Reading Metrics
Description
The book follows Mercy Lynch, a nurse who leaves her post at a war hospital in Richmond, Virginia, after learning her husband has died in a POW camp and her estranged father is gravely injured in Washington Territory. She travels across the country via train, facing dangers from both Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. The story is set aboard the Union-operated locomotive Dreadnought as it travels toward Tacoma.
Quick Summary
The Dreadnought turns a Civil War hospital ship into a thrilling steampunk battleground where survival means outsmarting both Union officers and Confederate spies on a high-stakes voyage up the coast. Kids will love the non-stop danger, clever protagonist who refuses to play by anyone's rules, and the way every chapter leaves you wondering who to trust on this dangerous vessel. If your kid enjoys fast-paced historical fiction with a twist of wild west meets Victorian technology, they'll be hooked on this pulse-pounding ride. Perfect for teens in grades 9-12 who crave action-packed stories that don't dumb down the history or the stakes.