Cold Train Coming

by Larry Barkdull

IT'S 1942 AND AMERICA IS AT WAR. A sense of peril and wartime shortages have reached even the small town of Fort Benton, Montana, where 13-ear-old Ben Colby is growing up. Ben is in love for the first time, with Ellie Beck, a high-school beauty who is three years older than Ben. But that's not the only dilemma Ben is facing. When he learns that one of his mother's old boyfriend has moved to town, he worries about what that might mean for his parents' seemingly shaking marriage. Everyone is nearly frantic about the polio epidemic that is raging through the town. In the midst of all this, Ben tries to befriend a stray sheepdog that no one has ever been able to win over - a dog that remain fiercely loyal to its previous master.

Reminiscent of A River Runs through It and Montana 1948, Cold Train Coming capture the essence of a simpler time in American history, a setting in which a boy struggles to understand a looming adult world that is overwhelming and mysterious. Filled with humor and emotion, Cold Train Coming is a nostalgic, coming-of-age story that will take you back to the bittersweet days of adolescence, when summer was endless, first love was both thrilling and frustrating, and the future was as exciting as it was uncertain.

Genres: Book Club, World War II

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2004

About the author

I am a longtime publisher and writer of books, music, art and magazines. My most recent books are Priesthood Power–Blessing the Sick and the Afflicted and Rescuing Wayward Children. I have just completed a major 5-book doctrinal series called The Three Pillars of Zion, which was announced August 2009. I have created two Facebook groups called, “Rescuing Wayward Children” and “Three Pillars of Zion–Becoming a Zion Person.”

For nine years, I owned Sonos Music Resources and published the Tabernacle Choir Performance Library, and I was also the owner and publisher of Keepsake Books. Combined, I have published about 600 products for numerous authors, composers and artists. I founded two non-profit organizations: The Latter-day Foundation for the Arts, Education and Humanity (to promote LDS arts), and Gospel Ideals International (to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ on the Internet). My wife, Elizabeth (Buffie), and I have been married for 38 years we have ten children and 15 grandchildren. We live in Orem, Utah. Visit me on Facebook: “Larry Barkdull”

from http://www.larrybarkdull.com/about-me

Reviews

[Ashli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable, not very eventful, it struggled to hold my attention. I thought it was a feel-good book before I started, but it touches on many hard subjects, like debilitating depression, marital/family problems, etc. Kind of a downer in general, but the ending was ok. There were some fun/sweet moments scattered throughout.

[Rene' Riddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually enjoy coming of age stories, but I thought this was tender. The fact that it was inspired by a true story helped.

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it dealt with real life problems but had real life humor, too. Coming of age story of a boy during world war 2 times. I think my Dad would love this book.

[Jaycee Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. Good story for any dog lover❤

[Heidi Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, it was a sweet story.

[Lisa Hannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet coming of age story, although there was one character for whom I wanted to witness some comeuppance, and another left me curious about her future fate.

[Kylie Nelson]

Summary-It’s the middle of the night when Ben wakes up to his mom yelling his name telling him to get the shotgun and go see what is outside. Ben spots the animal and chases it and ends up in his best friend Ellie’s yard. Ellie wakes up and follows Ben as he chases the animal. Just as Ben is about to shoot the animal he realizes it is a dog that everyone calls Shep. The next day Ellie, Ben, and Squid go to try and adopt Shep and Shep ends up saving Squid’s life but still won’t communicate with them. A few days later Ellie and Ben find Squid doing something no one had been able to do, feeding Shep. Soon Ellie and her father have to leave town to Great Falls where Squid has been staying with his grandma and Ellie’s father takes Ben’s mother with her and brings Squid back leaving Ben home alone thinking that Elie’s dad was trying to take his mother away from him, but when she returns he knows that his mother didn’t leave him.

Ben has always secretly had a crush on his best friend Ellie but when he tells her he is depressed because she doesn’t feel the same. Ben has also always been annoyed of his brother Squid but in the end he wants his brother to come home from his grandma’s more than ever.

I liked this book because of the loyalty Shep has for his owner who died 7 years ago. I also liked this book because of the hope Ben and his family have, and how they always find a way to be happy.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the midst of dealing with a World War, this small trainstation of a town has its own little dramas going on. A boy on the verge of growing up, a wife tempted by a handsome would-be rescuer, a loyal dog that has captured the imagination and heart of an entire town.

This book managed to delve into issues of war, fidelity, manic depression, loyalty and love without being boring. I think that says a thing or two. I found the characters believable and endearing enough that I was rooting for them. I found the true story of the dog, Shep, to be moving.

Good book.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the setting of a small town in Montana during World War II, Barkdull tells a sweet story of a young teenage boy who experiences tough problems that are difficult for an adult (depression, heavy debt, sickness, loss of friends), but he carries the innocence of youth. A faithful dog named "Shep" who awaits the return of his dead, sheep-herding master at a train depot for several years adds an interesting aspect to the story. Barkdull wrote the story because of an actual sheepdog who waited at a train station in Fort Benton, MT for several years, and the story was known around the world.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The author is a cousin of my mom's, and he writes pretty well.

Cold Train Coming is the story of two boys living in a small western railroad town. They end up taking care of a dog who lives at the train station who has been there since his owner's body was taken away to family back east several years before. The dog waits for every train, waiting for the owner. The boy's story becomes entangled with the dog's and it makes for a quick, enjoyable book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written. Since I read for stories, and way too fast, it was hard for me to slow down and savor the words. Loosely based on the well known story of Shep, the sheep dog, who's master died and his body shipped by train to his family. Shep spent the rest of his life waiting at the train station. Meeting each train. The main story is also about being faithful and true.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself was rather average; I grew up in Fort Benton in the 50s and 60s and it was interesting to see the cast of characters from the 40s. Very much as it would have been I suspect. The story of Shep was ingrained in all of us, and like the youngsters in the story, hiking up to the little bluff by the train depot to see the statue of Shep was a common occurrence.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down! They centered the book on a true story of a dog who lost his master and shed some light on what some of the people struggled with during war after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

[Breanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

The legend of Shep will warm the heart of most anyone however, this fictional story that intertwines with the Shep legend has an unbelievable plot and fairly corny ending. It is nonetheless wholesome, with no bad language or themes.

[WendyR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will be a bit more challenging for my boys than the books they have been reading but I really want them to read it. I really enjoyed this book. It had sort of a Bridge to Terabithia feel to it.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very touching book that teaches you alot about the "olden days" and the regular struggles they went through on a daily basis.

[Momma Fish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat little book. Good read. Loved it being about a dog!

[Koe · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were just too many unanswered questions at the end. It was aggravating and depressing.

[Kacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book...it's about a little boy and his family during World War 2

[Snoopsnoop · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried really hard to get into it enough to finish it. But sadly never got there. A friend recommended it and gave it 5 stars but I just couldn't get into it. Guess this one is not for me!

[Margaret Broadbent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book. Would be a good book for a book club group.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is set during world war II. It took me a while to get into the story. I found it to be a good story and very sad at times.

[Kellee · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little hard to get through

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my favorites! So many little nuggets of good storytelling in it. I laughed, I cried, I bit my nails in suspense but mostly my heart was warmed.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about a faithful dog and the people whose lives he touched.

[ThePinkCarrot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about a dog who loved his master.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in the ending but it was a good story.