On the Blue Comet

Nov 28, 2011 Kathryn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobooks, children-s-novels, 1920s-1950s, fantasy-sci-fi, history, winter

This is a fun and engaging story that is part historical fiction and part fantasy. Oscar is an eleven year old boy from Illinois during the Great Depression when his father loses his job selling John Deere tractors and has to go to California to find work. Oscar is left with his strict Aunt Carmen and finds life without his father utterly miserable until a mysterious man named Mr Applegate helps him with his math homework and a friendship is born. Mr Applegate finally gets a job as a night watch...more This is a fun and engaging story that is part historical fiction and part fantasy. Oscar is an eleven year old boy from Illinois during the Great Depression when his father loses his job selling John Deere tractors and has to go to California to find work. Oscar is left with his strict Aunt Carmen and finds life without his father utterly miserable until a mysterious man named Mr Applegate helps him with his math homework and a friendship is born. Mr Applegate finally gets a job as a night watchman at a bank--the bank owned by the man who bought up all of Oscar and his father's model trains and now uses them as a holiday display in the bank window! Visiting Mr Applegate after hours and playing with the trains takes some of the sting out of Oscar's life, but it isn't quite the same as building the trains with his dear ol' dad. A bank robbery on Christmas Eve sets Oscar into a wild ride (on the miniature Blue Comet!) as time travel takes him forward to 1941! Will he be able to find his father there? And will he ever get back to his proper time?

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Oscar is so likable and the time travel bits were interesting and fairly well done and kept one in a bit of suspense (though I'm not sure the resolution was completely explained) and the inclusion of historical figures was clever. Who was Dutch, the former lifeguard turned actor? What about "Mr H", a man known for directing suspenseful films? Some of the adults reading the book will already know; and that's good for them because there is no Author's Note to explain fact from fiction, or who the characters were in real life, which I think would have really helped the educational value of the tale. A few parts of the story felt needlessly redundant as Oscar repeated his time travel story to various different characters and, much as I love Kipling's "If" poem, it was kind of over-used here though I liked its underlying theme in the story. Also, I was a bit uncomfortable with the portrayal of the wealthy as heartless snobs and all the farmers and working-class as good people who were taken advantage of; surely there is some truth in both portrayals, but real life was/is not quite so black-and-white and I would have liked a bit more variety or explanation as to why the people Oscar encountered behaved the way they did. With a few characters toward the end of the book, I wasn't quite sure how we were supposed to feel about them and this felt frustrating rather than liberating.

Still, all in all this was a very entertaining and enjoyable adventure story that does a fine job of bringing history to life. I was impressed with the variety of periods covered (mid-1920s to early 1940s) and children who do know a bit about history will probably have fun being "in the know" when Oscar goes to 1941 (i.e., Oscar is confused what the "war" is that just broke out in December 1941, etc). Those who love trains will probably be especially drawn to this tale.

Also, I must say that I really loved the fact that Oscar and his dad are so close. It's rare to find a children's story where the parent is a hero of sorts (vs. an adult that must be got out of the way so the kid can go on his/her adventure unencumbered) and specially so to see a single father portrayed in such a warm and loving light.

For a more thorough synopsis of the book than I have time to write, see this fine one:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

ETA: I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a decent job. IT held my attention during commutes, which is more than I can say for some audiobooks though it is not up to the level of, say, a Katherine Kellgren narration. One bummer is that I didn't realize the book is illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline so I missed out on those illustrations. I did check out a hard copy of the book from the library to see the illustrations after the fact and think that they are excellent, a bit Rockwell-esque and very suited for the era.
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Aug 22, 2012 Lori Redman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: black-eyed-susans, elementary, time-travel, historical-fiction

Oscar is an eleven-year-old boy who has had a hard life. His mother died in a terrible accident, his father loses his job and has to move to California, and Oscar is left with his strict and overbearing Aunt Carmen in his little town of Cairo, Illinois. The year is 1929, and the Great Depression has put on hold the fabulous hobby of train-collecting that Oscar and his father did as a bonding activity. However, as Oscar is inadvertently involved in a bank hold up, the unthinkable happens, and he...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Sharon rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I can see why adults think that kids would like this. Time travel! Toy trains! Nostalgia for the depression era! (??) But there's not much here. The characters are flat. The story line is interesting but, as often happens with time travel, leaves a lot of questions about how and why. The author sprinkles period colloquialisms throughout the dialog, but there's a fake feel to them. There are some truly pointless scenes (such as where the boy tries to call his father from New York) and a lot of ra...more

