At one time or another, many of us have wondered “What if...” What if our family’s circumstances changed significantly? It’s a compelling way to while away some time, staring out the car window, watching the scenery blur by. What if we were given the chance to experience something never before experienced, by anyone? In our connected world, sometimes this seems more difficult than ever.
The Boundless, by Kenneth Oppel, takes these “what if” questions head on, throwing in a bit of mystery, history and a circus into the mix. The story opens with young Will Everett waiting for his father to return home after three years away, laying train track across Canada. After traveling to meet his father and witness the final rail spike being driven, an avalanche changes the destiny of many people, including the Everett family.
Three years into the future, Will’s father is now in charge of the the railway corporation, and about to embark on a coast to coast railway experience aboard the brand new luxury train Boundless. Shortly into his pampered trip, Will witnesses a murder and becomes aware of a plot to carry off a heist aboard the Boundless. Unable to reach his father, he is forced to join forces with a circus traveling aboard the train. In doing so, he is made aware of the faces of the people in various sections of the train, and begins to understand the responsibility of corporations upon the people who toil and devote their lives to the big business.
The author deals with destiny, courage and the ability to make one’s own fate using history with a twist. Many of the legends we believe false are brought to life in The Boundless, which encourages the reader to question the reality of what we see versus what is possible. Magic and the mysteries of sleight of hand move the plot along to further prove that circumstances may not always be what they seem. In the end, a boy is left with a choice of a lifetime, and the “what if's” that follow behind.
The Boundless, by Kenneth Oppel, takes these “what if” questions head on, throwing in a bit of mystery, history and a circus into the mix. The story opens with young Will Everett waiting for his father to return home after three years away, laying train track across Canada. After traveling to meet his father and witness the final rail spike being driven, an avalanche changes the destiny of many people, including the Everett family.
Three years into the future, Will’s father is now in charge of the the railway corporation, and about to embark on a coast to coast railway experience aboard the brand new luxury train Boundless. Shortly into his pampered trip, Will witnesses a murder and becomes aware of a plot to carry off a heist aboard the Boundless. Unable to reach his father, he is forced to join forces with a circus traveling aboard the train. In doing so, he is made aware of the faces of the people in various sections of the train, and begins to understand the responsibility of corporations upon the people who toil and devote their lives to the big business.
The author deals with destiny, courage and the ability to make one’s own fate using history with a twist. Many of the legends we believe false are brought to life in The Boundless, which encourages the reader to question the reality of what we see versus what is possible. Magic and the mysteries of sleight of hand move the plot along to further prove that circumstances may not always be what they seem. In the end, a boy is left with a choice of a lifetime, and the “what if's” that follow behind.