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Deeply unhappy about her family's separation because of poverty, Megan gradually finds contentment and purpose in her new home on the Kansas prairie with a kind and loving adopted family.Tags
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Shy Megan Kelly cannot forget the day a gypsy read her palm announcing to all that she would bring trouble to those around her. Afterward, trouble does follow her, until she takes the necessary steps to free herself from the burdens of fear, loneliness, and superstition.
Summary (Spoilers): Set in 1856, a young windowed mother has to give up all 5 of her children on the Orphan Train in hopes that they will be adopted by families that can provide for them better than she can.
This story is the third in the Orphan Train Adventures series, and follows Megan Kelly, the shy middle child that is adopted by a sweet, caring couple that bring her with them to live in Kansas, away from her entire family and everything she knows. Megan has always believed that she was the reason for all of her family's misfortunes due to the fateful day when a gypsy cursed her. She always refers to herself as a "bad-luck penny", and internalizes conflicts that have nothing to do with her.
This story also has a mystery element to it, show more on top of the historical fiction aspect, in that there is an escaped killer on the loose. With the help and nurturing of her new foster family, Megan is able to overcome her fears of being cursed, and gains the confidence required to be the hero. show less
This story is the third in the Orphan Train Adventures series, and follows Megan Kelly, the shy middle child that is adopted by a sweet, caring couple that bring her with them to live in Kansas, away from her entire family and everything she knows. Megan has always believed that she was the reason for all of her family's misfortunes due to the fateful day when a gypsy cursed her. She always refers to herself as a "bad-luck penny", and internalizes conflicts that have nothing to do with her.
This story also has a mystery element to it, show more on top of the historical fiction aspect, in that there is an escaped killer on the loose. With the help and nurturing of her new foster family, Megan is able to overcome her fears of being cursed, and gains the confidence required to be the hero. show less
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The Story of the World: Activity Book Four: The Modern Age
333 works; 2 members
Author Information

149+ Works 11,603 Members
Joan Lowery Nixon was born in Los Angeles, California. She attended the University of Southern California where she received a B.A. in journalism and later an education certificate from California State. She has written over 100 mystery books for young adults. She is known for her Orphan Train Adventure Series and other titles including A Family show more Apart, The Seance and Other Side of the Dark. Her works have earned her the honor of being the only writer to win four Edgar Allen Poe awards and in addition, two Spurs from Western Writers of America. She was a past President of the Mystery Writers of America. She died from complications of pancreatic cancer on June 28, 2003, in Houston, Texas. She was 76. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Awards and Honors
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- In The Face of Danger
- Original publication date
- 1988
- People/Characters
- Megan Kelly
- Important places
- Missouri, USA
- Dedication
- For Beverly Horowitz in friendship
- First words
- Jennifer watched Grandma ladle hot cucumber pickles into a row of scalded glass jars.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I'll tell you everything that Frances Mary wrote in her journal about Danny and Peg - but not until tomorrow.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Kids, Children's Books
- DDC/MDS
- 813.54 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 1900-1999 1945-1999
- LCC
- PZ7 .N65 .I — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 357
- Popularity
- 87,963
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.76)
- Languages
- English, French, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 15
- ASINs
- 2





























































