A Dangerous Promise (The Orphan Train Adventures #5)`

By: Joan Lowery Nixon

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis: Suddenly, with a great surge of loneliness, Mike pictured his mother and father and his brothers and sisters in the small room they had once shared in New York City before Da had died, before Mike had been arrested as a copper stealer. Mike had only been trying to help feed his family-he'd never expected his theft to divide the Kellys. if only the earning of money just for food and a place to live hadn't been so hard, Mike thought. If only Da hadn't died. "Da," Mike whispered, as he pictured his father's kind face. "Oh, Da, what should I do? What would you have me do?" He held his breath, hoping for an answer, but all he heard was the rat-a-tat of an imaginary drum. I know the drum calls, Mike told himself, and that's what counts, because Jeb says the army badly needs drummers. As he listened to the bugle's call and saw the flag held high, he burned with eagerness. He had to join the army! He had to! It's 1861, and although Mike Kelly is far younger than the legal age of sixteen, he dreams of fighting with the Union Army. Mike and his friend, Todd, secretly train to become drummer boys and join up with the Second Kansas Infantry. But Mike's dreams of glory end when he's wounded at the bloody Battle Wilson's Creek and must begin a dangerous adventure behind enemy lines. "Her characters are finely drawn and multifaceted, the plot is lively, and the deta: well chosen. This is history come to life -School Library Journal