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Byways #2
Aboard the Train: A Ewan Johns Adventure
Ewan's plans fall apart when he stumbles across two stowaways.
Magic isn't the only legacy Mr. Ian Johns wants for his bickering sons. The Postmaster hoped the boys would bond during a family trip, but they twist his vacation plans into a race. Ewan, Zane, and Ganix soon find themselves far from home, facing choices that are far from easy. Three routes stretch from coast to coast. The rules: each brother--and his two companions--must check in at post offices along their route. At these waypoints, they stamp in with their personal seal and report their progress by postcard.
Book #2, Aboard the Train is Ewan's first solo adventure. Having chosen the northern route, the eldest Johns brother is bound for Liberty's mountains. He takes the train, confident that he'll have a quick, comfortable ride to the finish line. But when Ewan stumbles upon two stowaways, they force him to change his plans.
The Byways books are a coming-of-age story times three with an educational twist. The storyline includes a states-based geography quest.
Welcome to Liberty: Big cities and hill-country outposts thrive on busy byways, but people are scarce in the Wilds, where mythical creatures are alive and well. Folks commonly use lanterns to light their homes, and peace is kept by rangers on horseback. In the Byways books, readers will encounter dragons, griffins, river monsters, and rogue magicians.
Magic is a rare trait that runs in families. Some magical gifts are quite useful; others are downright quirky. Like the talent inherited by members of the Johns family. They're Changers who can take the form of an animal. Not that magic will make winning the race any easier for Ewan, Zane, and Ganix.
Educational Twist: Each of the Byways books is tied to one of the fifty states and borrows from its history and geography--icons, mottos, landmarks, people, places, and famous firsts. They're hidden throughout the story, turning the series into one long game of hide-and-seek. At the end of each Byways book, there's a master list that covers everything from the state tree to the state insect. Nicknames, sports teams, state heroes, and national parks also find their way into the story. States are covered in order of ratification. Aboard the Train takes its cues from "The Keystone State," Pennsylvania.
"I homeschooled my children and they would have loved Byways. The books are a fun way for parents and kids to learn about history and geography, not to mention appreciation of the intricate, whimsical art." --Vanessa Morton, The Scriblerians
Chart your course to CJMilbrandt.com, where readers can stamp into the Waypoint Log and take part in a very special Hometown Challenge.
Magic isn't the only legacy Mr. Ian Johns wants for his bickering sons. The Postmaster hoped the boys would bond during a family trip, but they twist his vacation plans into a race. Ewan, Zane, and Ganix soon find themselves far from home, facing choices that are far from easy. Three routes stretch from coast to coast. The rules: each brother--and his two companions--must check in at post offices along their route. At these waypoints, they stamp in with their personal seal and report their progress by postcard.
Book #2, Aboard the Train is Ewan's first solo adventure. Having chosen the northern route, the eldest Johns brother is bound for Liberty's mountains. He takes the train, confident that he'll have a quick, comfortable ride to the finish line. But when Ewan stumbles upon two stowaways, they force him to change his plans.
The Byways books are a coming-of-age story times three with an educational twist. The storyline includes a states-based geography quest.
Welcome to Liberty: Big cities and hill-country outposts thrive on busy byways, but people are scarce in the Wilds, where mythical creatures are alive and well. Folks commonly use lanterns to light their homes, and peace is kept by rangers on horseback. In the Byways books, readers will encounter dragons, griffins, river monsters, and rogue magicians.
Magic is a rare trait that runs in families. Some magical gifts are quite useful; others are downright quirky. Like the talent inherited by members of the Johns family. They're Changers who can take the form of an animal. Not that magic will make winning the race any easier for Ewan, Zane, and Ganix.
Educational Twist: Each of the Byways books is tied to one of the fifty states and borrows from its history and geography--icons, mottos, landmarks, people, places, and famous firsts. They're hidden throughout the story, turning the series into one long game of hide-and-seek. At the end of each Byways book, there's a master list that covers everything from the state tree to the state insect. Nicknames, sports teams, state heroes, and national parks also find their way into the story. States are covered in order of ratification. Aboard the Train takes its cues from "The Keystone State," Pennsylvania.
"I homeschooled my children and they would have loved Byways. The books are a fun way for parents and kids to learn about history and geography, not to mention appreciation of the intricate, whimsical art." --Vanessa Morton, The Scriblerians
Chart your course to CJMilbrandt.com, where readers can stamp into the Waypoint Log and take part in a very special Hometown Challenge.
- GenresMiddle Grade
54 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2014
2 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Milbrandt
21 books184 followersC. J. Milbrandt has always believed in miracles, especially small ones. A lifelong bookworm with a love for fairy tales, far-off lands, and fantasy worlds, CJ began spinning adventures of her own on the advice of a dear friend. Her family-friendly stories mingle humor and whimsy with a dash of danger and a touch of magic.
The Galleries of Stone trilogy [A magic master sculptor of Pred descent and the only Flox boy with the nubs to take his hand. Cozy fantasy.]
Journeymen of Stone [Readers join other Meadowsweets as they go out into the world. More mountains. New cultures. Adventure!]
Byways Books [Ewan, Zane, and Ganix take sibling rivalry to new lengths as they race each other across their homeland. Chapter books for young readers, beginning around age 6, escalating into middlegrade.]
