Derailed

by Kathryn T Cryan-Hicks

After losing her mother to tuberculosis, 13-year-old Gretta Anderson longs for more than housework and working in the local mill. She dreams of high school, college—even becoming a reporter like her hero, Nellie Bly. But with a shy streak and a father who expects her to follow the path of "all the other girls," those dreams feel far out of reach.

Then, in the early hours of May 24, 1911, a train carrying the famous “Two Bills Show” derails outside Gretta’s village—sending wild animals into the streets. Gretta leaps into action, facing down a giant python, a wayward elephant, and her own fears to help restore order.

In the chaos, she discovers courage she didn’t know she had—and a story worth telling. Set in a time of social change, daring dreams, and traveling Wild West shows, DERAILED is a heartfelt tale of grit, friendship, and finding your voice when it matters most.

108 pages, Paperback

Published October 13, 2025

Reviews

[Molly B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes place in 1911 , around the real-life event of the "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" show derailing on the Stony Brook Railroad line between Brookside and West Chelmsford Ma. It centers on Gretta, who is a young ambitious youth trying to discover her "purpose" in life and pushes the envelope on what was expected of girls/women at the time.