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fallingletters's review against another edition
3.0
Quick review original published 5 April 2015 at Falling Letters.
Key words to describe this book: Diversity and Canadian history and classism and folklore and sexism and racism and adventure! Whoo, that's a lot for one book to address, but all these topics factor into the story. I guess the best word here is intersectionality? It's great to see that in a novel for younger readers. Even though this book tackles many subjects, it's primarily a fun story. You could dig deeper into those topics if you wish, or you could just enjoy it as an adventure book. It has a great premise and kicks off to a strong start.
-----I like how the darker side of the CPR's history is acknowledged. For example, comments are made early in the book about how it was a terrible working situation for Chinese people.
-----Will and I have the same hometown, a city where many Métis people live. I was excited to find Mr. Dorian is Métis (111). I've never read a fiction book that wasn't specifically about Indigenous people where there's a Métis character.
-----I was a bit thrown when they dressed Will in yellow face like that wasn't at all a problem (141). With racism being a forefront subject in this novel, I thought that such disguises would have been handled more sensitively
I'm not sure about Maren's role. I think she could have used more fleshing out. It's great that she spurns Will's coddling and shows she can make her own decisions and take risks, but I felt that was her only purpose ("Look, girls can act on their own!"). She's also the only female character of any significance.
I thought the story was well-paced (though it did slow up a bit in the middle as they moved their performances from class to class). I was surprised when I noticed I was already 50 pages in.
Oooohhhhh, the description of breakfast makes me want to cry. I want to eat it all!!!! (121)
Overall, an entertaining and easy read, enhanced by the historical Canadian setting infused with a touch of folk fantasy.
Key words to describe this book: Diversity and Canadian history and classism and folklore and sexism and racism and adventure! Whoo, that's a lot for one book to address, but all these topics factor into the story. I guess the best word here is intersectionality? It's great to see that in a novel for younger readers. Even though this book tackles many subjects, it's primarily a fun story. You could dig deeper into those topics if you wish, or you could just enjoy it as an adventure book. It has a great premise and kicks off to a strong start.
-----I like how the darker side of the CPR's history is acknowledged. For example, comments are made early in the book about how it was a terrible working situation for Chinese people.
-----Will and I have the same hometown, a city where many Métis people live. I was excited to find Mr. Dorian is Métis (111). I've never read a fiction book that wasn't specifically about Indigenous people where there's a Métis character.
-----I was a bit thrown when they dressed Will in yellow face like that wasn't at all a problem (141). With racism being a forefront subject in this novel, I thought that such disguises would have been handled more sensitively
I'm not sure about Maren's role. I think she could have used more fleshing out. It's great that she spurns Will's coddling and shows she can make her own decisions and take risks, but I felt that was her only purpose ("Look, girls can act on their own!"). She's also the only female character of any significance.
I thought the story was well-paced (though it did slow up a bit in the middle as they moved their performances from class to class). I was surprised when I noticed I was already 50 pages in.
Oooohhhhh, the description of breakfast makes me want to cry. I want to eat it all!!!! (121)
Overall, an entertaining and easy read, enhanced by the historical Canadian setting infused with a touch of folk fantasy.
literallykalasin's review
4.0
Canadian history meets the maiden voyage of the Titanic rendered as a train on the CPR -- now with sasquatches! That is the quickest and most straight-forward way of describing Kenneth Oppel's newest middle grade read.
This stand-alone book follows Will Everett as he goes on a cross-Canada trip on the CPR's newest train: the Boundless. Travelling with them on this engineering marvel are two unusual guests: the Zircus Dante and the funeral car of the CPR's president, Cornelius Van Horne. Will, growing up poor with his father away most of his childhood building the railway, is now wealthy thanks to his father's new-found success in he CPR. However, what he really wants is something that money can't buy -- an adventure, like the ones his father had building the railway. As fate would have it, Will will get his adventure with the help of the circus and the dead rail baron.
This was a fun, solid, fast-paced read that is sure to engage reluctant readers as well as Kenneth Oppel's fans
This stand-alone book follows Will Everett as he goes on a cross-Canada trip on the CPR's newest train: the Boundless. Travelling with them on this engineering marvel are two unusual guests: the Zircus Dante and the funeral car of the CPR's president, Cornelius Van Horne. Will, growing up poor with his father away most of his childhood building the railway, is now wealthy thanks to his father's new-found success in he CPR. However, what he really wants is something that money can't buy -- an adventure, like the ones his father had building the railway. As fate would have it, Will will get his adventure with the help of the circus and the dead rail baron.
This was a fun, solid, fast-paced read that is sure to engage reluctant readers as well as Kenneth Oppel's fans
flarflar13's review
3.0
3.5 Good middle grades read with suspense, folklore, adventure and even a little history. This book is well written and was at a solid 4 for me until the end of the book--the culmination dragged on. Every time I thought I had arrived at the resolution, another unnecessary plot twist was thrown in. Sometimes less is more! With that said, kids might dig that aspect ;)
monnibo's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
booksnacks's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
carolynaugustyn's review
4.0
A little slow to start but once it got going, it was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed the setting being on a train- it really made the story a lot more fun and adventurous. The characters were likable and the mystery was well done and interesting. There was some use of "brown face"- the main character has his face painted darker in order to disguise himself as an Indigenous person- which was a bummer and didn't sit quite right with me. However, while it was not a great plot point, it didn't seem malicious, more a lack of knowledge or insight on the author's part. I thought the book was a fun journey with just the right amount of magic and fantasy to keep things interesting. Plus, the cover is just gorgeous!
bookheart_dreams's review
3.0
The Plot was fast and definitely engaging. Buuut, for all that happened to characters, I found myself to net really care.
The book is so fast, you don't really have time to care for the characters, the moments in the story go by so rapidly, that there is no real room to develop and in the end, the main characters kind of are the same, even is the book tries to say different.
It still is a good book.
The book is so fast, you don't really have time to care for the characters, the moments in the story go by so rapidly, that there is no real room to develop and in the end, the main characters kind of are the same, even is the book tries to say different.
It still is a good book.