Introduction

Raised on a farm, Tabitha Salt, the daughter of Irish immigrants, leads a bucolic and sheltered existence. When tragedy strikes the family, Tabitha and her mother are forced to move to the notorious Five Points District in New York City, known for its brothels, gangs, gambling halls, corrupt politicians and thieves.

As they struggle to survive in their new living conditions, tragedy strikes again. Young Tabitha resorts to life alone on the streets of New York, dreaming of a happier future.

The Sisters of Charity are taking orphans off the streets with promises of a new life. Children are to forget their pasts, their religious beliefs, families and names. They offer Tabitha a choice: stay in Five Points or board the orphan train and go West in search of a new life.

The harrowing journey and the decision to leave everything behind launches Tabitha on a path from which she can never return.

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Excerpt

Raised on a farm, Tabitha Salt, the daughter of Irish immigrants, leads a bucolic and sheltered existence. When tragedy strikes the family, Tabitha and her mother are forced to move to the notorious Five Points District in New York City, known for its brothels, gangs, gambling halls, corrupt politicians and thieves. As they struggle to survive in their new living conditions, tragedy strikes again. Young Tabitha resorts to life alone on the streets of New York, dreaming of a happier future. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. The orphan train riders in this book are each flawed in some way. Do you attribute this to their lot in life, or do you think it is innate? Discuss the flaws as they pertain to each character.

2. The author paints an image of time and place, richly detailed with descriptions that evoke emotion; which portions of the book are the most vivid to you and your experience when reading about the orphans’ journeys?

3. How was New York City’s treatment of the indigent different in the 1800s than it is today? Do you agree that the orphan train movement established by Reverand Brace was the impetus for our modern foster care system?

4. What surprised you the most about Tabitha and her journey?

5. Tabitha had many men in her life, her father, Scotty, Edmund, and Pap, what do they all have in common?

6. Love and loss are themes throughout Forgetting Tabitha, not just between individuals but families. Discuss how this affected and was significant for each character as portrayed in the story.

7. Was Mary every truly able to forget Tabitha and would you want her to?

8. The author reveals that hundreds of thousands of orphans were sent on trains west. Were you aware of this time in our history?

9. Edna and her sister Sarah were considered Christian “do-gooders”, how has their faith played a role in Tabitha’s, Edmund’s, Gert’s and Scotty’s story?

10. Gert develops amnesia as a result of her tragic beating and rape. Edmund chooses not to divulge her past digressions. Did this ultimately result in her death?

11. Edmund falls in love with three very different women, Mary, Gert before her beating, and Gert after her beating. Which one did he really love?

12. Scotty has numerous redeeming qualities. Do you think it was it fair for Pap to belittle him for his hard work on the farm and why? How did he redeem himself?

13. Who killed the cows?

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