Ghost Train (book) facts for kids
Ghost Train by Paul Yee cover of book
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| Author | Paul Yee |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Harvey Chan |
| Cover artist | Harvey Chan |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Children's Literature |
| Published | 1996 |
Ghost Train is a special picture book for children. It was written by Paul Yee, a Chinese-Canadian historian and author. The beautiful oil paintings in the book were created by Harvey Chan, another talented Chinese-Canadian artist. The book first came out in 1996.
The Story of Choon-yi and the Ghost Train
The story of Ghost Train begins in southern China. It is told through the eyes of a young girl named Choon-yi. She was born into a very poor family. Choon-yi has only one arm, and her mother found it hard to accept her. However, her father loved her very much. He also encouraged her to develop her artistic talent.
When Choon-yi was 12 years old, her father left for America. He went to work on a new railway being built through the mountains. After two years, he sent money for Choon-yi to join him. But when she arrived, she learned that her father had passed away.
Her father then appeared to her in a dream. He asked her to paint him on the train he helped build. The book features amazing full-page paintings. They show Choon-yi traveling on fast-moving trains. These images show the great power of the railway. They also show the sadness of the men who died building it. Their clothes are stained with mud and blood, telling a powerful story.
Awards and Recognition
Ghost Train has won several important awards. These awards celebrate excellent books for children.
- 1996 Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Literature
- 1997 Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award
- 1997 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award
- 1998 Prix Enfantasie (Switzerland) (Winner; for the French version: Le train fantôme)
From Book to Stage: A Play Adaptation
The story of Ghost Train was also turned into a play. Betty Quan adapted the book for the stage. The play was performed by the Young People's Theatre in Toronto in 2001.
