S.A.M. Posey

This is a pretty good book. First of all, I was impressed that the author took the time to personalize the dedication inside the cover. I was a bit sceptical upon receiving it because it isn't very big, only 158 pages, but it was a pleasant surprise. The book focuses on a teenage boy, Nathan, who is sent to stay with his grandparents for the summer as punishment for getting into some trouble at home. Once he gets there, he realizes that it really isn't all that bad and finds himself tangled show more up in both a family mystery, as well as another involving a stranger. Nathan begins discovering his family's connection to the Underground Railroad and finds out about himself as well. The author also provides some great reference reading, which I immediately sought out after finishing the book. All in all, I would definitely recommend this book. show less

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 show more 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. show less

From 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 show more 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, NYα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. show less