The Freight Train in the Sky

On nights when the moon is full and the wolves howl, Paul stays up late staring out the second-story window of his orphanage. He dreams of a night when he can ride aboard the freight train of stars and constellations that travels across the sky. On one particular night, Paul notices a shooting star shoot fierce across the sky, and without thought wishes to be among the stars.

5 Star Review By Sarah Scheele from Readers' Favorite

The Freight Train in the Sky is a sweet, easy-to-read chapter book for children. Author Holden Russell introduces young readers to an orphan named Paul, who lives with nuns in an orphanage because his parents died as a result of widespread disease. Although well cared for, Paul feels lonely and has never fully faced the grief of losing his parents. He channels his emotions into a fascination with the stars and with mythology. After studying constellations and myths through books, he sees a shooting star. He journeys through the constellations on a train run by a benevolent spirit man called the Conductor. And Paul soon finds the heavenly realms hold something he could never have hoped to wish for.

The Freight Train in the Sky is a beautifully told narrative. Lightly floating sentences and expert storytelling created amazing visual images that made me feel like I was watching a good animated movie. I was really entranced by Holden Russell's seemingly simple but emotionally very charged tale. The adventure aspect is just what beginning readers and their parents look for in a fantasy story. The majestic legendary figures like Hercules and Sagittarius help Paul learn (my favorite was the episode onboard the Argo). The inclusion of Paul's family in his journey injects a vein of elemental pagan dignity that will help children understand why ancient peoples told stories about the constellations. A solid book that uses mythology as its basis, The Freight Train in the Sky was very enjoyable.