Rodzina
by Karen Cushman
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A twelve-year-old Polish American girl is boarded onto an orphan train in Chicago with fears about traveling to the West and a life of unpaid slavery.Tags
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In 1881, 12-year-old Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski wishes she didn’t have to board the orphan train in Chicago. But she has no home, no family, and no choice. Rodzina doesn’t believe the orphans are on their way out West to be adopted by good families. She’s sure they will become slaves to strangers. Anyway, who would ever adopt a large, tough, stubborn girl of Polish origin? As the train heads west, all Rodzina has is a small suitcase and her family memories from the past. Will Rodzina ever step off the train to find the family that deep in her heart she’s searching for?
I'm a sucker for orphan train stories, and boy, is this a great one. Rodzina is such a forthright, grumpy, kindly character. It's great to get to know her and cheer her on.
Another kids book from Karen Cushman, who has a great sense of history and an even better eye for detail; this one is about the orphan trains that took “unwanted” American children west in the late 1800’s. Though it’s not as enchanting as some of her medieval stories, this book still had Cushman’s trademarks: the endearing, diamond-in-the-rough main character, the slightly wacky supporting cast, and the gradual enlightenment that helps along the happy ending. A solidly enjoyable read.
Booktalk: Rodzina is 12 years old and all alone in the world. She lived in an orphanage because both her parents are dead. Now, she and a bunch of other orphans are being put on a train west from Chicago. They will stop in small western towns where people will look them over like merchandise at the store and decide if they want to adopt them. Rodzina would just assoon strike out on her own and take care of herself. Her friend Melvin told her that orphans were sold to families out west who wanted slaves. And when she first meets the two old ladies who want to adopt her, Rodzina knows Melvin speaks the truth. read pp 60-61 "We need an older girl...We'll take that chance." It's a long train ride to find a place where she belongs, but show more sometimes good things come to those who wait. show less
The book Rodzina tells the coming-of-age story of a strong female character and her resilience to never give up her search for a family. The story shows Rodzina’s strong will, hope, and personal integrity. Rodzina gave fate a fighting chance.
Rodzina is an excellent historical fiction book for upper elementary students. It tells a good story and gives the image of the hardship, loneliness, fear, and struggles of these orphaned children. The author’s note provides additional information on the origin of orphanages, orphan trains, and a bibliography of selected resources for students to read or view. The author included Polish culture and customs throughout the story. A glossary of Polish words and pronunciations is also provided.
Rodzina is an excellent historical fiction book for upper elementary students. It tells a good story and gives the image of the hardship, loneliness, fear, and struggles of these orphaned children. The author’s note provides additional information on the origin of orphanages, orphan trains, and a bibliography of selected resources for students to read or view. The author included Polish culture and customs throughout the story. A glossary of Polish words and pronunciations is also provided.
Rodzina at 12 is the oldest child on the Orphan Train and the least likely to get adopted. This colorful character narrates her adventures. The humor keeps this book from being overly sad.
Interesting historical topic with a memorable main character. A bit heavy but a great book.
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Author Information
14+ Works 15,884 Members
Karen Cushman was born on October 4, 1941 and grew up in a working-class family in Chicago, but never put much thought into becoming a writer. Though she wrote poetry and plays as a child, Cushman didn't begin writing professionally for young adults until she was fifty. She holds an MA in both Human Behavior and Museum Studies. Cushman has always show more been interested in history. It was this interest that led her to her research into medieval England and its culture, which led to both Catherine, Called Birdy, a Newbery Honor Book, and The Midwife's Apprentice, her second book and winner of the prestigious Newbery Award in 1996. Both Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife's Apprentice have earned many awards and honors including the Gold Kite Award for Fiction from the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and was chosen as one of School Library Journal's Best Books of the Year. Cushman's work has also been recognized for excellence by Horn Book, Parenting Magazine, Hungry Mind Review, and the American Library Association. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Awards and Honors
Awards
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Rodzina
- Original publication date
- 2003
- People/Characters
- Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski (Rodzina, Ro); Spud; Chester; Gertie; Mr. Szprot; Rose Lubnitz (show all 12); Joe; Sammy; Lacey; Mickey Dooley; Hermy the knife; Dr. Catriona Anabel Wellington (Miss Doctor, Doctor Cat)
- Important places
- Chicago, Illinois, USA; Wyoming, USA
- Dedication
- I was ten years old when Grandma Lipski took me to the Polish cemetery in Chicago to show me her mother's grave. In front of a gravestone marked Rodzina Czerwinski she sat and cried, while I watched her, this tough little gr... (show all)andma who never cried.
Many years later, when I thought about writing a book about a Polish girl from Chicago, I decided to call her Rodzina after my great-grandmother. I checked with my father to make sure I had the spelling correct, and I discovered that Rodzina was not her first name, but was the Polish word for "family." The gravestone marked the resting place of the rodzina Czerwinski, or Czerwinski family.
Rodzina is about the search for a family, and I decided that while Rodzina was not my great-grandmother's name, it was the perfect name for the girl in my story. And so she is Rodzina.
I would like to dedicate this book to my family -- the Czerwinskis, the Cushmans, and the Lipskis, who were kings in Poland. - First words
- On a cold Monday morning in March, when a weak, pale sun struggled to shine and ice glistened in the cracks in the wooden street, a company of some twenty-two orphan children with stiff new clothes and little cardboard suitca... (show all)ses boarded a special railway car at the station near the Chicago River.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And we stepped off the train into the blazing California sunshine.
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.6
Classifications
- Genres
- Kids, Fiction and Literature, Tween, Children's Books
- DDC/MDS
- 813.6 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 2000-
- LCC
- PZ7 .C962 .R — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 730
- Popularity
- 38,893
- Reviews
- 14
- Rating
- (3.90)
- Languages
- English, German, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 18
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 5
