THE BOOK FAIR

Two tales of orphan girls, Niamh (Neev) Power, an immigrant from Ireland, orphaned in 1929, and Molly Ayer, a seventeen old who spends years in foster homes.  The stories, alternately told from the voices of Niamh and Molly, move from the years of 1929 to 1940’s Minnesota, to present day Maine.

Molly, a high school student, in Spruce Harbor, Maine, resides with Ralph and Dina Thibodeaus.  Molly, a Penobscot Indian, lived in several foster homes over the years, after her father died in a car accident and her mother was hospitalized with mental illness.  Molly, though a good student, rebels with a Goth look and body-piercings.   For the theft of a library book, Molly as punishment, agrees to community service and is appointed to help Niamh.

At nine years old, Niamh loses her family in an apartment house fire in New York City.  The Christian Aid Society promoted a program for orphans and homeless children in NYC.  Subsequently, Niamh boards the Orphan Train headed to Minnesota and waiting families.  However, some of the families waiting for orphans really await free laborers.

The tenuous relationship between the Molly and Niamh changes quickly.  Molly brings ninety-one year old Vivian into the twenty-first century demonstrating the magic of the internet.  Molly begins to look up her own lost family as well as Niamh’s.  

The author offers tidbits of interesting information about Maine, the Penobscot Indians and Minnesota.  The novel is well written and the character of Niamph, well developed and particularly likeable.