Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who are Vivian's ghosts?
Who are Vivian's ghosts?
Everyone who was once in her life.
What does Vivian's ghost do for her in death that they could not do in life?
What does Vivian's ghost do for her in death that they could not do in life?
Console and protect her.
What do the ghosts whisper to her?
What do the ghosts whisper to her?
They tell her to go on.
What are the names of Molly's foster parents?
What are the names of Molly's foster parents?
Who was a troubled teen?
Who was a troubled teen?
What program saved Ralph as a teen?
What program saved Ralph as a teen?
Why does Molly stress Dina?
Why does Molly stress Dina?
How does Molly cope with not fitting in at the school she transferred to?
How does Molly cope with not fitting in at the school she transferred to?
Which classmate tried to break through Molly's goth persona?
Which classmate tried to break through Molly's goth persona?
Does Jack succeed with Molly?
Does Jack succeed with Molly?
Why does Molly say her goth persona is restrictive?
Why does Molly say her goth persona is restrictive?
Compare Jack's parents with Molly's parents:
Compare Jack's parents with Molly's parents:
What does Molly respect about Jack?
What does Molly respect about Jack?
Why does Dina think Molly is untrustworthy?
Why does Dina think Molly is untrustworthy?
How does Molly get caught?
How does Molly get caught?
What does Molly hate about being in foster care?
What does Molly hate about being in foster care?
What keepsake does Molly wear every time something happens and she knows she is on the move again?
What keepsake does Molly wear every time something happens and she knows she is on the move again?
What community service does Jack suggest Molly do for stealing the book and why?
What community service does Jack suggest Molly do for stealing the book and why?
What advice does Jack give Molly in preparation for the interview?
What advice does Jack give Molly in preparation for the interview?
At the end of the chapter, who is the author's intended audience?
At the end of the chapter, who is the author's intended audience?
At the end of the chapter, what is the author's purpose?
At the end of the chapter, what is the author's purpose?
Did the author's purpose work for the audience?
Did the author's purpose work for the audience?
How does the author use pathos (emotional appeal) in this chapter?
How does the author use pathos (emotional appeal) in this chapter?
State the author's bias and which character delivered the bias.
State the author's bias and which character delivered the bias.
What is Molly's impression of Vivian Daly's Victorian home?
What is Molly's impression of Vivian Daly's Victorian home?
What does Jack tell Molly about Vivian?
What does Jack tell Molly about Vivian?
How do you know that Dina approved of Molly's appearance for the interview?
How do you know that Dina approved of Molly's appearance for the interview?
Does Dina think Molly will commit to fifty hours of community service?
Does Dina think Molly will commit to fifty hours of community service?
Why does Molly say Jack is such a mom?
Why does Molly say Jack is such a mom?
Does Vivian know the reason Molly is interviewing for the job?
Does Vivian know the reason Molly is interviewing for the job?
What does imperious mean?
What does imperious mean?
How do you know that Vivian likes Molly?
How do you know that Vivian likes Molly?
What do Vivian and Molly have in common?
What do Vivian and Molly have in common?
Why does Niamh's family leave Ireland for America?
Why does Niamh's family leave Ireland for America?
Why did Niamh think there was hope for a better life in New York?
Why did Niamh think there was hope for a better life in New York?
What frightened Niamh most about their new life in America?
What frightened Niamh most about their new life in America?
Maisie's crying is portent of what danger? Make a prediction.
Maisie's crying is portent of what danger? Make a prediction.
It is 1929. Who do you think is Niamh?
It is 1929. Who do you think is Niamh?
Niamh is 9 years old when she loses her family in the fire. Do you think her mother and sister are alive?
Niamh is 9 years old when she loses her family in the fire. Do you think her mother and sister are alive?
Niamh says she is a burden to society because she does not have a family and is nobody's responsibility. However, she is somebody's responsibility....whose?
Niamh says she is a burden to society because she does not have a family and is nobody's responsibility. However, she is somebody's responsibility....whose?
What physical features may prevent Niamh from being placed in someone's home?
What physical features may prevent Niamh from being placed in someone's home?
What keepsake is Niamh allowed to take on the train?
What keepsake is Niamh allowed to take on the train?
What baby was given to Niamh on the train?
What baby was given to Niamh on the train?
