Two children have adventure as they travel for days on the canal through battle zones to deliver coal. Katie and her parents had made a living with their canal barge and two pairs of mules. Katie learned the trade and after her father passed away and her mother remarried she becomes determined to carry on as captain. But her traveling partner, younger step brother Seth is constantly challenging her authority as captain. To protect herself along the route Katie cuts her hair and dresses in boys clothes. There is plenty of danger and suspense along the way, and the conflict between the step brother and sister is interesting. This historical fiction juvenile book presents details about the Civil War, the water transportation system and the way people lived and worked in the mid 1800's in the United States. It would have been nice if there were a few drawings and maps to clarify the descriptions of the canals, locks and river waterways. Middle graders who are assigned to read historical fiction cannot go wrong with this book. But more importantly than the historical aspects of this book are the social and moral growth of the characters. Katie has had a hard time accepting her father's death, her mother's remarriage, the new members of the family and the baby on the way. Katie does not always make the wise decisions. Seth acts courageously because as he says its matter of "human decency." When the children return home Katie has realized she has come to accept her new step father because she has seen him reflected in his son. ( )