This review is being posted as part of the The Orphans On The Train influencer tour organised by Headline.
The Orphans On The Train is the latest gripping historical fiction novel from author Gill Thompson. It is a heart-wrenching story set in war-torn Budapest exploring themes of love, loss, found family, resilience and healing. The narrative is perfectly paced and had me hooked from the very first page, making this a must-read for fans of World War Two historical fiction.
Gill Thompson has an incredible ability to craft compelling stories which perfectly capture the emotions experienced by the characters in a way which truly tugs on the heartstrings of every reader.
The focus of The Orphans On The Train is on the horrific experiences of Jewish people in Hungary during the Second World War. The history of the Holocaust in Hungary tragically isn’t as widely known as that in other countries in Central and Western Europe so it’s fantastic to see this represented within historical fiction in such a powerful and moving way. The history was clearly very well researched and the story is inspired by real events. The author’s afterword is a must-read to find out more about the history behind the book.
Kirsty was a fantastically written character who made a wonderful protagonist. She is only fourteen years old when our story begins in 1939 and we follow her through her teenage years into early adulthood. At every point in the story she felt authentically written as a young person in that era of their life and it was wonderful to see her gradually mature into an incredible courageous young woman. Anna and her brother Endre were also brilliant characters and I thought the portrayal of Endre’s PTSD was incredible. The friendship between Kirsty and Anna was really well written and felt like an authentic teenage friendship. I loved that they found family in each other when they’d both lost everyone else in their lives and the bond this created between them. The central role swimming played in the story was also really impactful as it was powerfully used to help the characters to gradually heal from the tragic losses and trauma they experienced at such young ages.
Overall, The Orphans On The Train is a really powerful and moving novel which had me truly engrossed from cover to cover to the point that I read (and wept) through the story in a single sitting.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

Let me start by saying I adore this book and the stories it brings to light. I have never read a World War 2 book set in Hungary and prior to visiting Budapest last fall was ignorant to the extent of brutality faced by its Jewish (and other) citizens during Nazi occupation and the Arrow Cross party’s reign of terror. (A horror followed immediately by Soviet/Communist occupation until the fall of the Iron Curtain and official independence in the early 1990’s). You cannot visit this city without seeing this history displayed in the form of monuments, museums, and even its public transport system.

Gill Thompson captured the tone needed to convey the anxiety and terror of the city at this time while keeping you so enthralled in the story that once the events start rolling you can’t look away. I loved watching Kristy grow from an orphaned 14-year-old girl into a savvy 19 year-old-woman who is loyal, determined to stand with what’s right, and strategic enough to not only keep herself alive but her Jewish best friend as well. The on page depiction of Kristy and Anna’s friendship is so real, it’s not one that’s perfect and you see them have to work out big issues, but at the end of the day they love one another so much and are each other’s chosen family. I also greatly appreciated that the message of showing kindness and mercy to those who have greatly wronged you was touched upon. It is so essential to both the Christian and Jewish faith and I love that it was woven into the story in a tactful manner. And lastly where Thompson took this book in the last 10% had my jaw dropped, I was not expecting her to briefly touch on the time of Communist occupation and the Iron Curtain but oh my gosh how she executed it was so good!

I would say go into this book knowing what time period and situation you are going into, which I feel is standard for the majority of books covering the World War 2 period.

Trigger Warnings for: on page anti-semitism, attempted and referenced sexual assault, violence, murder/execution/genocide, referenced/off page torture, and death of a parent. If you can read about these things I do recommend this book though!!!

On a side note, the research and passion Gill Thompson put into this book is so evident within the story and I highly recommend reading her author’s note to learn about the women in history who inspired the three heroines of this story!

The Orphans on the Train is based on a true story of friendship between a Scottish girl and a Hungarian Jewish teenager.

After the death of her father, Kirsty finds herself moving from Scotland to Hungary to work in a school for Christian and Jewish children. Here she meets Anna, a Hungarian Jew. As war closes in, can Kirsty and Anna find a way to survive the atrocities?

A moving and thought provoking novel. I found the ending a little rushed, but a well researched piece of historical writing nonetheless.

There just are not enough good historical fiction novels out there. It takes a really special skill to write one. I can’t imagine the research that goes into writing a book like this one. So often, historical fiction is dry or overdone with too many unnecessary details, it’s boring, the plot doesn’t move or it’s a story we have seen or read about a hundred times before. Especially when the time is around World War II, I read so many that I got burnt out and had to stop for a while.

The Orphans on the Train by Gill Thompson was gripping, emotional, well-written, and was not dry, boring, or overdone! I can confidently recommend it to you. I am going to be looking for more books by this author.

Plot:

1939.
A girl with auburn hair looks anxiously out of the train window, watching the mountains of Europe pass by. War is on the horizon at home, and Kirsty finds herself heading to neutral Hungary to help in a school for Jewish children. Little does she know that in leaving everything behind, she is about to find the most precious gift of all – a true friend in school pupil Anna.