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Nov 18, 2011 Amy Bailey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked this book up because of one thing. I picked it up and noticed the synopsis which said Oscar Ogilvie is an 11 year old boy from Cairo, IL. I didn't know anyone even knew where Cairo, IL, was. I've been there with my father, as he spent a lot of his years there when he was younger. Today, the little town is almost dead. It was strangled by racism in the 1960's and 70's and now there's nothing left but dilapidated buildings and the poorest people you'll ever see. So, when I saw a child's a...more

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Sep 17, 2011 Mrs. Knott rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: great-for-boys, recommended-for-fourth-grade, books-recommended-for-middle-school

For a book that started out pretty slow, it turned out to be a fabulous read! This book is lengthy at 329 pages, so for most 3rd graders it would be a good read aloud, maybe for some 4th graders, but mature 4th grade readers and up will really like this book. It's a suspenseful novel, with a little bit of history and science included! 11 year old Oscar lives in the time of the Great Depression. He lives with his Dad and their joy, their Lionel trains and layouts. However, his Dad is forced to go...more

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Sep 15, 2011 M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book is set in depression days, roughly 1931. Oscar Ogilvie, Jr., age 11, and his widowed dad have lived together quite happily for several years when the dad loses his job at John Deere, loses the house to the bank, and is forced to sell the wonderful model train layout the two have worked on for years. While his dad goes to California to find work, Oscar, Jr., goes to live with his aunt and cousin in their small Illinois town. Aunt Carmen isn't anyone's idea of a warm and sympathetic mothe...more

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May 26, 2011 Maggie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 22, 2010 Nicola rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, no-longer-own

Reason for Reading: I've read a few of the author's books and this time it was the historical fiction aspects along with the time travel that drew me to this book. Plus I do also have a thing for old trains.

Oscar Ogilvie lives in the early 1930's. It is Christmas Eve, 1931 to be exact when the action starts to take place in the book. But a bit earlier than this we get to know Oscar and his dad who have a passion for model train collecting and have spend hours in their basement working with their...more Reason for Reading: I've read a few of the author's books and this time it was the historical fiction aspects along with the time travel that drew me to this book. Plus I do also have a thing for old trains.

Oscar Ogilvie lives in the early 1930's. It is Christmas Eve, 1931 to be exact when the action starts to take place in the book. But a bit earlier than this we get to know Oscar and his dad who have a passion for model train collecting and have spend hours in their basement working with their layout. Oscar's dad doesn't do too badly with his job at John Deere and they have accumulated a nice set of Lionel trains. But the crash of '29 hits and eventually his dad loses his job, sells the house and the train set, goes to California to find work and leaves Oscar behind with his prim and proper spinster sister. Then on the evening in question, Oscar is visiting the nightwatchman at the bank, a friend, who lets him play with the train layout on display there, the one that used to be his. On that fateful night the bank is robbed and Oscar jumps for his life into the miniature train layout to find himself in the future where he works his way to join his father in California. Only Oscar is now 21 years old and the date is 1941 and he's been missing, presumed kidnapped all these years. As Oscar tries to get back home to 1931, he takes a side trip to 1926 where he is only 6 years old.

This was a fun book. Oscar is a quick thinking character and an enjoyable one to know. Even though he gets himself into this mess to start with he is generally a nice boy with good intentions who prays Hail Marys when things become too intense for him to handle. Oscar is an average kid who loves his dad very much and on his travels he always befriends someone who helps him through each stage of his journey. While Oscar's main focus is to return home, he also is desperately trying to remember the details of the robbery as he has learnt in the future that a $10,000 reward was offered by the bank for the capture of the criminals.

The time travel aspect is fantasy based and just happens when Oscar's need is so great, usually from fear, and it is never scrutinized or explained away. One must suspend reality to accept this part of the book and also the number of people he eventually tells his story to who believe his tale is unrealistic and must be taken at face value. The historical fiction side of the book is informative while being entertaining. Much is learnt about the stock market crash and how the depression affected the rich, poor and middle classes. The 1941 era imparts mostly information about the bombing of Pearl Harbour and the war with Japan and finally the 1926 episode is the shortest mainly focusing on the restricted lifestyle of a rich girl who would rather be playing baseball than wearing frilly dresses and playing with dolls.

