by Herbert Best
First published 1945
Tod Randall drives ore trains through the Massachusetts countryside in the 1740s, but his real mission is finding his only surviving family member. The orphaned boy remembers little about his relative except a house with white lilacs near a harbor filled with small boats. Tod works for a harsh deputy sheriff, hauling iron ore destined for furnaces in York Province. When a border dispute erupts over the valuable ore deposits, Tod and his loyal black and white sheepdog Limb become central to resolving the conflict. The boy faces danger and hardship as tensions escalate between Massachusetts and New York interests. His journey takes him through moments of both tragedy and humor as he navigates the rough world of colonial mining and transport. The conflict builds to a decisive fist fight where Tod must prove he can stand among men and defend what matters to him.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, adventure, mystery
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Massachusetts, New York, York Province
Period: 1740s
Hardcover · Viking Juvenile