In 1860, life in New York City's slums is hard and dangerous. For a widow with six children, it is impossible. So when Mrs. Kelly learns of the Children's Aid Society, she sees a way to provide for her children. They will be sent west on an “orphan train” to families eager for help on their farms. Thirteen-year-old Mary Frances is confused and angry. How could a mother send her children away? At her new home in Missouri, however, Mary Frances is surprised to discover that the kind family provides a refuge on the Underground Railroad. Their sacrifices will finally help her understand her mother's difficult decision. Joan Lowery Nixon is a four-time winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Best Juvenile Mystery Award. She has also received two Golden Spur Awards. The author of more than a hundred books for children, she was inspired to write The Orphan Train Adventures by the true stories of its children. Through Barbara Caruso's lively narration, A Family Apart quickly draws listeners into Mary Frances' world.