The illustrations are simply divine. Full colour paintings one would expect to find in a picture book, not your usual MG chapter book. So realistic and charming, they have a sense of Norman Rockwell to them. The book's not heavily illustrated, but there are enough so that just as you are feeling that it's about time for a picture one comes along. Many of them are two page spreads to boot!

A good romp, with lots of excitement and adventure. Oscar meets many interesting people along the way and situations are always turning from humorous to fraught with tension. This is a good "boy book" with unique plot elements making it stand out from the usual fare being offered these days.(less)

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Nov 24, 2010 Phoebe rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Cheryl

Oscar Ogilvie Junior loves model trains and his dad more than anything else in the world. His hometown of Cairo, Illinois, is hit just as hard as the rest of small town America by the crash of 1929--the bank takes the Ogilvie house, and all the beloved trains--then Oscar's dad heads to California to find work, leaving Oscar with Aunt Carmen. Deeply unhappy, Oscar finds a friend in Mr. Applegate, a gentleman down on his luck, who tutors him in math and teaches him a trick for memorization. Then o...more

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Sep 30, 2010 Margo Tanenbaum rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, time-travel, trains

Fans of time travel books and trains should love acclaimed picture-book author and novelist Rosemary Wells' newest release. In this exciting story, eleven-year-old Oscar has a good life in Cairo, Illinois, even though his mom died when he was little. He and his dad manage just fine, thank you; Oscar cooks supper after school, does his homework, and after his dad comes home from work, they work on their elaborate Lionel model train world in their basement.

But when the stock market crashes, the De...more Fans of time travel books and trains should love acclaimed picture-book author and novelist Rosemary Wells' newest release. In this exciting story, eleven-year-old Oscar has a good life in Cairo, Illinois, even though his mom died when he was little. He and his dad manage just fine, thank you; Oscar cooks supper after school, does his homework, and after his dad comes home from work, they work on their elaborate Lionel model train world in their basement.

But when the stock market crashes, the Depression follows, and soon Oscar's dad loses his job selling tractors. They lose their house, too--including the model train collection--and his father has to go to California to look for work, leaving Oscar with his no-nonsense aunt Carmen. Oliver's loneliness for a father figure leads him to a friendship with a mysterious vagrant, Mr. Applegate; Oscar feeds Mr. Applegate pancakes, and Mr. Applegate not only helps him with his math homework, but also talks to him about Professor Einstein and the possibility of time travel, and even teaches him poetry.

Oscar soon discovers that his beloved Lionel trains are on exhibit at the local bank--the same one that re-possessed their home. While visiting the trains at the bank, he witnesses a horrible bank robbery--one that propels him literally forward in time, through the Lionel trains. Will he ever get back again to be reunited with his father?

Rosemary Wells has written a highly imaginative and well-executed novel that will appeal to children who like time travel and fantasy stories; Wells incorporate plenty of history into the story as well, as Oscar travels in time from the middle of the Depression to the beginning of World War II and back even to 1926. The book is sure to appeal to train lovers as well; while Lionel trains may not be as widely known as they were at one time, this book would be a logical step up for children who loved Thomas The Tank Engine in their pre-school days, as the different trains play a substantial role in the story and are lovingly described by Wells.

In his time travels, Oscar meets many famous people, including a very young Ronald Reagan, identified only as "Dutch," Alfred Hitchcock, Joe Kennedy, and J.P. Morgan, among others. The children reading the novel may not be able to pick up on these references, however; the book would have been enriched by an Author's Note providing a bit of biographical information on the real-life historical people who interact with Oscar throughout the story.

