The Orphan Train Adventures - Keeping Secrets (Series)

New York, New York, U.S.A.: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers - Laurel-Leaf Books, 1996. First Printing Stated . Mass Market Paperback. Near Fine. 162 Pages. Special hardback library type binding. Four inked lines of gift inscription signed by the author and dated May 7, 1997. Interior text pages are flawless. During the years 1854 to 1929, the Children's Aid Society sent more than 100,000 children on orphan trains from New York to new homes in the West This program was so successful that other groups, such as the New York Foundling Hospital, followed the example. The Orphan Train Adventures were inspired by the true stories of these children; but the characters in the series and their adventures are entirely fictional. The setting is St. Joseph, Missouri, between the years 1860 and 1880 in order to place the characters in one of the most exciting periods of American history. The historical figures who enter these stories could have been at the places described at the proper times to touch the lives of the children who came west on the orphan trains. --- It's the autumn of 1863 and as the Civil War rages, a stranger named Violet essey seeks refuge with the Kelly family. Eleven-year-old Peg Kelly is thrilled because Violet treats her like a young woman, not a child. On the run from confederate raiders Violet has information that may save the Union. But she can't deliver her message unless she undertakes a dangerous journey, and she needs Peg's help. Peg and her brother Danny are determined to be courageous for the sake of the Union, but what price will they pay for their heroism. The tension and danger are palpable. The suspense builds steadily to a dramatic but startling conclusion that may require a hanky or two.