About This Book
This award-winning non-fiction book masterfully weaves together Robert Louis Stevenson's personal account of his 1879 emigrant train journey from New York to California with a comprehensive history of the transcontinental railroad's construction and its profound impact on 19th-century America. Jim Murphy's meticulous research and engaging style bring to life the experiences of ordinary people, offering a vivid and accessible look at westward expansion. It's an excellent resource for children aged 4-11 to understand a pivotal moment in American history.
This book combines an account of Robert Louis Stevenson's experiences as he traveled from New York to California by train in 1879 and a description of the building and operation of railroads in nineteenth-century America.
Discussion Prompts
1
What challenges do you think Robert Louis Stevenson faced on his long train journey?
2
How do you think building the transcontinental railroad changed America?
3
What was life like for the "ordinary people" who traveled west or worked on the railroad?
4
If you could travel back in time to 1879, what would you want to see or do on an emigrant train?
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