Reaching Tidewater: Life on the Delaware Canal by Noreen F. Moore

Product Details

Synopsis

In the spring of 1862, with the American Civil War raging, Anna and her family prepare for their annual trip down the Delaware Canal to tidewater at Bristol. Anna's older brother, John, understanding the impact the "Iron Horse" will have on the Delaware Canal, no longer wants to continue driving the mules. John dreams of moving to the city of Easton and becoming a writer. To his father, John's talk of the "Iron Horse" is nothing short of disloyalty. Events and changes that affect the Delaware Canal and the entire country will have a profound effect on Anna, her family, and the rest of her life. Anna shares her excitement and fears with her friends at home. As difficult as it is to leave Smithtown and her friends, events make it even more difficult to return home.

Annotation

In 1862, as the Civil War tears some families apart, twelve-year-old Anna joins her entire family--and even helps drive the mules--on a journey down the Delaware Canal, hauling a load of coal from Easton to Bristol, Pennsylvania.

Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. - Children's Literature

As Anna and her family embark on their annual trip down the Delaware Canal to tidewater at Bristol in 1862, the Civil War provides an ominous background. In addition, the "Iron Horse" threatens their way of life as the railroad approaches with its ability to transport coal more efficiently than the canal boats. Although written as a fiction story, this book would have been more effective as a factual account of this specific incident in history. The point of view is never clear. At times it seems that Anna is now an old woman reflecting on her childhood. Then the tense changes and she seems to be wondering what will happen in the future. The fictional format is often repetitious and artificial, serving as vehicle for the information being presented. Several black and white photographs and a map from museums in Pennsylvania, which would enhance a factual book, distract from the flow of the story. This book could be useful for those seeking information about this historical time and means of transport. 2004, White Mane Kids, Ages 7 to 10.