THE TRAIN JUMPER
In 1958, 19-year-old Kat Caswell loses her best friend in a brutal accident. In an attempt to flee from her past, she hops a freight train, leaving rural Indiana behind. Kat soon discovers that the extreme danger of train jumping is a welcome distraction from her pain.
While aboard the grand Southern Belle Railway, she meets Hilda, an eccentric, larger-than-life woman who offers her employment at a gentlemen's club in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Kat quickly adapts to the exotic atmosphere of the Vieux Carre. During her stay in New Orleans, Kat forms a close bond with a charming young immigrant worker named Leni, who has a mischievous personality and a mysterious past.
Each girl thrives in the lively environment full of colorful patrons. But when immigration comes to take Leni into custody, their lives become inextricably linked as Kat attempts to protect her friend. Once again, the railway becomes an escape route leading them on a journey of survival that requires life-changing choices.
Gwen Banta's 'The Train Jumper' is "edge of your seat" with thrilling moments - a grand adventure full of laughter and pathos. The lives of the characters are woven together by railroads and the exotic places the rails connect, eventually leading Kat and Leni to their individual destinies.
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Reviews
what people say
"This book is positively dripping with charm and adventure in equal measure, with its two leading ladies hopping from box car to box car to see where the wind takes them. The state of Indiana proves a wonderful backdrop to this odyssey of self discovery, and Gwen B. Banta’s prose does an excellent job of transporting the reader back to 1950s rural America. Kat and Leni are characterized very effectively with the author establishing their characters quickly, then finding interesting and unexpected ways to develop those characters as the adventure unfolds. Their relationship is the beating heart of the story and the presentation of it is wonderful ... an unmissable novel which I’d recommend to anyone."
K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
"The Train Jumper by Gwen B. Banta is a beautifully written story that has many compelling layers of intrigue and interest. The plot is fast-moving and every character is both interesting and unique. The descriptive narrative throughout was beautiful and swept you into 1950s America. The dialogue flows beautifully and captures the feelings and emotions of society during the era. I loved the ending and epilogue as they brought all the loose ends together. "
Leslie Jones
The Train Jumper is a thoughtful coming-of-age story filled with heartbreak, humor, and adventure. Author Gwen B Banta's moving tale of a young woman's self-discovery journey showcases the human spirit's indomitable power to overcome overwhelming odds. I found the characters realistic, and the struggles they go through make them easy to relate to. Kat's experiences with different places and people shape her into the woman she later becomes in her life. Her relationships with Jake, and later Hilda and Leni, seem particularly influential in Kat's growth from a fun-loving teenager to a strong woman who is capable of overcoming anything that life throws at her. If you're a fan of well-written coming-of-age stories, I highly recommend The Train Jumper.
Pikasho Deka