BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 2003. RODZINA. New York. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-1-51815-253-8.
PLOT SUMMARY
Rodzina, a polish american girl becomes an orphan after losing her mother, father and two siblings. She is left to fend for herself on the streets alongside other orphans. She then is sent on the orphan train towards the west and as an angry, lonely orphan decides to not become friends and wishes to be left alone. Because of her stature and age, she is told to help and care for the younger orphans. The train makes many stops along the way and she becomes fearful of being sold off as a slave or worse, a bride to a man against her will. She escapes a family with a plan to make her a replacement wife, she makes her way back to Miss Doctor, who kept her safe the entire train ride and ends up with the family she’s been wanting. Miss Doctor takes Rodzina in as they decide they would both miss one another,so she was no longer an orphan and no longer lonely.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The universal theme of sadness, loneliness, fear of the unknown is felt throughout the entire book and is relatable to anyone who has unfortunately been in a situation as Rodzina. She longs for a family to call her own and is hopeful when she befriends Miss Doctor who takes her in at the end after a rough start with both being strong-minded individuals. Rodzina who was roaming the streets, at times sleeping on the cold ground gives the reader a vivid image of the misfortune an orphan endured in the 1880’s in the United States. The orphan train described in detail as cold and noisy stops at different states where the people are described according to their location such as Indians dressed with skirts and moccasins on their feet in Nevada to the women with beautiful hair and well-kept clothing, whom she assumed to be mail order brides, as she hid in the back of a train car heading towards Virginia City.
The flyers at the train stops are realistic to the time period as they read with information about wife-seeking ads, teeth restoring with prices of 5.00 for dentures, Wanted: Homes for Children posters as well. The story is filled with unlucky events for a 12 year old orphan and includes memories of her Polish family throughout as she travels with few belongings to cherish. She speaks words in Polish, which are clearly defined in the pronunciation guide at the end of the book, also an author's note with more detailed information on orphan trains and the decrease in that because of the great depression and the introduction of foster homes amongst other historical information.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)/AWARDS
Booklist Starred, 03/01/03
Horn Book Magazine, 05/01/03
Kirkus Reviews, 03/15/03
Library Media Connection starred, 02/01/04
School LIbrary Journal starred, 04/01/03
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), 04/01/03
Booklist starred, (March 1, 2003 (Vol. 99, No. 13)): “ A naturals for American history or social studies classes, thi is especially interesting as a women’s history title, with Rodzina portrayed as an unromantic protagonist, big, angry and tough.”
Horn Book Magazine ( May/June, 2003): “Cushman is too practiced a storyteller to tie everything up too neatly, however, and there’s enough unpredictability to naively unsettle expectations– a funny case of mistaken gender, Rodzina and Lacey’s unexpectedly divergent paths.”
Kirkus Reviews (March 15, 2003): “ The story is undemanding and engaging, rolling along with the journey, subtly letting readers into Rodzina’s memories of the home she once had and of her immigrant parents and her Polish heritage.”
CONNECTIONS
This historical fiction story for the middle school audience is easy to read and can tie into lessons on diverse families, women’s studies and for a social emotional lesson on overcoming adversity.
The author’s note at the end of the book includes a lot of information in greater detail on the orphan trains and how they ended during the great depression which can prompt readers to research the United States in the 188o’s, Orphan trains, Polish Americans, Survival fiction, and History of the 19th century.
Other books on orphan trains and orphans historical fiction:
MacColl, Michaela. RORY’S PROMISE. ISBN 978-1-62091-623-0
Muldoon, Kathleen M. JOIN HANDS AND SING AN ORPHAN TRAIN STORY (COVER-TO-COVER: CHAPTER 2 BOOKS-ORPHAN TRAIN STORIES) ISBN 978-0-7891-58959-8
Avi. CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD. ISBN 978-07868-0828-1
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