The novel is illustrated with stunning acrylic gouache paintings by acclaimed illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline, whose many works include The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. The nostalgic, realistic style of the illustrations evokes period artwork by Norman Rockwell, and fits in well with the Depression-era setting of the book. (less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Andy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, j-fic-for-guys, j-fiction, j-fiction-sf-fantasy, library

Here's another* case of an author writing a novel that appeals more to parents than to kids. On the Blue Comet is a children's novel set in the Great Depression involving trains, famous historical figures, time travel and the consequences of changing the past. I can show you plenty of kids who might be interested in reading about time travel and some that might be interested in trains, but if they're interested in having those topics appear in their fiction, they probably won't care too much abo...more

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Jun 29, 2010 David rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 01, 2012 Sabrina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: black-eyed-susan-2012-nominees

Great story. Well written. The story only slightly breaks down at the end where it gets messy when it seems Wells is trying to wrap up at story but not too tightly. I write not too tightly because it seems that there could be a sequel to On the Blue Comet. I also like the historical figures, from politicians to actors, that are drawn into the story. My daughter, a fifth grader this year, would love this book I think. She is currently reading A Wrinkle in Time and loves discussing the possibility...more

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Jul 02, 2011 Josiah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Was On the Blue Comet influenced a tiny bit, perhaps, by the impressive success achieved by When You Reach Me upon that latter book's acclaimed release in 2009? Or maybe was it the success of that book that led Rosemary Wells to gain faith in a similar idea that had been germinating in her own writer's subconscious for quite some time by then, and witnessing the very favorable reception given to When You Reach Me allowed Rosemary Wells to see that now was the ideal time to give flight to her ow...more Was On the Blue Comet influenced a tiny bit, perhaps, by the impressive success achieved by When You Reach Me upon that latter book's acclaimed release in 2009? Or maybe was it the success of that book that led Rosemary Wells to gain faith in a similar idea that had been germinating in her own writer's subconscious for quite some time by then, and witnessing the very favorable reception given to When You Reach Me allowed Rosemary Wells to see that now was the ideal time to give flight to her own vision of a book deeply shrouded in the enigmas of time travel? Or did On the Blue Comet have little or nothing to do with the Newbery Medal-winning When You Reach Me at all? I don't know, truth be told, but I do know that I like this book.

One of the first things that one is bound to notice upon flipping through On the Blue Comet is the gorgeous full-page illustrations (more like paintings, actually) that are contributed by Bagram Ibatoulline, an artist whose name is a chore to pronounce but whose work is like little else I've ever seen in juvenile novels and picture books. Ibatoulline has helped bring to life through his drawings the magnificent writing of contemporary literary titans such as Kate DiCamillo, Russell Freedman, Jane Yolen, Paul Fleischman, Lois Lowry and now Rosemary Wells, and has always done a remarkable job of visually expressing the brilliant and innovative language styles that these great authors use in their stories. Every time there's a full-page or half-page illustration in On the Blue Comet, it's a genuine treat for the eyes, the striking beauty of the images not at all a hindrance to the ability of the artwork to subtly blend in with what one is already envisioning.

America's Great Depression is just arriving as our story opens with Oscar Ogilvie, age nine, living with his father in 1929. The boy and his dad love trains and always make room in their finances to keep on ordering Lionel train sets even as the nation's economic balance is on a steady slope downward. Within two years Oscar's father is out of a job and virtually penniless, and he is forced one day to confront his son with the cold reality that they're going to lose their home and their beautiful Lionel train sets, too, and Oscar will have to stay with his Aunt Carmen while his father heads off on his own to California in search of gainful employment. Oscar is terribly distressed at how badly things have turned against them in the last two years, but he accepts his father's necessary departure from his life and tries his best to get along with his new temporary family until his father can return to reclaim him.

Through a series of lucky coincidences, Oscar makes the acquaintance of one of the many hoboes newly christened as such by the depression, a man who had once been a potentially great theoretical mathematician, then a bright, understanding and effective math teacher, and now just another victim of the cruel economic times, a homeless person looking for nothing more than steady work and a bite to eat. This man, Mr. Applegate, is the kind of person who could only find himself unemployed during a time like the great depression, and even with his personal state of affairs as bleak as they are, in exchange for the kindness of some food and occasional shelter from the elements Mr. Applegate offers to teacher Oscar by breaking down the complexities of higher math into smaller bites that he can swallow and absorb. This highly effective arrangement, which has to remain a secret to have a prayer of staying intact considering the austere and uncompromising personality of Oscar's aunt, really helps Oscar to learn a lot about math; until, that is, the unfortunate day when their cover gets blown, and Oscar is back to attempting an understanding of advanced mathematical theory all on his own.