1943.
When the Nazis invade Budapest, Kirsty and Anna are on their own, and Kirsty worries desperately for her Jewish friend. What lengths must they go to in order to survive, and, when they are separated, can the guiding light of friendship bring them back to each other?

Excellent historical novel based on a true story of a wartime friendship between a Scottish teenager and a Jewish girl who meet during the Second World War in Hungary after Kirsty accepts a position as the assistant cook in a school.
This book is about survival and is well researched. I enjoyed it and would recommend if you like historical fiction

It was 1939 and Kirsty had just lost her da in the most heartbreaking of ways. Dead after a mine collapse in the small village in Scotland where they'd always lived, with Kirsty now an orphan after her mother had died when she was four. She was only fourteen, too young to live by herself, unable to pay rent. But Maggie and Archie took her in while things were decided. It was when a woman who'd originated in Scotland came to Kirsty's rescue, taking her to Hungary to the school where both Christian and Jewish children were housed. Kirsty would help in the kitchen, learn the language and find solace in her grieving.

Gradually Kirsty became friends with Anna, a Hungarian Jew who boarded at the school during the week, returning home to her parents and brother for the weekend. With war closing in on them all, and Jews being rounded up, made to board trains, destination unknown, Matron of the school, Kirsty's friend Jean, was anxious but determined to keep her charges safe. As the Nazis drew closer and the brutal group who hated Jews surrounded them all, Kirsty and Anna were desperate. Would they survive the horrors of war?

The Orphans on the Train by Gill Thompson is an historical novel based on true events and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Kirsty was inspirational. Her young age and the years that followed, where she learned much, from a new language, cooking and her passion, swimming, saw her beating the odds on occasion. A heartbreaking, moving novel, The Orphans on the Train is one I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I would suggest this book if you like WW 2 historical fiction books. It is a story that hits hard and will stay with you after finishing. It was a good cast of characters that kept me invested in the story. I enjoyed the friendships developed throughout the story. Give this one a try, it will not disappoint. 4 star

I loved this book! A real page turner, based on actual people. Gill Thompson has created a story of courage, hope, and heartbreak in one of the darkest periods of history. A heart wrenching and emotional story showing the resilience of the human spirit.

After a tragic accident 14 year old Kristy is left orphaned and all alone in Scotland. She is offered a position as a cook's assistant at a school in Budapest, despite WWII going on. This book follows Kristy as she make’s friends with a Jewish girl at the school, the dangers they face, and the suffering they endure. Will they and their friends survive the war?

This book had an excellent storyline with a great cast of characters. It evoked many emotions in the reader. I would highly recommend this book. The Orphans On The Train is a thrilling story and one which will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline Books for an advance copy of this book.

I was immediately enthralled by this book. The standard language, the description, and the anguish are what captivate you about the author. The book was an emotional rollercoaster, taking the reader through Kirsty's heartbreaking father's death and subsequent upheaval in her life; the hope of a better life after moving to Budapest, where she is cared for and guided by her amazing role model Jean; the lovely friendship that developed between two young girls who didn't speak the same language but supported each other; and the horrors they endured during the war while living in Budapest. A continuous oscillation between happy and anxious moments that made my pulse race and fret for the characters, in whom I had complete faith.


This was the author's debut novel, and I had a hard time putting it down. I thought about it even while I wasn't reading it. I would give more than five stars if I could. A vital read.the characters, in whom I had complete faith.


This was the author's debut novel, and I had a hard time putting it down. I thought about it even while I wasn't reading it. I would give more than five stars if I could. A vital read, I heartily recommend the emotional roller-coaster ride the author takes us on!

Kristy is a strong swimmer and she is going to need all that muscle and resolve to swim again the forceful life currents that sweep through her life.
First, she’s left orphaned at 14, then moves to Hungary to be a cook during WWII.
Not much is ever written about life in Hungary during WWII as historical fiction so it’s an interesting and horrifying read.
The author stayed as true to the historical timeline as possible and based some of her characters off real people.
Triumph over tragedy, but with many losses along the way, this book epitomizes the strength of the human spirit and the message of keep swimming still resonates today.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

This book was well researched and well written. I found it a bit slow at times and it seems to plod along then the narrative would move more quickly.
It was loosely based on factual events and people - and gave an interesting insight into the friendship between a girl who had lost her father to a mining accident and the matron of a school for mostly Jewish girls in Hungary.
While there Kirsty met a girl of her own age - she was a Gentile and Anna a Jew.
The book gave an account of the often difficult friendship between the girls and Anna's brother.

In parts it was heart wrenching and heartbreaking - and again gave, for those of us not old enough to know, an account of Man's inhumanity toward other mankind - often on religious grounds sometimes though it seemed to be just for the sake of being cruel.

For those that love historical fiction and would like a different view on WW2 and life in another country other than Germany or France then this is a book that would allow one to go and do more research for themselves into the atrocities that were perpetrated.

