What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
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Kids on a train, don't know why they're there, mystery/possibly supernatural
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Was it a series? It sounds like the "Boxcar Children," by Gertrude Chandler Warner.
Nah, it wasn't the Boxcar Children. I'm pretty sure there were more than four kids, and that they didn't know each other before the start of the book. And I feel like it was either a standalone, or part of a short series, like a trilogy, not a huge amount.
There was a Point Horror book called The Train, but the plot's a little different from what you described. The children were on the train for a school trip, and most of the plot took place on the train itself - it was a murder mystery.
Not a very close match to the other clues, but the climax of Susan Cooper's Silver on the Tree takes place on a train, which then sort of morphs into a boat/ferry.
It definitely wasn't the Point Horror book, and I'm about 90% sure it wasn't Susan Cooper (although my memories of most of those books are vague) because I really get the feel that it took place in America. Though that does remind me that I want to reread that series!
A long shot but the Skinjacker series by Neal Shusterman has kids on a train. It's about kids trapped in the after-life. There are no adults and the books are set in a version of America. Here's book: Everlost, book 2: Everwild and book 3: Everfound. The train scenes happen mostly in book 2 and 3 as I remember.
I stumbled across Is Underground while looking for a different book. First published in 1992 and involves a train full of children who think they are going someplace good, but they aren't.
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Still looking! It wasn’t Everlost or Is Underground.
What's the Name of That Book???
Books mentioned in this topic
Galax-Arena (other topics)Silver on the Tree (other topics)
Some time in the late 90s I read a children's book - possibly YA, but back then there wasn't a YA section - and the only thing I can remember is that it was a train full of children (who were maybe orphans?), and they didn't know why they were on the train. I want to say that it had sci-fi or fantasy elements, and a general 'dark' atmosphere (or possibly just took place at night). I don't remember any adults being involved, at least not until near the end. The kids investigate something, possibly why they were on the train. Most of the book doesn't take place on the train I don't think, I want to say warehouses? Possibly an old newspaper office? I also randomly remember something about Harpers Ferry or the Potomac River (or both) being mentioned or involved. Or maybe just something about a ferry.
Like I said, it's an extreme longshot.