Remember the newspaper accounts of the brave Czechs who "borrowed" a train and drove it out of Communist territory? Here is Marie McSwigan's story based on those accounts, with a courageous boy leading the little group; and a more thrilling or timely or more carefully authenticated story it would be hard to find.

Franta Kristufek learns that the home which middle-aged Millie Novak has made for five war orphans (including himself) is to be broken up and the children sent to Communist educational centers. There is no time to lose for school opens soon.

With utmost secrecy, trusting no one completely, terrified yet determined to risk everything for liberty, Franta enlists the help of Anton Pavlik, engineer on the crack train whose last stop outside West Germany is the popular spa, Asch. Beyond Asch, though tracks run across the West German border, switches are locked and all Czech trains swerve and continue on in Communist territory. Thus Asch is a highly strategic point. Here passports must be shown again and soldiers board the train.

For our Czech heroes there is much to be done with minute timing: air brakes to be disconnected, a switch to be opened. They do their work well and the train goes roaring through Asch! Freedom, at what terrifying cost, has been won. A worthy successor this to Snow Treasure which promises to become a children's classic.

From the dust jacket