The Galleries of Stone trilogy [A magic master sculptor of Pred descent and the only Flox boy with the nubs to take his hand. Cozy fantasy.]
Journeymen of Stone [Readers join other Meadowsweets as they go out into the world. More mountains. New cultures. Adventure!]
Byways Books [Ewan, Zane, and Ganix take sibling rivalry to new lengths as they race each other across their homeland. Chapter books for young readers, beginning around age 6, escalating into middlegrade.]
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 4, 2015
'Aboard the Train' is the second book in the Byways series by C. J. Milbrandt, and the first with the eldest brother, Ewan, as its main character.
Ewan has set off alone, hoping to meet up soon with the two other people that he must travel with in order to fulfil the rules of the race against his younger half-brothers across the country of Liberty.
Shy and self-effacing, he isn't expecting to find his travelling companions in the shape of two small girls!
Each state in Liberty corresponds to a state of the United States, with many references to places, names and well-known features of the real state. 'Aboard the Train' is set in Liberty's equivalent of Pennsylvania.
The series is intended to advance in reading level along with its readers. Books 1-4 are written for readers between six and ten years old, although later 'episodes' will have a progressively higher reading level.
I'm an adult reader in Australia, so I don't normally read books intended for this age range. And spotting the references specific to each American state is likely to give greater enjoyment to the youthful inhabitants of those states than it does to me on the other side of the world. :)
But I enjoy C.J. Milbrandt's writing no matter what she writes, so I'm willing to recommend it likewise to anyone who appreciates carefully-chosen words and well-defined characterisation.
This is my favourite of the four books that have been released so far - probably because I *am* an adult reader, and Ewan's reserved nature and sense of responsibility for others mean I have more in common with him than with the "hoorah, out on my own" spirit of his two younger brothers. The mileage of the actual target audience may vary. :)
Ewan has set off alone, hoping to meet up soon with the two other people that he must travel with in order to fulfil the rules of the race against his younger half-brothers across the country of Liberty.
Shy and self-effacing, he isn't expecting to find his travelling companions in the shape of two small girls!
Each state in Liberty corresponds to a state of the United States, with many references to places, names and well-known features of the real state. 'Aboard the Train' is set in Liberty's equivalent of Pennsylvania.
The series is intended to advance in reading level along with its readers. Books 1-4 are written for readers between six and ten years old, although later 'episodes' will have a progressively higher reading level.
I'm an adult reader in Australia, so I don't normally read books intended for this age range. And spotting the references specific to each American state is likely to give greater enjoyment to the youthful inhabitants of those states than it does to me on the other side of the world. :)
But I enjoy C.J. Milbrandt's writing no matter what she writes, so I'm willing to recommend it likewise to anyone who appreciates carefully-chosen words and well-defined characterisation.
This is my favourite of the four books that have been released so far - probably because I *am* an adult reader, and Ewan's reserved nature and sense of responsibility for others mean I have more in common with him than with the "hoorah, out on my own" spirit of his two younger brothers. The mileage of the actual target audience may vary. :)
February 28, 2015
This kid-friendly fantasy series is teaching kids about the United States of America in a new and exciting way. State facts, cities, landmarks, and more are hidden within the story. By the end, you'll want to re-read so that you can find all of the hidden things.
Book 2, Aboard the Train by C. J. Milbrandt follows Ewan Johns as he races against his brothers across the land of Liberty. Taking the mountain route means Ewan can take the train for the first part of his journey. But when Ewan finds two little stowaways, he suddenly has a lot more to think about. Ewan's responsible nature, and patience makes him a great role model, especially for shy artistic types like me.
Filled with lighthearted humor, colorful characters, and amazing illustrations, this is a story that parents will enjoy reading just as much as their children.
Book 2, Aboard the Train by C. J. Milbrandt follows Ewan Johns as he races against his brothers across the land of Liberty. Taking the mountain route means Ewan can take the train for the first part of his journey. But when Ewan finds two little stowaways, he suddenly has a lot more to think about. Ewan's responsible nature, and patience makes him a great role model, especially for shy artistic types like me.
Filled with lighthearted humor, colorful characters, and amazing illustrations, this is a story that parents will enjoy reading just as much as their children.
June 7, 2015
Adventure wrapped in magical charm
Book 2 of the Byways Series follows the magical adventure of Ewan Johns, eldest of three Johns brother, as he embarks on the first stage of his race across the land of Liberty. The journey is not as straightforward as he assumed and the plot takes unexpected twists. The Byways Series books are told in sets of three, one for each of the three brothers as he follows his own route toward the rendezvous point. The art is absolutely charming and to top it all off, a geography quest is woven seamlessly into the story. Perfect for your children or grandchildren.
Book 2 of the Byways Series follows the magical adventure of Ewan Johns, eldest of three Johns brother, as he embarks on the first stage of his race across the land of Liberty. The journey is not as straightforward as he assumed and the plot takes unexpected twists. The Byways Series books are told in sets of three, one for each of the three brothers as he follows his own route toward the rendezvous point. The art is absolutely charming and to top it all off, a geography quest is woven seamlessly into the story. Perfect for your children or grandchildren.
Want to read
May 29, 2016*I won this book in the give away*
My little sister loved this book and I also enjoyed the book my self.
My little sister loved this book and I also enjoyed the book my self.
Want to read
July 6, 2016It was an okay book for readers just starting chapter books.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews