J. L. Mulvihill

AB’Gale, teen protagonist of J.L. Mulvihill’s The Boxcar Baby, has such a great teen voice, convincingly old-world, occasionally lyrical, determined, decisive and strong. She lives in a world of trains and steam-cars, where the poor are rounded up into “workinhouses” and dark deeds are afoot (or atrain I guess). AB’Gale’s adopted, a foundling from a boxcar, and her adoptive father’s gone missing, leaving the grandmother unable to pay the bills. Suddenly Abby’s safe small world is gone, and this tale tells how a well-centered teen finds her way through an evil system, escapes the threat of the brothel, and gathers a team of similarly wounded girls to her side and to her quest.

Workinhouse life is vividly portrayed, evoking tales of Victorian England, just as the father’s inventions evoke thoughts of H. G. Wells. But what has AB’Gale’s father done, where has he gone, and who are all these people searching for him?

“Just because you have never seen something does not make it untrue,” says one of AB’Gale’s friends. What great advice for young readers, and what a lovely evocative tale for older readers too. Abby’s voice and adventures remain consistantly interesting, and the occasional odd or repeated word just add to her real-world charm. I could hardly put this book down and now I’m eagerly awaiting book two.

Disclosure: The author visited my blog during her book tour and I was given a free ecopy to enjoy.… (altro)