RODZINA

Bibliography:  

Cushman, Karen. 2003. RODZINA. New York. Random House Children's Books. ISBN 044041993-X

Plot Summary:

Rodzina Clara Jadviga Anastazya Brodski, a twelve year old orphan, is going on the orphan train from Chicago to the west. It is the cold spring of 1881. Rodzina is a girl from a family of Polish immigrants. She is on her way to the unknown. As the miles go by, Rodzina’s story is revealed. Her younger, twin brothers have died in a fire; Papa has been killed by a runaway horse in Chicago’s stockyards; and Mama died from aching (putrid fever). Rodzina is left alone in the whole wide world, sent away with other orphans to strange, unknown places to be “traded into slavery”, though they call it “adopted by a family.” 

The wound of losing her family is still fresh. Everything reminds Rodzina of her lost loved ones: “the flat, stubby prairie looked like Papa’s face when he needed a shave.” It seems to Rodzina that no one cares about her future, especially “cold and frosty” Miss Doctor who is assigned to take care of the orphans on their way to California.

Being the oldest among the children on the train car, Rodzina unwillingly takes on the responsibility of looking after a group of orphans. She grows closer to funny and cheery Mickey Dooley, naïve “feeble-minded” Lacey, and always fighting Joe and Sammy. 

As the train stops at numerous stations, and orphans are taken home by their new families, Rodzina is waiting for her “perfect” family: a mama, a papa, and two brothers. Twice, Rodzina is sent from the train to be adopted; twice, she is returned to the train. The first family consisted of two old-maid sisters who were looking for a “strong back and hands” to do the chores. The second family was a father of thirteen children looking for a replacement for his soon to be dead wife. At the end of the trip only “unwanted” Rodzina and Miss Doctor remain. Unexpectedly for the reader, after this hard and uneven journey, these two find family in each other. Though the future will be full of difficulties for a female doctor and a young girl, they know they will face it together.

Critical analysis:

Karen Cushman, an author of many award-winning historical fiction books for young adults, wrote RODZINA as a tribute to her own family’s roots. Not only did she research her family tree for this book, she also researched the time period for the setting of the story. More information is included in her Author’s Note at the end of the book.

Most of the characters in this story are children aged two to twelve. They seem real and believable, their language mirroring their social background. Rodzina, the story’s protagonist, is forced to grow up in the blink of an eye, yet is full of domestic wisdom. Like the other orphans, she is a scared child. But, she finds the optimism to encourage others. Her stories, quick-witted and full of good humor, enlighten the spirit of all who listen. 

The story of Rodzina is not sugar-coated: it reveals the dark societal realities of the time. Cushman vividly describes America’s prairies, American and Polish historical events, and the Cheyenne Indians Rodzina encounters on her journey. Cushman provides opportunities for readers to make comparisons between the present and the past by filling the back-story with examples of pricing and travel times. For example when Rodzina notices the price of a dental filling, and when she mentions it takes all night to travel twenty-five miles by wagon.

RODZINA is about the search for family. But, for today’s readers it can provide an opportunity to reflect on their own families: what they appreciate about their parents; why family is important; and, how they can express their love for their family.

Cushman’s style of writing is meaningful and compelling. Her characters use vocabulary and speech patterns typical of that era: outhouse, prigger, a mite. Cushman also incorporates a smattering of Polish into Rodzina’s vocabulary. RODZINA is a wonderful way for children of today to take a glimpse into the past through the eyes of their peer.

Experts Reviews:

Parents' Choice Gold Award

Booklist Editor's Choice

Child Magazine, Best Books of the Year

“Engaging characters, a vivid setting, and a prickly but endearing heroine... first-person narrative captures... personality and spirit...poignancy, humor.”
School Library Journal, starred review

"Rodzina is prickly, stubborn, and heart-sore but she's also honest, likable and smart...Enough unpredictability to nicely unsettle expectations."
The Horn Book

"A natural for American history or social studies classes...especially interesting as a women's history title...a great story."
Booklist, starred review

Connections:

Read other books by Karen Cushman:

WILL SPARROW'S ROAD

MATILDA BONE

THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE

THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE