Product Description

It's 1893 and for Cissy and her family, a new life beckons on the prairies of Oklahoma and they and their fellow settlers prepare for steady business alongside the Red Rock Railroad track. But when they refuse to sell their land to the railroad company, the boss swears that his trains will never stop in Florence again. How will they ever make a living now? Cissy and her friends, family and neighbours vow that they will make the train stop - by whatever means are necessary, no matter how dangerous that may prove to be . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #86332 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

The Bookseller, July 2001 (Previews)
This is an absolutely wonderful book - it is no wonder that McCaughrean is celebrated as one of the greatest living children's authors.

From the Author
Of all the novels I have written, this is my favourite. It seemed to write itself. The characters seemed to invent themselves. I grew so fond of them that, when I finished, I had to go back and write a screenplay of the book just to have the excuse of staying on in Florence. That's why I am really hoping readers are going to like this one.

About the Author
Geraldine McCaughrean has written over 100 books for every age from first picture books to blockbusting adult novels. Her writing has won a dozen awards, from the Whitbread to The Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.

Customer Reviews

A Fabulous Tale that will make a Great Film!
This is the sort of book that is so good you want to read it in one sitting and yet somehow are loathe for it to end. Yes that good!

Set in 19th century wilderness Oklahoma, it is the story of stout hearted Cissy and her settler family and neighbours. Their lives are a daily struggle to make the rectangles of bare earth and scrub, where they have staked their claims pay their way, and blossom into the prosperous town of Florence.

Their fortunes take a downturn when they evoke the wrath of the powerful railroad baron Clifford T Rimm (now there's a name and a half!), by refusing to sell up to him. In spite at being thwarted, he then refuses to allow his trains to stop at Florence station and so severs the vital commerce connection with the town.

So even before it has begun, Florence begins to fade away. But the brave and resourceful Florentines do not intend to give up without a fight, and the battle begins to stop the train......

I won't spoil the reader's fun by giving too much of the twists and turns of the plot away but its exiting stuff at times and you really begin to care what happens to the characters. Deservedly Runner Up for this year's major UK Children's Book Award the Carnegie Medal, Stop the Train is a classic in the making. The screenplay has already been written by the author, so let's hope it does get the chance to be a great film as well as a great book!

Amazing read!
This is a truly magnificent book in originality and style. The assorted and believable characters are fabulous. I was hooked on this story from the very beginning, following the adventures of the people of Florence, O.K., as they try to save their town.
Humourous, poignant, gripping and beautiful, this is a book that will always stay in your mind.

Wow! A spell-binding story of life and determination in pioneering America
I was given a copy of this book with a high recommendation although its still some way too old for my children and I would put in in my top twenty books of all time. I'm 33 and I loved every moment of it. It's a really gripping and moving story of American Pioneers going onto the Oklahoma prairie and settling in the middle of nowhere. Written through the eyes of a child, there's hardship, humour and spirit, excitment and suspense throughout and it is unput downable. If you loved the Little House on the Prairie series then this is bolder and better. The writing is beautifully vivid and it is wasted in a children's book pigeon hole. For those adults who enjoyed Holes, I'd definitely recommend this as your next read from the children's shelf. Buy it for your whole book club.