From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6?Formulaic? 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 essays?one 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
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From the Inside Flap
David Howard has been living on the streets of New York City so long he can barely remember his parents. Through the Children's Aid Society, he finds a new home with the Bauer family in Missouri. But farm life isn't easy, especially for a boy who's never seen a cow before.
Luckily, the Bauers' hired hand, Amos, an ex-slave, comes to David's rescue. When an unexpected danger threatens Amos, David wants to help his friend. But how can an 11-year-old boy help a grown man?