Thank you Gill Thompson

A gripping and moving story follows the lives of two orphaned girls, Kirsty and Anna, and Jean, who becomes like their surrogate mother during World War II.

The story is based on real events. The reader is transported to the mountains of Scotland and the bustling city of Budapest thanks to Thompson's attention to detail and vivid descriptions.

The bond between the two girls is beautifully written, as they navigate the challenges and dangers of their circumstances.

Their friendship becomes their lifeline, providing them with strength and hope in the face of difficulty . I was enthralled with their world, feeling their pain and hoping for their survival.

I was engaged all the way through, the book captured the emotions and experiences of the characters.
The historical context is well-researched and adds depth to the narrative.

This book was a powerful exploration of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.
It is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, particularly those interested in World War II.

A very moving WW2 story about two women running a Scottish missionary school for Jewish children in Budapest during WW2. Definitely a book that I couldn't put down with a very good storyline and great cast of characters. I also found it very interesting as it was set in Hungary and I haven't read many books set there especially as it went into to the iron curtain era. If you like WW2 stories then I would definitely recommend it as a book that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it

The Orphans on the Train is an exciting, wonderful historical fiction. Orphans on the Train took me to World War 2 Hungary as Kristy travels from Scotland to Hungary to help in a Scottish Mission. Through this historical fiction my eyes were opened to an area of history that I knew very little.

I thought I had known at least a little about Hungary during WW2. I was so wrong. I was clueless of life in Hungary before the Nazi invasion. I am ashamed of what little I knew about Hungary during the Nazi occupation. I was left speechless by the actions of those occupying Hungary after the war ended. I was left inspired by the survivors.

Through Kristy's eyes the reader experiences the horrors of war. I saw the atrocities first hand. I witnessed how horribly the Jewish people were treated. They lost everything they owned. Many lost their lives simply for being Jewish. I have been left speechless by the way they were treated. I will never look at the Danube River the same way. I will never take my freedom for granted again.

The Orphans on the Train shows what it means to live. The Orphans on the Trains teaches what it means to survive. The Orphans on the Train showed me that no matter how much I think I know, I know nothing. I will read and read. I will share what I have learned. Knowledge is our greatest weapon against something like this ever happening again.

What a great historical fiction novel. The horrors of WW2 have echoed through the decades, and this is another perspective, being set mostly in Hungary. The shear force of will for people to survive is amazing, and this book conveys that well. Definitely a great, haunting read!!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

A powerful, heat-wrenching and emotional historical fiction.

Two orphans with totally different backgrounds. Kirsty was 14 when she lost her father in an accident. Kirsty was offered an opportunity to help in school Hungary. Kirsty then met a Jewish girl called Anna. They were now becoming true feiend even though they were from different background and languages.

The Nazi then invaded Budapest and they had to find their ways to survive. Kirsty worried about Anna. Would they survive?

I could not put down the book once I started reading it. The strong story plot, the powerful characters and the rollercoaster-like contents just made me loved this book a lot. It’s one of the best ww2 historical fiction I have ever read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for an ebook ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.

From the very beginning I loved this book. The author draws you in with the typical language, the description, the heartache. The book was an emotional rollercoaster, the reader being taken through the heartache of Kirsty losing her father so suddenly; her life being turned upside down; the hope of a better life for her as she moves away to Budapest, being guided and looked after by her wonderful role model Jean; the beautiful friendship that was created between two young girls who didn't speak the same language but kept each other strong; the horrors they lived through during the war whilst in Budapest. A constant back and forth of moments that made me smile and moments that made my heart race and worry for the characters I was totally invested in.

This was my first book from this author and I couldn't put it down. Even when I wasn't reading it, it crossed my mind. If I could give more than 5⭐ I would. A must read.

When different backgrounds and circumstances lead the young girls to Hungary during WWII, Kirsty and Anna become friends. They will face many horrors and difficult situations throughout their lifetimes. I enjoyed reading this WWII based story that had a different aspect of the tragedies of WWII. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this!

After a tragic accident fourteen year old Kristy is left orphaned and unsure of where to go next. When she is offered a chance to leave Scotland and go to work in a Jewish children’s school in Hungry, she decides to take it despite the threat of war looming.
As the years pass she is forced to watch her new home go from a safe haven for her to a place of fear for her mentor, Jean, and her best friend, Anna.
I haven’t read a lot of books taking place in Hungry during the war so this was an incredibly informative read. Gill Thompson did an excellent job weaving together the facts and politics with Kristy’s story to give a heartfelt story.

Thank you to @netgalley and @headlinebooks for letting me read this book in exchange for a review.
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I really enjoy reading books during World War II, This one i loved and couldn't put it down.. Usually they are set in the Uk or Germany so this one was different. I really liked that the female characters were strong woman, and that they were likeable! Thank you NetGalley for this