When one of Mr. Applegate's teaching methods pays off in a tangible way that enables Oscar to impress Aunt Carmen and the owner of the local bank, who happens to now be the owner of all the train sets that had belonged to Oscar and his father before their separation, Oscar is allowed a way to see the trains on a regular basis, to watch them go on their automated rounds as a measure of consolation while he waits for his father to find a job and earn enough money to arrange for their reunion. What Oscar couldn't possibly yet grasp is that his Lionel trains are more special and mysterious than he ever knew, and their magic is about to become the catapulting force for him to go on an odyssey the likes of which has never been seen, stretching the limits of time and space and imagination for a story of adventure that goes beyond the normal outer limits of the reader's mind.

This is a very nice book, one that I like more than the two and a half stars I'm giving it would indicate. I love Rosemary Wells's characters and her method of storytelling, and her playful forays into the peripheral lives of some important figures of the past are intriguing and often insightful. I sort of wish that there had been some kind of a "Historical Note" at the end of the book, to explain some of the historical figures who are alluded to in the narrative but not expressly named. I get the feeling that some clever pieces to the story have slipped through my fingers, which is unfortunate since it is all so very interesting. A Historical Note to guide the reader's understanding would have helped in this area, though the book is still very good without one, and certainly well worth reading.

The way I see it, what On the Blue Comet offers as its best asset is a story of adventure and plot twists that will keep anyone guessing right up to the very end as to what's going to happen. Readers who are looking for that kind of an exciting adventure will probably like this book, and will also undoubtedly enjoy the story and characters that come along for the ride.(less)

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May 19, 2010 Raquel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-for-work

Such a superb book! I didn't think I would like it but I was sucked in within the first few pages. By chapter 2, I was hooked! The story is about a young boy named Oscar who gets separated from his father during the Great Depression. His father builds model train tracks and Oscar discovers that the tracks are secret time-travel portals.

I know it sounds far fetched but Rosemary Wells does such a great job with it. The story goes from 1929 to 1931 to 1941 to 1926 and back to 1931. There is a incre...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Glimmerfee rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ein Buch für Liebhaber von Modeleisenbahnen

Seit dem Tod der Mutter baut Oscar zusammen mit seinem Vater im Keller eine Modeleisenbahn, doch dann kommt es zu einer Wirtschaftkrise. Oscars Vater muss das Haus zusammen mit der Modeleisenbahn an die Bank abgeben.
Um wieder mehr Geld zu verdienen, reist Oscars Vater nach Kalifornien und lässt seinen Sohn bei der geizigen Tante Carmen zurück .
Oscar freundet sich mit dem Nachtwächter in einer Bank an und zusammen lassen sie die riesige Modeleisenbahn i...more Ein Buch für Liebhaber von Modeleisenbahnen

Seit dem Tod der Mutter baut Oscar zusammen mit seinem Vater im Keller eine Modeleisenbahn, doch dann kommt es zu einer Wirtschaftkrise. Oscars Vater muss das Haus zusammen mit der Modeleisenbahn an die Bank abgeben.
Um wieder mehr Geld zu verdienen, reist Oscars Vater nach Kalifornien und lässt seinen Sohn bei der geizigen Tante Carmen zurück .
Oscar freundet sich mit dem Nachtwächter in einer Bank an und zusammen lassen sie die riesige Modeleisenbahn im Foyer fahren, doch eines Nachts wird der Frieden durch eine Bande Räuber gestört.
Oscar springt auf die Modeleisenbahn und landet tatsächlich an einem Bahnhof und der kommende Zug führt in die Zukunft.

