In this classic adventure by E. Nesbit, we follow the lives of three children named Roberta (or Bobbie), Peter and Phyllis. In this book, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and Mother are forced to move to Three Chimneys because they are too poor to stay in their old home, when Father goes away. This move causes the children to meet new friends like the old gentleman, who they wave to when he passes by their house by train; the Russian who is looking for his family after escaping prison; and Perks, who they collect birthday presents for. More fuel is given to the train of adventure as the children save a train from landside, put out a canal boat fire and save lives. Next, the three children go into the tunnel and rescue a boy called Jim, who they realised must be wounded. With Jim around the children get distracted from the railway and when Bobbie goes to the station a miracle happens.
My favourite character is Bobbie because she is kind and caring. When Mother was ill, ‘several times in the night she got up to mend the fire, and to give her mother milk and soda-water.’ This suggests that Bobbie didn’t care if she got any sleep as long as Mother got better. My favourite part is when Bobbie stays in the tunnel and takes care of Jim by herself because it was kind of her and she did it even though it made her scared.
I don’t like that Bobbie and Peter are the only main characters in chapters. If it had had a chapter or two with Phyllis as the main character it would have been better.
I would recommend the original version for people 8-years-old and older because there are strong emotional and political struggles, but other versions have been made for younger people. If you like adventure, trains, railways and happy endings this is the book for you.
