Steve and the Steam Engine

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22245

Title

Steve and the Steam Engine

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this spirited adventure from The Invention Series, young Steve Tolman learns a hard lesson about responsibility and honesty after borrowing his father's car without permission. When a mishap leaves him stranded, he faces the consequences of his actions while navigating friendships, family loyalty, and the thrilling world of steam power. A tale of growth, redemption, and the magic of invention.

Summary up to 500 words

In Sara Ware Bassett's *Steve and the Steam Engine*, young Steve Tolman faces a crisis of conscience after borrowing his father's expensive touring car without permission to take friends to a football game. The car breaks down on a hill near Torrington, leaving Steve stranded and mortified as his friends abandon him to attend the match. Faced with a massive repair bill and his father's inevitable anger, Steve resolves to confess his wrongdoing. His story intertwines with a subplot involving a lost pocketbook belonging to Mr. Ackerman, a steamboat magnate visiting New York. Steve and his father help locate the owner, only to discover the pocketbook has been stolen by a clever thief who impersonated them. The narrative shifts to a dramatic climax during a Thanksgiving house party where Steve and Mr. Ackerman go ice skating. Steve falls through the ice and nearly drowns, but his father plunges into the freezing water to save him. Upon recovering, Steve finally confesses his earlier transgressions, including the car incident and his cowardice in not reporting the theft sooner. His father forgives him, emphasizing that love transcends mistakes. The novel concludes with the family enjoying a bountiful Thanksgiving dinner and planning a Christmas visit to Mr. Ackerman in New York. Throughout the story, themes of invention, the reliability of steam engines versus other modes of transport, and the moral growth of the protagonist are explored with engaging illustrations and a tone suitable for young readers.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22245.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg22245.epub

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Categories

• Juvenile Fiction
• Steam Engines