The Railroad Children Chronicles

I expected this book to be a spin-off of Edith Newbit’s classic children’s tome, The Railway Children. Instead, my children and I were in for an unexpected and wonderful literary treat.

The Railway Children Chronicles tells the story of orphan children in the western mining town of Silver Plume, Colorado. Cook masterfully transports readers back in time and poignantly portrays the real-life struggles orphans faced in the 1880s. Gritty and merciless, the story follows the Railway Children as they struggle to survive. It’s upsetting and shocking at times, but authentic to the time period and real-life struggles orphans faced in the American West. There’s no sugar-coating. It’s a tale of survival.

The children face hardships and challenges few modern readers will ever have to endure, and that’s partly what makes it so powerful. Action-packed, exciting, and heart-breaking at the same time, Cook’s novel is a conversation starter about this forgotten aspect of American history. Who will step up and save the orphans?

This is a book to read with your children. It may be upsetting to them at times, but it’s a powerful look at history and something that will lead to unforgettable conversations.