Danny and Life on Bluff Point - Book 4: The Man on the Train [Paperback]

Mary Lee (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Danny and Life on Bluff Point: the Man on the Train is the fourth in a series of historical novels for children. It is now March of 1895 and the last iceboating of the winter is done with a family trip across Keuka Lake to the community of Crosby. Danny has his sister Mary with him and must carefully control his iceboat in a very strong wind. Great Grandma Baker tells the children about her family's trip from Rensselaer County to Orleans County on the Erie Canal in 1858.

Grandma and Grandpa Scott leave Bluff Point and move to Gorham with the help of the Lee family. The ride on the steam cars is fun for all until Mary is trapped in the livestock car by an evil man. Danny helps with the rescue.

Danny learns when it is time to stand up for himself and his loved ones.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Ellen Lee and her family have lived in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York for four generations. Keuka Lake is the setting for her books and is where both she and her father grew up. The author is an avid reader of nonfiction American history and uses her knowledge to enhance the historical value of her books.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (September 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595324347
• ISBN-13: 978-0595324347
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,363,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Danny continues to grow up, December 2, 2006

By 

T. Reynolds "A Reader" (Walworth NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Danny and Life on Bluff Point - Book 4: The Man on the Train (Paperback)

Danny is learning about responsibility as he also enjoys being a 10-year old boy. He learns through his mistakes and continues to try to think about the consequences of his actions before getting himself into trouble. Sometimes it works, sometimes he still gets into a mess but all in all he is growing more mature.
All of the author's books portray lessons to be learned along with the local history she presents as background and scenery for her stories.

5.0 out of 5 stars Relax and read this series with your children, October 1, 2006

By 

debra (N.Y.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Danny and Life on Bluff Point - Book 4: The Man on the Train (Paperback)

I bought this series for my son as we live near Bluff Point. I pre-read them for content. "Life on Bluff Point" books are great reading on many levels. There is a bit of history, as well as daily life and lessons to be learned with in these pages. You do not have to be a local person to enjoy Dannys journals. My son liked the family dynamics of this era, with its joys and conflicts and I liked the many subtle lessons on good behavior. Reading about the daily chores and responsibilities of the children was an eye opener for my ten year old, as was the fact that all these years later, boys will still be boys.
This series will promote great family discussions, read them with your kids

5.0 out of 5 stars well-crafted novel, August 2, 2006

By 

magazine writer (Geneva, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Danny and Life on Bluff Point - Book 4: The Man on the Train (Paperback)

Life in the Finger Lakes review--Laurel C. Wemett
This title is the fourth in a series of well-crafted novels about a 10-year old boy's life in 19th century rural Yates County, NY. Starting with "Danny and Life on Bluff Point", set in December of 1894, the series is based on the life of the author's grandparents, father, and his sisters. When entering her grandfather's journal into her word processor, the author decided to write a historical novel based on it. That is how the "Danny" series began.

Danny is the only boy in the family and therefore expected to help on the family's fruit and livestock farm, but is hampered by his small frame and lack of strength. The stories show how he overcomes his physical limitations by his determination to contribute to the well-being of his family. The events of this book are set in March of 1895 and focus on such activities as iceboating and a first train ride.

While these novels are written for 8 - 12-year-olds, reading them aloud will creat a dialogue between grandparents and children about the things the older generation did while growing up. The books are well-researched and would lend themselves to a school curriculum that includes local or American history. While set largely on Bluff Point, that peninsula between the two branches of Keuka Lake, the situations described are similar to rural family life anywhere. Adventures pitting young Danny against a danger, whether a strong wind on the frozen lake or an evil man who terrorizes his younger sister on the train, add excitement and will appeal to young readers.