IMBS Logo

A Book I Have Read Report

Name:

Michael James

Name of the book:

The Orphan

Author's name:

N/A (Short Story)

Date started / Date complete:

September 28, 2025

The story is about:

A quiet, hopeful boy named Leo who lives in an orphanage. The main idea is that small acts of kindness and sharing your unique talents can lead to wonderful and life-changing opportunities.

Some interesting words/expressions were:

"dreary stone orphanage," "quiet hands," "perfectly carved wooden bird," "heart sink."

The part I enjoyed most was:

When Leo decided to give the baker's wife his wooden bird along with her scarf. It was a brave and kind gesture that showed who he really was without him having to say a word. It was the moment that changed his life.

The main character(s) was/were:

1. Leo, who is a shy, kind, and talented orphan.

2. The Baker's Wife, who is a kind woman looking to adopt a child.

3. The Baker, who is the kind-hearted husband of the baker's wife.

The character I liked best was:

Leo.

I liked this character because:

He was very shy but had a big heart. He didn't let his fear stop him from doing something kind for someone else, and that act of kindness is what got him his dream of having a family.

I would recommend this story because:

It is a heartwarming story about hope. It shows that you don't have to be loud or the center of attention to be noticed, and that being true to yourself can make your dreams come true.

The Story: "The Orphan"

In a gray stone orphanage on a lonely hill, there lived a boy named Leo. He was small for his age, with quiet hands that were always busy carving little figures out of leftover firewood. More than anything, he wished for a family. One sunny afternoon, a kind-hearted baker and his wife came to the orphanage looking for a child to adopt. Leo watched from a corner as they smiled and talked with the other children, feeling his heart sink as they didn't seem to notice him.

As the couple was preparing to leave, Leo saw the baker's wife drop her favorite silk scarf without realizing it. He knew she would be sad to lose it. Overcoming his shyness, Leo picked up the scarf and ran to return it to her. Tucked inside the folds of the scarf, he placed a tiny, perfectly carved wooden bird he had just finished. He handed it to her and quickly ran back to his corner before she could say anything.

The baker's wife was touched by his quiet act of kindness and amazed by the beautiful carving. She and her husband asked the headmistress about the shy boy in the corner. They learned his name was Leo and saw the incredible talent and gentleness he possessed. They realized they had almost overlooked the perfect son. That very day, they adopted Leo, who finally found the loving home he had always dreamed of, filling their bakery with the warmth of his smile and the scent of fresh bread and carved wood.

Story Analysis

Paragraph 1: Introduction (Characters, Setting, Main Idea)

The short story "The Orphan" is about a quiet, hopeful boy named Leo who lives in a dreary stone orphanage. The story is set in the orphanage and follows Leo's emotional journey as he dreams of finding a family. The main idea of the story is that small acts of kindness and sharing your unique talents can lead to wonderful and life-changing opportunities.

Paragraph 2: The Problem

The main problem in the story is Leo's loneliness and his fear that he will be overlooked and never find a family. This fear becomes very real when a kind couple visits the orphanage but fails to notice him, making him feel invisible and hopeless. He wants to be chosen, but his shyness prevents him from stepping forward and showing them who he is.

Paragraph 3: Solution and Recommendation

The problem is solved when Leo performs a selfless act of kindness. After returning a lost scarf to the baker's wife, he also gives her a small wooden bird he carved, revealing his gentle heart and special talent. This gesture makes the couple see him for the wonderful boy he is, and they decide to adopt him. I would recommend this heartwarming story to anyone who enjoys tales about hope and the idea that being true to yourself can make your dreams come true.