Letztlich konnte mich dieses Kinderbuch leider nicht überzeugen. Ich konnte die Charaktere nicht nachvollziehen und empfand Teile der Geschichte ein wenig wirr. Schade, denn auf den ersten Seiten hatte ich mich wirklich erfreuen können an dem Zauber der beschrieben Modeleisenbahn.
In diesem Buch geht es um Zeitreise, Wirtschaftskrisen und vor allem um die Beziehung zwischen Vater und Sohn.
Erzählt wird das Buch aus der Sicht des elf Jahre alten Oscar, der den Leser teilhaben lässt an den gemeinsamen Abenden, die er mit seinem Vater im Keller verbrachte und an der Zeitreise, die ihn von einem elfjährigen zu einem einundzwanzigjährigen macht.
Wie schon anfangs gesagt, konnte ich die handelnden Personen nicht nachvollziehen. Der Schock plötzlich einundzwanzig zu sein, sollte doch etwas tiefer gehen als dargestellt wurde. Im Allgemeinen fehlte mir bei diesem Buch der emotionale Tiefgang, den sie Story, meiner Meinung nach, benötigt hätte um real zu erscheinen.
Eine nette Idee war es, dass die Autorin das alte Hollywood aufleben lässt und die Geschichte einen sogar in das Haus der Schauspielerin Joan Crawford führt.
Großes Lob geht jedoch an DTV Junior, denn der Verlag hat sich bei der Gestaltung sehr viel Mühe gegeben. So ist das Cover sehr gelungen, über jedem Kapitel hängt ein Schild und am unteren Ende der Seiten ist eine kleine Eisenbahn abgedruckt.

Ich kann das Buch allen Liebhabern von Modeleisenbahnen empfehlen. In erster Linie richtete es sich an Jungen und vielleicht ist es auch ein schönes Buch, dass Väter zusammen mit ihren Söhnen entdecken können.

Mich konnte das Buch letztlich nicht wirklich überzeugen.
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Nov 02, 2012 Anne-Marie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, families, world-war-2, us-great-depression, fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I thought this a VERY irritating book. It started so well, with a finely crafted portrait of a bereaved father and son, withdrawing into a private world after a devastating loss. Then...

SPOILERS!!

The story veers into fantasy. The boy, Oscar, goes from being a self-sufficient boy who takes it upon himself to cook for a hungry stranger, to a helpless waif over whom the rest of the plot washes like ocean waves. The mechanism for the sudden ability to travel by toy train is poorly explained. Is it...more I thought this a VERY irritating book. It started so well, with a finely crafted portrait of a bereaved father and son, withdrawing into a private world after a devastating loss. Then...

SPOILERS!!

The story veers into fantasy. The boy, Oscar, goes from being a self-sufficient boy who takes it upon himself to cook for a hungry stranger, to a helpless waif over whom the rest of the plot washes like ocean waves. The mechanism for the sudden ability to travel by toy train is poorly explained. Is it something the mysterious Mr. Applegate engineers? ( pun intended) Is it a magic word? Is it built in to the trains themselves, and triggered in a moment of great need? Maybe. But another character who manages this trick has neither the help of a mysterious stranger nor the a magic word nor the urgency of young Oscar.

The author has littered the story with historical characters. Most readers in the target age group for this book have never heard of most of them, and so the little winky winky scene with Oscar encountering a golly-gee all-American young actor named Dutch will completely go over their heads. ("You're not a politician, are you?" I asked Dutch. "Not in a pig's ear!" said Dutch.)

I couldn't even figure out a consistent political view, if the author intended one in a book hero-worshipping Ronald Reagan. All the fat cat pre-Depression Wall Street businessmen are greedy, but Wells also features a sneering, stuck-up teenage John F. Kennedy.

The cloyingly sweet descriptions of Dutch made me roll my eyes. He was "clearly a young man of character" and "just having him on the train made me feel safe all over." The book is full of such snap judgements: Oscar instantly trusts Ronald Reagan based on a handshake; another character lets complete strangers into the mansion in her care because one of them "has such an honest face." Oscar instantly trusts a stranger at the door because he's clean-shaven and is carrying a thick book. Well, good, this all saves having to read any character development...

Then there's the appearance of the mysterious Chinese lady, Miss Chow, who refers to herself in the third person and speaks in an astonishingly breathless, stereotyped way: "Miss Chow hears everything!" Thanks goodness she has a mysterious hypnotic stone that will let Oscar remember all the details of a robbery locked away in his memory! "Chinese method going back two thousand years!"

The most annoying thing was what this book lacked. Our hero manages to travel forward and backward in time in his quest to be reunited with his father. He manages to change the personal history of a recently acquired friend. But seriously, it never occurs to him to try to stop the accident that killed his mother? (less)

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Jun 14, 2012 Harold Ogle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fantasy, ya, historical-fiction

A pretty satisfying children's/YA novel about an 11-year-old kid of the Great Depression who loves model trains. I read this knowing absolutely nothing more than that, and I recommend that anyone else read it that way, too.

