For the young history enthusiast or aspiring engineer, this thrilling story vividly portrays the challenges and triumphs behind America's race to build the transcontinental railroad.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is fascinated by American history, trains, or huge construction projects, and is ready for a story that doesn't shy away from the human cost of progress. Told through the diary of a young girl named Libby, the book offers a personal, ground-level view of the monumental race to build the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. It brilliantly captures both the thrilling adventure and the harsh realities of the work, including dangerous conditions and the prejudice faced by immigrant laborers. For children aged 8 to 12, this book makes a massive historical event feel immediate and relatable. It explores powerful themes of perseverance, teamwork, and bravery while gently introducing more complex topics like social justice and discrimination. It's an excellent choice for a young reader who is ready to move beyond simple adventure and engage with the human stories behind the history they learn in school.
Shows prejudice and unfair treatment of Chinese and Irish immigrant laborers.
Sad ThemesMild
Worker injuries and deaths are mentioned as a reality of the dangerous work.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with the constant peril of railroad construction, including explosions, injuries, and deaths. It also directly addresses the racism and discrimination faced by Chinese and Irish workers. The approach is not metaphorical but presented as a child's observation of injustice. The resolution is historically accurate: a triumphant celebration of the engineering feat, while acknowledging the human cost and leaving the social inequalities unresolved, which is realistic for the time period.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 9 to 11 year old who loves nonfiction topics like trains or engineering but prefers to learn through story. It's perfect for a child who has enjoyed the Magic Tree House series and is ready for a more complex, character-driven historical narrative. A child who enjoys the diary format (like the Dear America series) will feel right at home.
Parent Prep
A parent should be prepared to discuss the historical racism against Chinese and Irish immigrants, which Libby observes and questions. Some descriptions of construction accidents are brief but stark. Previewing a few of Libby's entries about the Chinese workers can help a parent frame a conversation about fairness and prejudice. A parent has just visited a train museum with their child, or the child has started asking big questions about how America was built. The parent is looking for a book that can make history feel alive and personal, and wants to introduce topics like immigration and perseverance in a narrative context.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will focus on Libby's adventure, the details of the construction, and the excitement of the race. An older reader (10-12) will better grasp the social commentary on labor rights, the exploitation of immigrant workers, and the enormous human sacrifice required for this national achievement.
What Makes It Special
Among many books about this era, its first-person diary format provides a uniquely intimate and child-centric viewpoint. Unlike a straightforward historical account, Libby's perspective filters the monumental events through personal feelings of wonder, fear, and a budding sense of justice, making the history emotionally accessible and deeply memorable.
Read plot summary
This historical fiction novel is presented as the diary of a young girl, Libby, whose father is a reporter covering the final, intense months of the race between the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads. Through Libby's eyes, readers witness the dangerous labor, the fierce competition, and the daily lives of the diverse workforce, particularly the Irish and Chinese immigrants, culminating in the historic meeting at Promontory Summit, Utah.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Libby observes that the Chinese workers are treated very differently from the other workers. Why do you think this happened, and what clues does Libby give us about how she feels about it?
2
The two railroad companies were in a 'race.' In what ways did this sense of competition help get the railroad built? In what ways did it cause harm?
3
Libby's diary is a 'primary source' that tells us about a historical event. If you were writing a diary about a big event happening today, what would you choose to write about and why?
4
At the end, many important people gave speeches at the Golden Spike ceremony. Based on Libby's diary, who do you think were the real heroes of the great railroad race?
