Orphan Train West (Young Adult) Books in Order

Jane Peart's Orphan Train West young adult books adapt her historical orphan-train stories for readers around ages ten to fourteen. The five short novels, Laurel, Ivy & Allison, Kit, Toddy, and April & May, focus on children sent west from overcrowded eastern institutions in search of new homes.

The premise comes from a painful piece of American history. Children board a train with little control over where they will end up, then wait to see whether prospective families will choose them. Peart keeps that uncertainty at the center of the stories. Her young characters want safety, affection, and a chance to belong, but they have learned not to assume any of those things will be offered.

Every stop can change a life.

The books introduce a range of girls with very different temperaments and circumstances. Laurel is shy and grieving. Ivy fears being passed over while her friend Allison seems more likely to be chosen. Kit must adjust to hard work on a farm, and Toddy brings energy into a household marked by illness and loneliness. April & May follows two very young sisters facing separation from their mother and an uncertain future.

Although the situations are serious, the series is written in a clear, accessible style. The books focus on feelings young readers can recognize: missing family, worrying about fitting in, making a friend, and trying to be brave when adults are making the biggest decisions. They also show that a new home can be complicated. Adoption does not erase grief or make trust instant.

Friendship is an important thread. Some characters meet during the train journey, while others carry memories of the people they knew before being placed. That shared history gives the books warmth even when the children are separated and sent to different households.

Readers who prefer historical fiction with emotional stakes, gentle faith elements, and resilient young heroines will find an approachable entry point here. Begin with Laurel or read the books in order to meet each girl as her own story unfolds.