(view spoiler)...more A pretty satisfying children's/YA novel about an 11-year-old kid of the Great Depression who loves model trains. I read this knowing absolutely nothing more than that, and I recommend that anyone else read it that way, too.

(view spoiler)[For those of you who have read it, were you astonished at the move into the alternate universes? I had no reason to suspect that this story was going to turn into a science fiction story, and was quite pleasantly surprised to find not only alternate universes but time travel! Completely unexpected, to me. I loved the surprise of it, and I love that the story resolution required the use of the dimension traveling, and the way the characters changed over time, depending on which events occurred. Even the villain characters had depth to them, and redeeming qualities. I also liked the Kipling references.

Oscar's mother dies when he's very young, and he and his dad try to make do on their own. I found their story really engaging, particularly the way that the kid was so self-sufficient (learning to cook because there was no one else around to do it, for instance). Oscar and his dad relax by collecting and assembling model train sets. As the Depression continues, Oscar's dad finds work more and more scarce, and in the end, the bank forecloses on their house. They sell the trains, the house, everything. Oscar has to live with his aunt, while Oscar's dad goes west to look for work. Oscar's aunt views him as an irresponsible little boy and seriously curtails his freedom and responsibility. He struggles with school while his aunt works multiple jobs trying to support Oscar and her own daughter. While the rest of the family is out, Oscar befriends a bum who turns out to be an itinerant teacher. Oscar begins a surreptitious friendship with this surrogate father figure; the man tutors Oscar and Oscar shares their meager provisions with him. Then, one day, Oscar's aunt returns home early and finds evidence that Oscar had a stranger in the house. She then takes him with her wherever she goes, not trusting him home alone any more. Sadly, he mopes his way through life (though his school experience is improved for having been tutored), until some time later when he discovers that the man is a night security guard at the bank. Oscar resumes his friendship with the man, and to his delight finds that the bank manager has set up all of his trains in the lobby of the bank. But then bank robbers bust into the bank, shoot the man, and Oscar narrowly escapes death himself...by jumping into the world depicted in the train set. He uses a toy ticket he kept from when the train sets were his to board the California bound train, and he rides across the country. With the help of a friendly stranger, Oscar contacts his dad, but when he goes to meet him outside the train station, Oscar has to fight his way through a temporal barrier and ages ten years in moments. His dad is haggard and care-worn after ten years of grief (he believed Oscar kidnapped and killed in the bank heist a decade ago) and hard labor picking oranges. The draft board catches up to Oscar, who is now 21, and prepares to ship him off to the European theater of operations. With the help of a number of sympathetic notables (including Alfred Hitchcock), Oscar escapes into another train set and rides the rails to New York, meeting a young girl named Claire who'd also discovered the way of escaping into the trains. In New York, they emerge from the station, but there is another temporal barrier for Oscar, who finds himself a six-year-old with a deteriorating memory. He tries and fails to convince a number of tycoons that he's come from the future, despite having artifacts from the future, but in the end he escapes being sent to an orphanage by jumping into another train back to his home in Illinois. There he able to ID the bank robbers, claim the reward, and buy back his house. (hide spoiler)](less)

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Jan 03, 2011 Aimee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Oscar lives with his Dad in a home in Illinois. Together they enjoy the hobby of putting together model train sets. Then the stock market crashes and Oscar’s dad loses his job, their house and their beloved train set. When Oscar’s dad leaves in search of work, Oscar is forced to live with his aunt who is a stern and cold lady. Oscar meets a stranger one day who becomes a real friend to him. The stranger teaches him poems and helps him with his math. Then one day Oscar witnesses a horrible crime...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Kaitlyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 06, 2011 Handd51 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: consider-for-haisln-5-6-in-2012

I really loved this book, but I'm not sure kids iwll. Wells has done seom really interesting plot structures here - from the focus on Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" to time travel via model trains. That the time travel goes from 1931 to 1926 to 1941 and back to 1931 is remarkable - and she deals nicely with the inaccuracy of time travel, even brings Einstein into the story in passing. Willkids today who don't have a clue about the importance of model trains be able to understand the obsession that...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Mandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade

