Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express (On My Own Books)

When the Des Moines River valley floods in the summer of 1881, the bridge over Honey Creek collapses and Kate Shelley courageously rescues two locomotive crewmen from the creek's swirling waters

Grade 1-3-- A vivid recounting of a true story of a young girl in 1881 Iowa, told in the format and style of an easy reader. Through her courageous actions, Kate Shelley was able to save the lives of two men when a railroad bridge was washed out, plus the lives of 200 others speeding toward the broken bridge on an express train. The language is simple, yet its terseness conveys the danger and excitement of the incident. Ritz's dark, soft-edged paintings convey the emotional drama as Kate struggles through the storm to the bridge. This is a wonderful bit of history brought to life to share with young readers. No dullness here--it's a page-turner. --Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library
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