Reviews - The Railway Children

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Roberta, Peter and Phyllis all live a grand life in London until their father is taken away unexpectedly and with their mother, they move to a small home in the country. The three children start to spend time at the railway station, where they make friends with Perks, the Porter and the Station Master. As they become local heroes and sometimes bicker as siblings do, they still enjoy waving to the passing train in hopes that it will send love to their father.

I have been reading 1 children's classic a month this year, and this one is by far my favorite. I've never even heard of this story. But when I saw it was released as a Puffin Children's Classic, I knew I needed it for my collection and I'm so glad to have read it now. The three children in this story are amazing and they each have their own unique personalities. And despite being published in 1905, the writing is simple and easy to picture as you read.

The story starts off in London, where the three children live with their mother and father. They have a grand house with maids and servants. But one night after their father is taken, mysteriously, their mother moves them to a small cottage in the country. Mother must now write as much as she can to try and sell her stories and the children start to explore the railway. They are now poor and the children start to realize that but instead of being spoiled brats, like I imagine most kids today would be, they help their mother out around the house and try not to ask so many questions about their father because they see that it upsets Mother. Even though they are curious about Father because they do not know what happened to him, they respect their mothers wishes.

Roberta, Peter and Phyllis end up performing three rescues throughout the story and it was such fun journey reading about their time at the railway. The children have such good intentions and good hearts and it was refreshing to read a book like this because I grew up being taught to be nice to others and that's what I did. If you are a fan of children's classics, I highly recommend this one. I don't see how anyone could not love it.

"Don't you think it's rather nice to think that we're in a book that God's writing? If I were writing a book, I might make mistakes. But God knows how to make the story end just right - in the way that's best for us." - Mother