This book was nominated for our state's student choice award. I had held off on reading this one because the cover did not captivate me at all. But another teacher read it and talked it up, so I decided to give it a chance. This book is part historical fiction because it takes place during the Great Depression, but due to the time travel and the susspense, I would say it was more of an adventure story. This story held my attention and definitely had me rooting for the main character. The illustr...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Nora rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 4th-6th boys

Shelves: younger-elementary

A time travel book about a sweet boy and his father living through the Depression. Oscar and his father collect and build trains in their basement, and when Oscar's father loses his job, the trains must be sold. Eventually Oscar time travels using the train set, and what started out as a simple story becomes more complex. There are a few twists with the time travel plot that may take an older reader (4th and up?) but it would also be a great chapter book to read aloud with a child (2nd and up)....more

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Nov 27, 2010 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm a big fan of trains, full size and miniature. This story is full of train adventures and fantasy anchored by a boy's love for his dad.
The great stock market crash of 1929 causes a series of events to occur for Oscar and his dad.The bank forcloses on their home and the bank president takes their model train collection too. Oscar's dad heads to California from Ohio to find a new job , leaving Oscar in the care of his less than charming Aunt Carmen. Oscar's model trains are on display for Chris...more

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May 29, 2011 Mrs. Nelson's rated it 5 of 5 stars

The fact that Rosemary Wells writes incredibly well-researched historical fiction is a secret best known by Indie booksellers. "On the Blue Comet" shows her talent at a new level. Oscar Ogilvie witnesses the crash of 1929 first hand. He loses a little more of his normal life each day, including his father and beloved trains. But when a friend lets him visit his old train set, Oscar takes a magical journey through time. The exquisite art by Bagram Ibatoulline is rich and absorbing as well, making...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Kara Mcclain armoudian rated it 3 of 5 stars

I guess I could recommend this book to a student who really enjoyed trains or the idea of time travel. Overall, it was an okay book. It felt very disjointed to me, though. In the beginning I didn't know if I was reading a story where a young boy triumps over poverty in the Great Depression when it then morphed into a strange sci-fi tale with historical characters which won't be identified by students. With as long as it took to get into the story, you would have thought the author would fashion...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Tammy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens-literature

Audience- 4th-6th graders who enjoy historical fiction, trains, and a time travel theme. This book would especially be appealing for boys who enjoy trains, history, and suspense.

Appeal-This book is a suspenseful time travel novel with some history and science blended into the story. The story takes place during the time period of the 1920's to 1930's. The boy in the story travels through this time period on Lionel trains. Many famous history and Hollywood stars are woven within the time travel...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Debbie Mcneil rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was an utterly charming sci-fi, historical fiction, boy book! So much to discuss as a classroom read aloud. So much for adults to enjoy as well, with the pop-cultural references.

I just am baffled at why an author as prolific and child-aware as Rosemary Wells would put cursing (albeit milder ones) in what would otherwise be a great elementary book. I know we are all about Intellectual Freedom but can we also be as supportive of developmentally appropriate? I will have this gem in my collectio...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bes12-13, children-s, kindle, fantasy, 2012

I was surprised by how much I liked this book! It's a little bit historical fiction and a little bit fantasy. Oscar, a boy growing up during the Great Depression, is forced to live with his horrible aunt while his father looks for work in California. Both Oscar and his father love trains and one night, during a bank robbery, Oscar accidentally 'jumps' into the model train set. The trains are real and Oscar travels to California, meeting a young Ronald Reagan along the way.

Once he reaches Califo...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Mrs.Houck rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: great-teen-reads, historical-fiction

Part historical fiction, part time travel mystery, On the Blue Comet starts with a young boy, Oscar, and his father living in Cairo, Illinois in the late 1920s. They share a love of model trains and have built a wonderful train layout in the basement of their home. When the crash comes in 1929, the father loses his job and the house and has to sell the trains to pay for a ticket to California to try to find work. Oscar has to stay with his Aunt and cousin and misses his father terribly. When he...more

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8036437-on-the-blue-comet?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320518381l/8036437.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8036437-on-the-blue-comet?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]On the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells[/url]

On the Blue Comet

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