Niamh gets what new name sewn into her donated coat?
Niamh gets what new name sewn into her donated coat?
All the orphan children have sad tales, so it is best to do what?
All the orphan children have sad tales, so it is best to do what?
Who are the children's aid sponsors?
Who are the children's aid sponsors?
Mrs. Scatcherd tells the children they are on an orphan train and they are lucky to be leaving behind an evil place - where are they leaving?
Mrs. Scatcherd tells the children they are on an orphan train and they are lucky to be leaving behind an evil place - where are they leaving?
What happens if they do not follow the rules on the orphan train?
What happens if they do not follow the rules on the orphan train?
Why is Niamh skeptical about country life?
Why is Niamh skeptical about country life?
Niamh reflects on her family's life in New York and Ireland - in what ways does Ireland seem better?
Niamh reflects on her family's life in New York and Ireland - in what ways does Ireland seem better?
Who taught Niamh to read?
Who taught Niamh to read?
Where did Niamh learn her letters and to spell?
Where did Niamh learn her letters and to spell?
Who is escorting the children on the train to a better life?
Who is escorting the children on the train to a better life?
The boy with the straight hair and pale blue eyes is 12 or 13. How would you describe his demeanor?
The boy with the straight hair and pale blue eyes is 12 or 13. How would you describe his demeanor?
How did the boy now sitting next to Niamh survive street life?
How did the boy now sitting next to Niamh survive street life?
What physical feature does Niamh have that may prevent her from being placed with a family?
What physical feature does Niamh have that may prevent her from being placed with a family?
What children are chosen first by a family?
What children are chosen first by a family?
Who makes up the 'odd little family' on the train?
Who makes up the 'odd little family' on the train?
Why is Dutchy an orphan?
Why is Dutchy an orphan?
Why did a few kids from Dutchy's gang end up on the train?
Why did a few kids from Dutchy's gang end up on the train?
What does Dutchy believe is his fate?
What does Dutchy believe is his fate?
At the train station in Chicago, is Dutchy trying to escape Mr. Curran and Mrs. Scatcherd?
At the train station in Chicago, is Dutchy trying to escape Mr. Curran and Mrs. Scatcherd?
Who lies to keep Dutchy from being arrested?
Who lies to keep Dutchy from being arrested?
How is Dutchy punished by Mrs. Scatcherd?
How is Dutchy punished by Mrs. Scatcherd?
Who says all the children on the train will be sold into slavery?
Who says all the children on the train will be sold into slavery?
Is there a guarantee that the children will be chosen by people who will treat them with kindness?
Is there a guarantee that the children will be chosen by people who will treat them with kindness?
How many hours must Molly work for Vivian?
How many hours must Molly work for Vivian?
Will Molly have a record if she works for Vivian?
Will Molly have a record if she works for Vivian?
Which foster parent does Molly get along with?
Which foster parent does Molly get along with?
How do you know that Dina, her foster mother, doesn't like her?
How do you know that Dina, her foster mother, doesn't like her?
How many foster homes has Molly been in the past nine years?
How many foster homes has Molly been in the past nine years?
When did Molly lose her virginity?
When did Molly lose her virginity?
Does anyone live with Vivian in her 14 room house?
Does anyone live with Vivian in her 14 room house?
Where is the house?
Where is the house?
How long has she lived in the house?
How long has she lived in the house?
Where did she live before Maine?
Where did she live before Maine?
What did Vivian and her husband do in Minnesota?
What did Vivian and her husband do in Minnesota?
On what floor of Vivian's house is the attic?
On what floor of Vivian's house is the attic?
How often must Molly work for Vivian?
How often must Molly work for Vivian?
What does it mean that the US was founded on indentured service?
What does it mean that the US was founded on indentured service?
Does Molly consider working for Vivian as indentured servitude?
Does Molly consider working for Vivian as indentured servitude?
How many years has Vivian stored the boxes?
How many years has Vivian stored the boxes?
How often does Molly see the court-ordered social worker?
How often does Molly see the court-ordered social worker?
Does Molly realize what is positive about her situation?
Does Molly realize what is positive about her situation?
The boxes are labeled, so how does Molly decide to approach this project?
The boxes are labeled, so how does Molly decide to approach this project?
