THE CHILDREN'S TRAIN by Viola Ardon

 

“The innocence of childhood collides with the stark aftermath of war in this wrenching and ultimately redemptive tale of family, seemingly impossible choices, and the winding paths to destiny, which sometimes take us to places far beyond our imaginings.” – Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends

"Ardone’s beautifully crafted story explores the meaning of identity and belonging...recommended to fans of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels."  – The Library Journal

“[The Children’s Train] leaves you with a great sense of the importance of family and the tough decisions that must be faced as a result of that love.”  – Shelf Awareness

Based on true events, a heartbreaking story of love, family, hope, and survival set in post-World War II Italy—written with the heart of Orphan Train and Before We Were Yours—about poor children from the south sent to live with families in the north to survive deprivation and the harsh winters.

Though Mussolini and the fascists have been defeated, the war has devastated Italy, especially the south. Seven-year-old Amerigo lives with his mother Antonietta in Naples, surviving on odd jobs and his wits like the rest of the poor in his neighborhood. But one day, Amerigo learns that a train will take him away from the rubble-strewn streets of the city to spend the winter with a family in the north, where he will be safe and have warm clothes and food to eat. 

Together with thousands of other southern children, Amerigo will cross the entire peninsula to a new life. Through his curious, innocent eyes, we see a nation rising from the ashes of war, reborn. As he comes to enjoy his new surroundings and the possibilities for a better future, Amerigo will make the heartbreaking choice to leave his mother and become a member of his adoptive family.

Amerigo’s journey is a moving story of memory, indelible bonds, artistry, and self-exploration, and a soaring examination of what family can truly mean. Ultimately Amerigo comes to understand that sometimes we must give up everything, even a mother's love, to find our destiny.

Translated from the Italian by Clarissa Botsford

My thoughts:

I know I'm in the minority with this book. Most loved it and gave it 4 or 5 stars. To be honest I just can't do that. Though it is a very touching story and the times were horrible back then and it's based on real life facts I just didn't feel anything. I had no emotions reading this one. Not that I didn't feel horrible for these children and in some ways the parents too. It was just not an emotional story for me. It was like reading a part in a history book. I didn't connect with any of the characters at all. I felt awful for Amerigo Speranza as he narrated this story. He's a seven year old child who seemed to be grown way beyond his years.

Seems in Italy back in 1946 in Naples, the people were starving so bad that they had to send their children to Northern Italy to live six or so months to keep from freezing and starving. They had good lives during this time. Or at least one child did. The one telling this story. He was well taken care of, loved, fed, clothed and sent to school. He had a good life, but only for six months out of one year. Looks to me like these kind people or caring parents would have let these children stay where they were safe and cared for. Instead they go back to the same life they had before. Nothing changed.

Amerigo's mother was a selfish, unlovable, brut of a woman. She was a bit on the fast side too. I just did not like her at all. She has a great kid who loves her dearly and all she does is degrade him and never show him affection. I understand she lost a child but still. How do you push another away? I did not like her. Nothing about her except that she let her son go North to live for a while. That was kind of her. I would think that not seeing him for six months she would have been very happy to see him but she wasn't. Even in the last few chapters where it seems she did think of him a bit I could not connect with her at all.

Then he takes off back North. Apparently he did great as the story jumped ahead to him being a grown man. He is a famous Violinist who had made a great life for himself. At least it appears that way. I'm going to assume he did. There was nothing leading up to this part but it was still my favorite part of this book. That he possibly had a great life with the family that truly cared for him and he made something out of himself was great.

This passage was my favorite in this story. Chapter 51... I pull out the dusty case and open it. The violin is even smaller than I remember it, almost like a toy. It feels like I'm receiving it as a gift again, only this time it's from you. Inside the case there's still the label with my name on it: "Amerigo Speranza."

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ViolaArdone, #HarperVia for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

3/5 stars from me. I do recommend you read it for yourself as you may love it or see something that I didn't. It's a good story it just didn't do it for me. No emotion. At least not until the last three or so chapters.