Margaret K. Wetterer

One stormy July night in 1881, a fifteen-year-old Iowa farm girl named Kate Shelley risked her life to warn the nearest train station that the trestle bridge near her home had collapsed under the weight of one of the steam engines, bringing help to the engine men trapped in the water, and preventing further disaster. Her route took her across the Des Moines River Bridge, where she had to crawl from cross-tie to cross-tie in the dark and wind, with rain lashing her and flood waters just show more below. But her bravery helped to save lives, and she became a heroine to both her state and the nation...

Published in 1990 as part of Carolrhoda Books' On My Own History series, a collection of non-fiction tales for beginning readers, Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express is the first book I have read from author Margaret K. Wetterer, and the third from illustrator Karen Ritz. Apparently Wetterer would go on to explore the story of Kate Shelley again in 2010, in The Midnight Adventure of Kate Shelley, Train Rescuer, which is part of the History's Kid Heroes series. As it happens, I just yesterday read another book on this subject—Robert D. San Souci and Max Ginsburg's picture book, Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend—which was my first exposure to this amazing story. I requested both the San Souci and the Wetterer from the library at the same time, and am glad to have read both. While I think I prefer the latter, from a storytelling and artistic standpoint, I nevertheless enjoyed this one as well, and think that with its simpler text it would make an excellent introduction to the subject for beginning readers who are getting going on their own. I can certainly see why it was chosen as a Reading Rainbow title! I will have to see if I can track down that episode and watch it. Recommended to beginning readers who enjoy biography and/or stories about brave young people making a difference. show less

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 show more other lives from being lost. This is the true story of a young girl's resourcefulness and courage in the face of great danger. show less

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 show more 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. show less

Great book to set an example for young minds everywhere! History books for young kids are so great, because they get right to the point, and if the child is interested, they can then investigate further with other media. This book is no different. It tells the story of how one girl in Iowa save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives simply by carrying one message a couple of miles. It give children the message that they too can make a huge difference in the world if they only have courage and show more perseverance. show less