March 1, 2002
Gr 3-5-Nine-year-old Meg Wells recounts the long, dangerous journey she and her read brother must take to avoid the cholera epidemic in St. Louis. Leaving their sick sister and parents behind, the two children travel to the Kansas frontier to live with their aunt and uncle for the summer. Their temporary home is quite different from the city life they are used to, and, in addition, they learn that it is part of the Underground Railroad. McMullan has incorporated the historical events with some basic emotional turmoil through the character of Meg as she follows the traditional diary format for this junior version in the well-known series. A historical note is appended complete with reprints of some drawings of the events and rugged lifestyle of the day. Simple historical fiction.-Rita Soltan, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI
Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.