Orphan Train Girl: Chapters 1–6

by Christina Baker Kline
A sixth-grader and an elderly woman discover they have something in common — years of moving from one foster family to another.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–12, Chapters 13–22
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. curlicue
    a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles
    Molly, sitting next to Jack in the backseat of the car, eyes the house. Three full stories. More windows than she can count. Carved curlicues around the roof.
  2. grudgingly
    in a reluctant manner
    Dina grudgingly agreed that Molly could stay, as long as she finished her hours.
  3. bound
    move forward by leaping
    Then he bounds out of the car and waits for Molly on the driveway.
  4. blunt
    characterized by directness in manner or speech
    “Excuse my bluntness, but at my age there’s no point beating around the bush. Your hair...and your fingernails...”
  5. intrigue
    cause to be interested or curious
    “Why?” Vivian doesn’t sound as if she feels particularly sorry for Molly. Or horrified. Or weirdly intrigued, the way people can be when they find out about Molly’s family.
  6. fringe
    decorate with an ornamental border
    She remembers the cornhusk doll her dad gave her with black yarn hair and moccasins and a long fringed dress that she kept on a shelf in her room.
  7. berth
    a bed on a ship or train; usually in tiers
    Niamh was seven years old when her family took a berth on a ship called the Agnes Pauline, bound for Ellis Island.
  8. grim
    filled with melancholy and despondency
    Many young men in their village went off to fight the British. Some came back wounded or grimly silent.
  9. listless
    lacking zest or vivacity
    Da’s paycheck from the pub was barely enough to feed all four children, and Ma seemed listless much of the time.
  10. serrated
    notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the apex
    In Molly’s hands are the supplies Terry gave her downstairs—a slippery stack of white garbage bags, a small knife with a plastic handle and a serrated edge, and a notebook with a pen clipped to it.
  11. rafter
    one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
    Floor to ceiling, the attic is packed with cardboard boxes. Overhead, pink insulation peeks out between rafters.
  12. sliver
    (figurative) a small or narrow piece or slice
    The only open area is around the narrow windows that let in slivers of natural light and a view of the bay outside.
  13. scuttle
    move about or proceed hurriedly
    She nods to Molly and scuttles down the stairs.
  14. senile
    mentally or physically infirm with age
    Four, Vivian is ancient, but she doesn’t seem to be senile.
  15. pallet
    a mattress filled with straw or a pad made of quilts
    Their room was dark, with no windows; Niamh couldn’t even see her brothers, Dominick and James, six-year-old twins, huddled together on their pallet on the floor.
  16. acrid
    strong and sharp, as a taste or smell
    Mam screamed, and Niamh bolted awake, coughing from the acrid smoke in her nose.
  17. ashen
    pale from illness or emotion
    She still looks a little ashen. Molly wonders if she should call Terry, but it’s not like Vivian has fallen over or can’t talk or anything.
  18. gingerly
    in a manner marked by extreme care or delicacy
    Vivian picks up the coat gingerly and holds it out in front of her.
  19. beckon
    summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture
    A thin, scowling matron in a white bonnet beckoned with a bony finger.
  20. pinafore
    a sleeveless dress resembling an apron
    There were about twenty of them, all ages, the girls in dresses with white pinafores and thick stockings, the boys in knickers that buttoned below the knee, white shirts, neckties, thick wool jackets.
  21. embroider
    decorate with needlework
    Embroidered inside the coat was her name—Niamh Power.
  22. vice
    a specific form of evildoing
    “And you are lucky to be on it. You are leaving behind the big city, an evil place full of ignorance, poverty, and vice. You are on your way to a healthy and virtuous life in the country.”
  23. fend
    try to manage without help
    “You will listen to instructions. You will not wander off alone at any time. And if your behavior proves to be a problem, you will be sent straight back to where you came from and left to fend for yourselves.”
  24. defiance
    intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
    He had bold blue eyes under a flannel cap that was also blue, and he met Mr. Curran’s gaze with defiance.
  25. impudent
    marked by casual disrespect
    “Mr. Curran, maybe the young man who spoke to you so impudently should be moved to a new seat.”
  26. glower
    look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
    Molly glowers at him.
  27. instinctive
    unthinking
    Instinctively she covers the turtle with her hand, but Jack’s already seen it.
  28. headstrong
    habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition
    “You are a foolish and headstrong girl,” she told Niamh, but her voice had lost its edge, and Niamh could tell that she wasn’t as angry as she wanted to appear. “You disobeyed my instructions. You’ve disgraced yourself.”
  29. fray
    wear away by rubbing
    Next to the dress is a crumpled turquoise cardigan, embroidered flowers fraying, green leaves springing loose from their stitches.
  30. gable
    the triangular wall between the sloping ends of a roof
    Under the sweater Molly uncovers a green hardcover book with the words Anne of Green Gables stamped on the front in gold.
  31. circumspect
    careful to consider potential consequences and avoid risk
    “Not exactly shy. I was—quiet.” Still am, she thinks.
    “Circumspect,” Vivian says.
    Molly looks at her a little suspiciously. “What does that mean?”
    “Watchful,” says Vivian. “Careful. Reserved.”
  32. sullen
    showing a brooding ill humor
    Teachers always complain that Molly is sullen, that she won’t speak up in class, that she doesn’t try to make friends.
  33. bedraggled
    limp, untidy, and soiled
    Vivian takes the bedraggled mittens from Molly’s hand.
  34. indignantly
    in a manner showing anger at something unjust or wrong
    “I wouldn’t have done that,” Niamh said, a little indignantly.
  35. furrow
    a long shallow trench in the ground
    Outside the window, she could see three sets of tracks parallel to the one their train was on, and beyond them broad flat fields of furrowed soil.
Created on Wed Aug 11 10:16:09 EDT 2021 (updated Thu Aug 12 16:40:17 EDT 2021)

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