Rodzina

Title: Rodzina
Author: Karen Cushman
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication City: New York, New York
Publication Date: 2003
ISBN: 0-618-13351-8

Summary

Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski has lost her brothers in a fire, her father at the hoof of a runaway horse, and her mother to a broken heart. Rodzina lived a few days on the street before she eneded up at the Little Wanderers Refuge. Soon after arriving there, the orphan was shuffled off to go west on an Orphan Train. Rodzina is the story of Rodzina's trek from Chicago to California on the Orphan Train. Rodzina had been told by another orphan that the orphans on the train were sold as slaves, and the impression is made deeper when Rodzina is told she is in charge of the young orphans because she is the oldest femail rider. Rodzina just wants to be left alone in her misery, but little Lacey attaches herself to Rodzina. Lacey is "slow" and an easy target for the other orphans: Mickey Doolet, Sammy, Joe, Gertie, Horton, Chester, and Spud. Accompanying them is "Miss Doctor", a cold-hearted looking woman going west to escape the Chicago mindset that women can't be doctors, and Mr. Szprot, the man in charge of placing children.
THe trip proves interesting for Rodzina when Gertie disappears after Rodzina gives her to Miss Doctor, and when she is adopted at the first stop, and adopted again after the second stop. Rodzina has much to learn about herself before she can become a member of any family.

Review

The Orphan Trains ran from 1850 to 1929, many of them from New York. One can only imagine what was going through the mind of the children as they left homes they had made for themselves or when their parent(s) had to give them up for a better life. Cushman does a good job of creating an orphan train rider who is hesitant about making the trip out west. The main character, and the title character, Rodzina ia a fairly recent orphan who is still in a state of denial. Not only is she in denial, but she has been given false information by another orphan about the orphan train being a way for people to get slave labor for cheap. This colors her view of the people who come to look at adopting her and the other orphans. It is not hard to believe that other orphans felt the same way Rodzina did. She witnessed the breaking up of families as adopting families were willing to adopt only one sibling. Cushman does a good job of making the reader feel the panic Rodzina feels when she is adopted the first time and realizes she is to be a hired hand, and forces the family to bring her back. The reader cannot help but sympathize with the plight of the orphans throughout the whole book. Many of the things Rodzina saw on the Orphan Train were what the real Orphan Train riders saw and worried about.
The adult main characters are aloof and not friendly, only adding to the harshness of the Orphan Train experience for Rodzina and the other orphans. Mr. Szprot makes it known that he does not care for the Orphans one bit when he promises Rodzina hes going too make sure she is adopted by anyone who will take her, whether or not they promise to treat her right. "Miss Doctor" is riding along with the orphans as another chaperone, but from the beginning lets Rodzina know she has no time to talk to the orphans. However, it is Rodzina and "Miss Doctor" who discover themselves on the trip and the characters who undergo the greatest transformation.

Professional Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Twelve-year-old Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski tells the story of her journey across the United States on an orphan train in 1881 in this audio version of Karen Cushman's novel (Clarion, 2003). A strong-willed, not very attractive Polish girl from Chicago, Rodzina is convinced that she is unlovable and would only be adopted to be used as a slave. More than 20 orphans, along with the harsh Mr. Szprot and the strict Miss Doctor, make up the cast of characters. Narrator Becky Ann Baker's voice reflects the emotions and maturity level of each character. Despite the unfortunate situation that the orphans have found themselves in, the book has many funny and lighthearted moments, such as playing baseball on the train and having dinner with "circus" folk. Listeners see new cities in untamed parts of the West through the eyes of the children. Rodzina sees Indians riding on the platform between trains, meets mail-order brides, and reads the variety of notices posted at train stations along the way. The children on the orphan train worry about their fate, but Rodzina does her best to comfort them with Polish folktales and stories about her family. After the most appealing children have been adopted and Rodzina has made her escape from a few undesirable placements, we see her as the capable girl that she is. The narrator gives a slightly different voice to each character. Her pronunciation of the Polish words in the text is extremely helpful. Cushman gives us a valuable insight into American history, especially from a woman's perspective, and adds an extensive final note and list of resources for further information about orphan trains and orphans throughout world history. An introduction read by Cushman is particularly poignant as she tells about her own Polish family. An excellent choice for public and school libraries.
Casey Rondini, Westerly Public Library, RI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile
Becky Ann Baker narrates this poignant tale set in the late 1800s with clarity and charm. The awkward 12-year-old Rodzina finds herself plucked from the streets of Chicago and placed on an orphan train to the West. Throughout the story, Baker animates this young girl whose life has turned upside down. Rodzina tries to cope as best she can, all the while seeing to the needs of the younger orphans. She learns about herself, the world, and people who really do care for her. This is a painstaking account of a slice of American history not often represented. D.L.M. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Connections

Read articles about real people who traveled on the Orphan Train and Charles Loring Brace. Does Rodzina do a good job of portraying what happened? Why or Why not?

Research the Kindertransport in Europe. How does that compare to the Orphan Train system? What about Kindertransport is different?

If you were a passenger on the Orphan Train, how would you feel? Would you feel the same as Rodzina or Mickey Dooley? Why or Why not?