19.99$
Nate must unravel the clues around him and use what he learns about the farm, the Underground Railroad.
Author: S.A.M. Posey
ISBN: 978-1926780221
Dimension: 5.5 x 8.5″
Number of Pages: 184
Synopsis: On his grandparents remote North Carolina farm for the summer, Nate discovers there’s more happening on the rambling property than anyone realizes. To stop a terrorist’s plot and prevent a military disaster, he must unravel the clues around him and use what he learns about the farm, the Underground Railroad, and the lost secrets of an old ghost to become The Last Station Master.
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School Library Journal –
“Gr 6-9-In this fast-moving story, African American Nate Daniels expects to be bored when he’s sent to spend the summer with his grandparents in rural North Carolina, but he quickly learns his vacation will be anything but dull. On the plane, he meets a hot girl who likes him and a stranger, Abdi, who will involve him in a terrorist plot. That same day, the 15-year-old discovers a concealed stairway and a mystery at his grandparents’ historic home that dates back to the Underground Railroad. In her debut novel, Posey successfully juggles multiple story lines while developing appealing characters. Nate is a solid, realistic center for the novel; he’s insecure and brash, impulsive and thoughtful. His growing appreciation for his family’s place in history feels genuine. However, his rationale that because “Great-Gramps had followed his convictions and become a station master” for the Underground Railroad in the past means that he should aid a possible terrorist in the present, doesn’t work. Unlike the runaway slaves his Great-Gramps helped or the battered women his grandparents hide, Abdi might not be who he claims to be and Nate could be making a grave mistake. Posey vividly depicts the rural setting and conjures images of the Old South as Nate’s sleuthing solves his ancestors’ mystery. Information on influential African Americans of the era is provided in the author’s notes, which could encourage further exploration.”
-M. Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NYC (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Majesti Burroughs –
“This story was fresh, factual, gripping, educational, entertaining, and amazing.”
-Majesti Burroughs, AAMBC Reviewer, African Americans on the Move Book Club Novels That reflect you and me’s review Dec 07, 12
Amazon Review by K. M. Martin –
“We first meet our hero fifteen-year-old Nate Daniels when he and and friend are pulled over by the police for joy-riding in a neighbor’s car. His parents are rightfully upset with his irresponsibility and decide to send him to spend the summer with his grandparents in rural North Carolina. Nate is expecting to spend a boring summer. He isn’t expecting terrorists and a family mystery.
When Nate flies down from Boston, his plane is detained and searched by Homeland Security. A suspected terrorist is on-board. Nate and a couple of other kids are released to the custody of those waiting for them. Nate gets home and finds that someone has slipped a USB into the pocket of his hoodie. He also finds that the farm that has been in his family since before the Civil War is an antebellum mansion complete with a ghost and a mystery. Was his ancestor a black slave-owner or was he secretly a stop on the Underground Railroad?
When the terrorist, who convinces Nate that he is really an undercover agent who has information about a traitor in our government, comes to Nate to retrieve his flash drive, Nate believes him and decides to help him get to the Pentagon. He enlists his two new friends from the airplane–fifteen-year-old twins Hannah and Will–to help him. They are children of a soldier who died fighting the Taliban.
The story is filled with exciting scenes as Nate has an encounter with a bear, searches for secret passages in his house, and has to elude the army and Homeland Security as they search for Abdi. I think that middle graders will like the excitement and will like the friendships and tentative romance in this story. The characters are well-written and likable. Nate begins the story a little spoiled and convinced that charm will get him out of any trouble but he has a good heart and courage too. I liked his relationship with his grandparents who have secrets of their own.
I recommend this fast-paced story for mystery and adventure lovers who will also learn a little history as they read this exciting story.”
-Amazon Review by K. M. Martin
Amazon Review by Wendy L. Hines –
“Nate Daniels gets into some trouble so his parents decide to send him off to his grandparents for the summer. Expecting a humdrum summer, without any action or fun, Nate’s summer doesn’t start off quite like he expected. His flight to his grandparents is detained and searched when it becomes apparent that a possible terrorist is on-board.
Nate is soon released to his grandparents but is a bit stymied when he finds a thumb drive in his pocket – a thumb drive he has never seen before. Add that to his confusion about the farm. It’s a big mansion with it’s own ghost and a mystery.
From there, the adventure really takes off. With the would-be terrorist looking for his flash drive, the steep underground railroad history at the farm and two new friends that Nate met on the plane, there’s nothing boring about his summer. Posey does an excellent job of mixing history, adventure and suspense into a young adult book that will keep you thoroughly entertained. The plot is solid and the characters likable. Highly recommend!”
-Amazon Review by Wendy L. Hines
OOSA Online Book Club –
“Nate and his friend Malcolm were pulled over for joyriding in a neighbor’s car. Nate’s punishment consisted of being sent to his grandparents in rural North Carolina. He expected it to be a boring summer. Upon arrival at the airport, passengers were held until the plane was searched. Will this be his only excitement?
The story started a little slow for me. Once Nate arrived at his grandparents, it picked up. I felt the storyline took on a great pace from there. I enjoyed the history lesson. I highly recommend The Last Station Master for tweens. It demonstrates how the older generation survived in their day. It made me appreciate the days before the internet.”
-OOSA Online Book Club, Reviewed by: Jas
Dixieland Country –
“On his grandparents remote North Carolina farm for the summer, Nate discovers there’s more happening on the rambling property than anyone realizes. To stop a terrorist’s plot and prevent a military disaster, he must unravel the clues around him and use what he learns about the farm, the Underground Railroad, and the lost secrets of an old ghost to become the Last Station Master.
The Last Station Master is a great read for middle school aged children. With its great mix of contemporary and historical events that tell this coming-of-age story. All the while borrowing heavily from African-American history, and lost secrets of the Underground Railroad.”
-Dixieland Country