When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Succession of stories take place on seven consecutive All Hallows' Eves, from 1943 through 1949, and tell the story of Jimmy Cannon's teenage years in Rowlesburg, WV. Jimmy describes the high jinks, the championship football game, the risks and rewards of his part-time job, and other significant events that shape his love for his small hometown. It is a coming of age story as Jimmy learns to accept that the days of the steam engine are over and to better understand his emotionally distant father. Details and gentle humor help set the scene and reveal a great deal about these characters and their lives. You develop a great fondness for these ordinary people you could imagine meeting on the street.

A gentle, sweet read.





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