The Children's Train by Viola Ardone

After the war life in Italy was hard. The families who did without during the war had even less after it was over so a group took a train full of children from their desperate families in Southern Italy to stay with foster families in Northern Italy. For Amerigo it was a life changing experience - new shoes for the first time in his life, three meals a day of healthy fresh food and gifts such as a beautiful violin. After spending months with his adoptive family he is back on a train to see his mother. She is worse off than before and the changes he has undergone are too much for Amerigo to keep him there. Years later he will return an accomplished musician to reconcile with the past. Told in Amerigo's perspective the language gives it an authentic voice and a bit of humor. For fans of all the books about European refugees and especially those efforts to save the children, this is a heart- wrenching must read. 4 stars