who found their homes in them.
April 17,2025
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I don't think children actually talked like they did in this book, but, it was still enjoyable.
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