In what ways is Vivian's life just as it was twenty or even forty years ago?
In what ways is Vivian's life just as it was twenty or even forty years ago?
What does Molly find in the 1929-1930 box?
What does Molly find in the 1929-1930 box?
How do you know that Dutchy likes Molly?
How do you know that Dutchy likes Molly?
How does Niamh explain to Dutchy the meaning of fate?
How does Niamh explain to Dutchy the meaning of fate?
How must the children present themselves to make a good impression?
How must the children present themselves to make a good impression?
Where does the train stop first?
Where does the train stop first?
What happens to the children not chosen at the Milwaukee Road Depot?
What happens to the children not chosen at the Milwaukee Road Depot?
How are the children presented to potential placement families?
How are the children presented to potential placement families?
How does Niamh feel about the process of procuring parents?
How does Niamh feel about the process of procuring parents?
Carmine and Dutchy are placed with families at this stop, who takes Carmine?
Carmine and Dutchy are placed with families at this stop, who takes Carmine?
Who takes Dutchy?
Who takes Dutchy?
How many children are left to board the train?
How many children are left to board the train?
What is the next stop?
What is the next stop?
How does Niamh feel when she arrives at Albans Depot?
How does Niamh feel when she arrives at Albans Depot?
How does Niamh describe the people at Albans Depot?
How does Niamh describe the people at Albans Depot?
Study Notes
Vivian's Ghosts
- Vivian's "ghosts" refer to all the significant figures from her past who have impacted her life.
- In death, these ghosts provide her with the emotional comfort and protection they couldn't offer during their lives.
- They urge her to continue moving forward in life, giving her strength and motivation.
Molly's Foster Care Experience
- Molly's foster parents are Ralph and Dina, with Ralph being a troubled teen who found support through the Big Brother program.
- Dina's job as a dispatcher makes her irritable, leading to stress for Molly due to minor issues causing her to react strongly.
- Molly copes with feeling out of place at her new school by adopting a goth persona as a protective barrier.
Relationships and Trust
- Molly develops a budding friendship with Jack, a classmate who tries to understand her goth persona and eventually manages to make her smile.
- Molly feels her goth persona is restrictive because it inhibits her ability to trust others and form connections.
- Ralph and Molly's contrasting family backgrounds showcase different dynamics in their upbringings.
Crime and Consequences
- Molly faces suspicion from Dina after being accused of stealing a book, which leads to community service as a form of punishment.
- She is caught due to an anti-theft device in the book, highlighting the oversight in her actions.
- Molly expresses disdain for the instability in her foster care life, feeling constantly uprooted and dependent on others.
Vivian's Home and Background
- Vivian lives in a large Victorian home in Maine, having resided there for over 20 years after moving from Minnesota where she operated a department store with her husband.
- The attic of Vivian's house, a central place where Molly must work, is located on the third floor and has not been tidied in two decades.
Emotional Appeals and Character Bias
- The author uses pathos to convey the sense of heartbreak and betrayal that Molly experiences, particularly linked to her father's death.
- Ralph's bias against the foster system influences his opinions on Molly's situation, contrasting with Molly's negative perceptions of foster care.
Niamh's Story
- Niamh, the young version of Vivian, immigrated from Ireland seeking a better life in America, driven by tales of abundant jobs.
- She fears her family's stability will deteriorate in America due to her father's drinking and her mother's depression.
- After losing her family in a fire, Niamh grapples with feelings of being a societal burden, despite still being important to others.
Survival and Community
- Niamh's physical traits, like red hair and freckles, may hinder her chances of being placed in a foster home.
- On the orphan train, children like Niamh face harsh realities, with no assurance of kind treatment from potential families.
- The process of being selected by families feels objectifying to Niamh, comparing it to livestock at a show.
Final Thoughts
- The author's audience appears to be orphans, aiming to express the struggles they face and conveying empathy for their plight.
- Themes of attachment, family dynamics, and emotional resilience are woven throughout the narrative, creating a poignant exploration of the characters' lives.
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Description
Explore the emotional landscape of Vivian and Molly as they navigate their unique experiences with the past and present. Vivian's ghosts offer her comfort, while Molly grapples with trust issues stemming from her foster care experience. Delve into their relationships and personal growth in this insightful quiz.
