Distant Dreams (Ribbons of Steel) (Book 1) [Paperback]

Judith Pella (Author), Tracie Peterson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1997 | Series: Ribbons of Steel (Book 1)

A young woman enthralled by the railroad and America's westward expansion faces a society that looks down on such aspirations. Ribbons of Steel book 1.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA. Andrew Jackson's presidency and accompanying intrigue form the historical setting for this novel. An almost consuming curiosity about things mechanical, and especially the new railroad, creates frequent conflicts for 15-year-old Carolina Adams. The inquisitive teen faces daily challenges from her family and peers in an age when it is feared that too much education may "cause insanity in women." Fascination for the sight, sound, and even the smell of locomotives isolates the young woman from her convention-bound mother and brings ridicule from her older, socially conscious sister. Only her father and her sister's fiance share her enthusiasm for this new iron monster and seem sympathetic to her appetite for information. Solvency of the national bank, westward expansion, and the wisdom of investing in railroad construction are at issue in this first volume of the series. Subplots include tension in gender roles, parental power, and sibling rivalry?all topics as viable in the 1990s as in the 1830s.?Janice DeLong, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In a promising start to a new historical series, Pella (Blind Faith, Bethany, 1996) and Peterson (Entangled, Bethany, 1997) deliver an entertaining story with a dynamic female lead character. Carolina Adams is 15 years old in 1835, and the life of a typical woman in the South is not what she wants. She has become entranced with the new railroad, as is her tutor, James Baldwin. The two are attracted, but James bows to his family's wishes and becomes engaged to Carolina's older sister. When James breaks off the engagement to follow the railroad westward, Carolina puts their relationship in the hands of God. The ending does leave readers hanging, so expect a demand for the sequels.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (February 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155661862X
• ISBN-13: 978-1556618628
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,875,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguingly suspenseful, page turner, August 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Distant Dreams (Ribbons of Steel) (Book 1) (Paperback)

Distant Dreams is a wonderful book. I liked how it was not your usual romance. You had to deal with the society's rules of the time. I admire Carolina for her tenacity. I'm reading the second book now. Like I said, I like how it's not your usual romance, it doesn't turn out how you expect. I highly recomend it to everyone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining, good book, March 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Distant Dreams (Ribbons of Steel) (Book 1) (Paperback)

Even though I do not share Carolina's passion for locomotives or math and Latin, I found this book to be very interesting and informative. I had just been reading about Andrew Jackson in my history book, so that made the historical aspect of "Distant Dreams" more interesting to me. I liked the suspense in the first two books. (I'm still reading the third book.) It was hard to put down once I got into the book, which didn't take long.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was one of the best books I've ever read!, August 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Distant Dreams (Pella, Judith. Ribbons of Steel, #1.) (Paperback)

I thought Distant Dreams was a very well written book. When I first started to read it I didn't really know what it was going to be about. Once I got to about the tenth chapter and I was really interested I made a mistake and I read the back cover. After that I could never put the book down because I wanted to find out what was going to happen and make sure It was what I wanted to happen. I did run into a problem with the book though. Because the anticipation of what was going to happen next was so unbearable I carried it to school with me. I would get in trouble for reading instead of doing my work. I also loved the fact about how close Carolina and her father were. I am a daddy's girl so I share there closeness. I also found it facinating how she would go to her father with problems and the advice her father gave her was usually prayer, scripture, or he would talk to her about faith. I have already read all three Ribbons of Steel books and am anxiously awaiti! ng the fourth. At the moment I am going back and reading Distanat Dreams for the second time. Even though I prety much know what is to take place it still keeps me on edge.