The Railway Diary of Kate Cameron
Yale, British Columbia, 1882
by Julie Lawson
ISBN: 0-439-98848-9 Hardcover
208 pages
Ages 8-12
5 3/8" x 7 5/8"
Kate's father is a builder for the Canadian Pacific Railway as it snakes its way across the mountains and through the Fraser Canyon. Everyone is excited about the 'Iron Horse' but building the railroad is a treacherous undertaking. Kate is always thinking about her father's safety, and the Accident Hospital next door is a constant reminder of the hazards the railroad brings. There is tremendous excitement surrounding the creation of the transcontinental railroad despite the danger as Kate, her town, and all of Canada eagerly await its completion.
An Excerpt from Kate's Diary
Monday, August 28, 1882, 7 P.M.
Hell's Gate and Galoshes! I am well pleased today — and thankful for God's tender mercies. After the events of yesterday, I might not have had a today.
This is what happened. I was spending the week's end at Rachel's farm in Spuzzum and Rachel came up with a daring idea. We would follow the Wagon Road to a spot near the Alexandra Suspension Bridge where her brothers keep their boat, then we would borrow the boat and float a short distance downriver.
The Fraser was low and everything was fine at first, but it was a wild stretch of water and it was not long before we panicked and decided to end the Adventure. We steered the boat to shore — with great difficulty — and Rachel jumped out with rope in hand. The plan was for me to jump out as well, but before I had a chance to, the current dragged the rope out of Rachel's hands and I was adrift and flying down the Canyon.
The river was boiling with spray and seething with treacherous whirlpools — but in spite of my terror I noticed a large flat rock a few feet from shore. I took hold of the rope and with heart in hands leapt out upon the rock, waded to shore, tied the boat to a tree and climbed the rocky bluff, goodness knows how.
Later Papa told me I should use my Diary to record "lessons learned," beginning with my foray on the river. Here is my first Lesson Learned: Next time I will be the first to leap out of the boat.
Same Day, 9 P.M. In case anyone dares to read my Diary (warning: Toby), "Hell's Gate" is not a blasphemy even tho' it contains the word H___. It is a real place on the Canyon so I can say it.
From Dear Canada: A Ribbon of Shining Steel, copyright © 2002 by Julie Lawson.
"This book is so good. If anybody reads this book first, they will have a good idea of how good all the other books in this series are."
Lila J., Age 7, Ontario, Rating: 10
"I truly loved this book! Kate Cameron is such a wonderful heroine, unafraid to stand up against racism, yet she can be such a romantic, too. A wonderful tale of a long-ago time in Canada!"
Catherine H., Age 17, British Columbia, Rating: 10
"This was a good book. It talked about friends and friendship, and that it doesn't matter if you're from a different place or have a different culture, all people should be treated the same way."
Jordy S., Age 13, Ontario, Rating: 10
"This was a really good book. It is one of my favourite ones. "
Stephanie E., Age 12, Nova Scotia, Rating: 10
"This is the first Dear Canada book that I read, and it was really good, so I had to read the other ones. I have all of them and look forward to more."
Melanie Y., Age 13, Alberta, Rating: 10
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