Fran Slayton's Page

"An unassuming masterpiece." - Kirkus, Starred Review

"Nostalgia done right.". School Library Journal, Starred Review

“[When the Whistle Blows] is a growing up novel that includes scenes reminiscent of Richard Peck's Long Way from Chicago and has a classical mannerism that will steam its way on to state award lists all over the country. . . This novel is fresh, smart, witty, warm, well-written, funny. . . an amazing novel.”
—School Library Journal’s Diane Chen, (American Library Association board member)

“With wit and warmth Fran Cannon Slayton recounts a steam-driven coming of age story in the last of the real railroad days.”
—Richard Peck, Newbery Award-winning author of A Year Down Yonder

“When the Whistle Blows is reminiscent of classic tales by Jack London, William Golding and Robert Louis Stevenson, yet carries the remarkable, fresh voice of its author. Fran Cannon Slayton should be extremely proud of this, her debut novel.”
—Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank and Identical and National Book Award finalist

“I loved When the Whistle Blows.”
—Barbara Keifer, Charlotte S. Huck Professor of Children’s Literature at Ohio State University and editor of Charlotte Huck’s on Children’s Literature college textbook.

“A highly engaging, well-written, really good read.”
—Dr. Joel Taxel, University of Georgia, Department of Language and Literary Education


“From its whip-smart opening to its look at the complexity of father/son relationships, Slayton’s loving novel takes a long hard look at the death of people and that intangible idea of ‘home’ . . . ‘When the Whistle Blows’ stopped me in my tracks.”
—Elizabeth Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (School Library Journal)