Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Viola Ardone
Translator: Clarissa Botsford
Year published: 2021 (English translation)
TWs: Loss, Child Separation
Rating: 5/5
What does it mean to belong? Is it about where you are born, who raises you, or the choices you make along the way? ‘The Children’s Train’ by Viola Ardone looks at these questions with tenderness and heartbreak. Inspired by true events in post-World War II Italy, this translated Italian novel tells the story of poor children from the South who were sent to the North in search of survival and opportunity.
“No one is born knowing everything.”
Synopsis
It is the late 1940s in Naples. The war has ended, but the South has been left in ruins. Families are hungry, jobs are scarce, and winter feels unbearable. Seven-year-old Amerigo Speranza lives with his mother Antonietta, doing odd jobs and finding ways to get by. One day, he learns that he will be sent north on a train with other children. There, families will care for them through the cold months, giving them food, clothing, and warmth.
Amerigo’s new life in the North surprises him. For the first time he has shoes that fit, a coat that keeps him warm, and a place where he feels safe. At school he shows talent for numbers, and with his foster father he learns how to tune instruments. Slowly, Amerigo begins to imagine a future that looks very different from the one waiting for him back home.
But choosing between his mother and his new family becomes the hardest part of all. Years later, as an adult, Amerigo looks back at that turning point, reflecting on what was lost, what was gained, and what family truly means.
“All feet are different, every single one has its own shape. You need to indulge your feet, otherwise all of life is suffering.”
My Thoughts
What makes this book stand out is the way Ardone captures a child’s voice. Amerigo is funny, sharp, and wonderfully naive. At one point he believes he can reach America just by taking a train, until another child tells him otherwise. His observations made me laugh and broke my heart at the same time. Through his innocence, we see how devastating poverty can be and how children often understand more than we think.
I also loved how the novel brings history to life. The so-called ‘children’s trains’ really did exist in post-war Italy. They were organised to give southern children a chance to survive the winter with families in the North. Ardone doesn’t just tell us the facts; she shows us what it must have felt like to be one of those children, torn between two worlds.
The book is divided into two parts. Most of it is told through the young Amerigo’s eyes, but the final part shifts to his adult perspective. I’ll admit that I preferred the child’s voice, which felt so full of energy and honesty. When the story moved to the grown-up Amerigo, I found myself wishing we had stayed longer in his childhood. Still, the contrast is powerful, showing us how quickly innocence can be lost.
Overall, this was a moving read. It combines history with an intimate story and reminds us that the past is not just made of dates and battles but of families and sacrifices. If you enjoy translated Italian fiction and emotional historical novels, ‘The Children’s Train’ will stay with you long after you finish it.
Happy Reading!
About the Author
Viola Ardone was born in Naples in 1974. She studied literature and worked as a teacher before becoming a full-time writer. After publishing several short stories and a debut novel, she found international success with ‘The Children’s Train’ in 2019. The book has since been translated into 36 languages and was adapted into a Netflix film. Ardone often writes about family, memory, and the consequences of history on today’s world.
Find more her Goodreads page!
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