Margaret K. Wetterer

Kate stared at the rickety wooden bridge. There were boards loose on its narrow walkway. There was no railing to hold on to. She was afraid to cross this bridge even in daylight. But she had to cross it now. She had to get to the train station in time to stop the midnight express.

When a heavy storm destroyed the bridge over Honey Creek, near Kate Shelley's home in Moingona, Iowa, fifteen-year-old Kate bravely rushed out into the storm, saving the lives of two men and preventing hundreds of other lives from being lost. This is the true story of a young girl's resourcefulness and courage in the face of great danger.… (more)

I truly enjoyed reading this story. The story highlights the preseverance of Kate Shelley and how she saved not only the men in the river but from another train from running into the same fate as the previous train. It did not invoke suspense but the whole time I was reading I was routing for the character in my head and wondering how she was going to work through the obstacles.
In the book kate Shelley lives on a small farm with her family when a storm breaks loose. Around midnight during the storm kate and her mom were up when they heard a loud crack and Kate put on warm clothes to go check. The bridge had broken and the men working on the train/tracks had fallen and instantly Kate was worried about the men and the midnight express that would be coming through any time. Kate sprung into action and she crawled across the remaining bridge and cut up her hand feeling for gaps so she would not fall in. She had to deal with trees falling and anxiety that she would not make it in time to stop the express but she finally crosses the bridge and sprints. She made it to the train station in time to tell the men to stop the midnight express from coming and then was able to get the two men in the river help.… (more)