KNIGHT OF THE RAILS

Extreme drought causes Billy’s family to lose their farm in Saskatchewan, so he takes to the rails looking for work.

Money and food are scarce, and his parents are moving into town; the stock market crash has destabilized everything. Thirteen-year-old Billy decides to go west across Canada in search of work. Lacking train fare, he jumps a boxcar. The action starts immediately and follows a push-pull rhythm. Some hobos teach Billy the ropes; another man attempts to molest him. Jumping trains is exciting but dangerous; he loses a friend. Kind strangers offer meals while a farmer cheats Billy out of hard-earned pay. Vivid, heartfelt descriptions illustrate how many among the mainly White cast are suffering (Billy crosses paths with a young Métis man, learning about his community’s struggles), yet Billy remains open to wonder and surprise as his father advised. Still, with each challenge, his hopes for the future wane, reaching a low when he enters one of Prime Minister Bennett’s degrading so-called relief camps. Billy throws his frustration and anger into a failed protest. Political reforms may be slow, but Billy has changed: He has discovered he loves the freedom of travel, but it’s balanced by loyalty to his family, especially when he learns they need his help at home. When Billy next leaves home, it’s to fight Hitler, but the best surprise is yet to come.

Heartening and uplifting.