Desperate JourneyTwo-time Newbery Honor author turns his formidable talents to this riveting suspense novel about a spirited Irish-American girl who helps save her family from ruin on the Erie Canal in the 1840s. When Maggie's father loses next year's salary and two of their best mules in a bet with Long-fingered John, the family is left desperate for money. They have only a few days to get the heavy cargo in their mule-drawn barge to Buffalo in order to make a much-needed bonus. But when Papa and Uncle Henry are arrested on an alleged assault charge, 12-year-old Maggie, her younger brother, and their ailing mother must fight all manner of adversity to save their boat, their mules, and their life savings. Jim Murphy is at his best in this colorful and gritty slice of 19th-C. life on the Erie Canal. |
Contents
Like a Mule | 1 |
Thinking and Dreaming | 15 |
Something Terribly Wrong | 27 |
Copyright | |
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99 Maggie ahead balance beam began Betty Billy Black boat boat's bonus Buffalo bunk cabin captain crew crowd cuddy cuss Dalrumple's dark deck downstream drive Eamon Enos Throop Erie Canal eyes face feeling fight fists gate glanced going grabbed Haggarty Haggrety hand head heard horse James and Issachar Jozie Jozie's Judge Bradley legs lock lockkeeper Lockport Long-fingered John looked loudly ma'am Maggie asked Maggie felt Maggie knew Maggie noticed Maggie thought Maggie told Maggie's Michael Michael Connelly Mickey Duff miles miss Momma mother moving mules night okay packet Papa and Hen Papa and Uncle Papa's plank plow pole Port Byron pulled punched pushed Quick City replied Rivington Rudy Sheriff Einhornn shouted smile stable stood stop sweep Syracuse talking tell tha Lord There's took towpath Uncle Hen upstream voice weigh lock wondered words worried