Sal, Joe, Francie and Henry misplace their mother as they are about to begin the race that offers their last chance to escape poverty and find their lost adventurer father. Their task is to map a rail route through an uncharted wilderness.

They overcome the many obstacles posed by naturebears, bees, bats, river crossings, cliff falls, impossible weatherbut can they survive the treachery of their adult competitors?

This is a fast-paced and charming novel. Its children are brave and competent but not always right. Its world is magical enough to be intriguing, but close enough to our own to keep the reader on firm ground.