I'm generally apprehensive of "copycat" books because they never seem to measure up to the originals (see: the slew of "girl" thrillers riding on the coattails of Gone Girl). In the case of The Children's Train, the title and premise seemed too similar to Christina Baker Kline's NYT bestselling novel Orphan Train. However, after reading an excerpt from The Children's Train, I believe the book stands on its own as a strong work of historical fiction. The opening chapters are well-narrated, and the characters feel compelling.