The train is filled with dozens of other children who have lost their families in one way or another; they are now hoping that their journey will connect them with new parents and a new, better life. Kline's book is fictional, but it's based on the very true history of thousands of children shipped to the Midwest.

This instant New York Times bestseller is a stunning and atmospheric novel of friendship, passion, and art, inspired by Andrew Wyeth's mysterious and iconic painting Christina's World. To Christina Olson, the entire world was her family's remote farm in the small coastal town of Cushing, Maine.

In the process she learns about the regenerative power of claiming — and telling — one's life story. Perhaps the main message of my novel is that shame and secrecy can keep us from becoming our full selves. It's not until we speak up that we can move past the pain and step forward.

A Piece of the World is a character-driven novel based on a real woman who was very private. Its focus is Christina's unspoken thoughts and feelings, and this is an area where the author has almost certainly applied her imagination.