Rodzina

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Bibliography

Cushman, Karen.  Rodzina.  New York: Clarion Books, 2003.  0-618-133-518

Summary

By the age of twelve, Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski had more life experience than most people three times her age.  After immigrating with her family to Chicago, she lived a happy life for a number of years being cared for by her mother, sharing laughter with her father and watching over her two younger brothers.  In her twelfth year, her happiness quickly disappeared as her entire family passed away.  Alone and penniless, she lived on the streets before being sent west on an orphan train to find a new family.  But who would want a potato-nosed, not-so-pretty girl? 

Analysis

The idea of becoming an orphan is intriguing to children.  It is a tragedy they can easily imagine, they are able to immediately understand the effect the loss of their parents would have on their life.  This relatable tragedy draws children into Rodzina’s story.  The intrigue of the historical facts keeps them engaged and interested in her world.

Rodzina is amazing similar to children today.  Her hopes, fears and desires mirror those of any child; she wants a family who cares for her, who will love her and who will take care of her no matter what.  These universal and timeless themes keep the reader connected to Rodzina when her experiences venture far from modern day expectations and standards. 

Taking place aboard the trans-continental railway, the reader is reminded of the setting not only with the descriptions of the passing landscape but also by the title of each chapter, which tells where the train has stopped.  At many of these stops, Rodzina reads the advertisements that are posted, giving the reader an idea of what was important to people of the time and creating a frame of reference for the decisions the characters make. 

Rodzina’s story, while fictional, is historically accurate and based on research.  For students who wish to know more, a list of books for further reading is at the back of the book following Cushman’s notes telling about the orphan trains and the orphan train experience.

Awards and Reviews

*Parents’ Choice Gold Award

*Booklist Editor’s Choice

*Booklinks Lasting Connections Selection

“Rodzina is prickly, stubborn, and heart-sore but she's also honest, likable and smart...Enough unpredictability to nicely unsettle expectations." –The Horn Book

“A natural for American history or social studies classes...especially interesting as a women's history title...a great story." –Booklist

“Engaging characters, a vivid setting, and a prickly but endearing heroine... first-person narrative captures... personality and spirit...poignancy, humor.” –School Library Journal

Connections

Create a map of the trans-continental railway.  Add markers showing key points in Rodzina’s journey west.

Research orphan trains.  Were the trains a good or bad idea?  Justify your opinion with facts from your research.

20 Facts about Karen Cushman

Interview with Cushman

Choose one of the other orphans from the story.  Write their story.  Include details about their life in Chicago, their thoughts about being on the orphan train and their hopes for what they will find in a new family.  Be sure to align your ideas with the character Cushman created.