What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedOrphan Train
Christina Baker Kline · Book · 2014
If you loved Orphan Train, start with Anne with an E (Moira Walley-Beckett, 2017) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Orphan Train across media.
If you loved Orphan Train, you will appreciate these stories that explore the profound resilience found within unexpected intergenerational connections.
Films on the same thread
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
Like the bond between Molly and Vivian in Orphan Train, this story centers on an elderly woman forming an unlikely friendship that helps her reconcile with her past.
Central Station
Film · 1998
Shares 2 threads with Orphan Train: Identity, Coming-of-age.
This journey mirrors the emotional development found in Orphan Train, focusing on how a transformative relationship between an adult and a youth provides mutual healing and redemption.
The Book Thief
Brian Percival · Film · 2013
Explores: The Power of Words, Resilience in the Face of Adversity, Innocence Lost.
Much like the historical struggle depicted in Orphan Train, this narrative highlights the resilience of a young person finding solace and humanity while navigating a harsh world.
The Fault in Our Stars
Josh Boone · Film · 2014
Explores: Terminal Illness, Young Love, Existentialism.
This story captures the poignant coming-of-age spirit of Orphan Train, focusing on how individuals navigate trauma and existential questions through the support of a deeply meaningful relationship.
Series on the same thread
Anne with an E
Moira Walley-Beckett · Series · 2017
Shares 2 threads with Orphan Train: Orphanhood, Resilience.
Fans of Orphan Train will recognize the familiar themes of orphanhood and the search for belonging as this series follows a young girl fighting for her place.
Orphan Black
Graeme Manson · Series · 2013
Explores: Identity crisis, Nature vs. Nurture, Corporate conspiracy.
While the genre differs, the core exploration of identity and the search for origins echoes the mystery of the past that drives the characters in Orphan Train.
Orange Is the New Black
Jenji Kohan · Series · 2013
Shares a thread with Orphan Train: Identity.
This series reflects the focus on social systems and resilience seen in Orphan Train, showcasing how women find unexpected community after being displaced from their former lives.
Downton Abbey
Julian Fellowes · Series · 2010
Explores: Class conflict, Social change, Upstairs-Downstairs.
Those drawn to the historical depth of Orphan Train will appreciate this chronicle of lives shaped by social class and the evolving nature of family and inheritance.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
This podcast shares the dedication to exploring moral ambiguity and social justice that makes Orphan Train so compelling, highlighting the human stories behind complex legal and social circumstances.
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
This audio drama echoes the central themes of Orphan Train by focusing on the survival of outcasts and the emotional complexity of those searching for their true identity.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Orphan Train?
Orphan Train follows seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer, who faces juvenile hall and is assigned community service helping an elderly woman named Vivian Daly. As Molly assists Vivian with a mystery from her past, she discovers that they share significant similarities despite their different generations and backgrounds.
Why is Molly Ayer performing community service in Orphan Train?
In Orphan Train, Molly Ayer is performing community service to avoid being sent to juvenile hall. She is close to aging out of the foster care system and is placed at the home of Vivian Daly to fulfill her required service hours.
Is the relationship between Molly and Vivian central to Orphan Train?
Yes, the relationship between Molly and Vivian is the core of Orphan Train. By helping the elderly woman solve a mystery from her past, Molly discovers that she and Vivian are more alike than different, bridging the gap between their disparate life experiences.
Does Orphan Train focus on the foster care system?
Yes, Orphan Train focuses on the foster care system through the perspective of Molly Ayer, who is seventeen and nearing the age where she will age out of the system. Her experiences within this environment shape her interactions with Vivian Daly throughout the story.