School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6Formulaic? Sure, but Nixon's title also provides a sympathetic protagonist in 11-year-old David and an uncluttered, absorbing plot. After leaving New York City in 1866 on an orphan train, the boy is "adopted" by the unlikable and childless Bauers of Missouri. His strongest connection is with the hired hand, an African American, whose friendly instruction and mentoring help offset the stern implacability of his new family. As David learns the ropes of farm life, he also worries about local prejudice against Amos and rumors that the Ku Klux Klan is in town. When the rumors become reality, Amos leaves for friendlier climes, but not before the child has the chance to see that, for all their coldness, the Bauers are also principled and decent people, willing to stand up to prejudice and violence. Intended for a younger audience than earlier titles in the series, the story is appropriate for reluctant readers and the young chapter-book crowd. The novel's after-matter includes two short historical essaysone on the orphan trains and the other on the Civil Rights movement. Mistakes in the CIP summary and subject headings suggest that this book takes place in Texas.Coop Renner, Coldwell Elementary-Intermediate School, El Paso, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Each novel tells about a child who rides an orphan train to Missouri in 1866. Independent Aggie finds a home with a like-minded family and discovers the women's suffrage movement. David encounters the Ku Klux Klan because of an ex-slave friend, but he too finds his niche. The protagonists and their stories are appealing, though predictable, and will likely attract younger readers of historical fiction. Background information is appended. From HORN BOOK Spring 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
