Thaddeus' life in South Carolina in the late 1840's is miserable and bleak, but he has a mother who loves him. When he is eight years old he is taken from her and sold to another plantation. Desolate and forlorn he begins on part of his journey. Aunt Leah, Matthias, Zebedee, Spider, Turk and Wild John are among the people he meets along the way.
Spider becomes his
mentor, but what of the others? Some are friends, but
some most definitely are not. When he finally meets the Conductor his journey has already taken a new direction. Being able to help her makes him feel important and grateful for Spider's teaching.
