The Importance of a FamilyHope and OptimismThe Joys of ChildhoodKindness Brings RewardThe Loss of InnocenceJustice Shall PrevailCoping with HardshipResourceful and InnovativeNaivetyBravery

Description : There is a strong bond in the family.

mother was almost always at home, ready to ply with the chidren, or read to them… (page 1)

they also had a wonderful father who was never angry, and always ready to play a game (page 1)

the children did not forget their father, … (page 12)

The children are always togather – at the railway line, railway station and even when they collect gifts for Perks.

“Let’s go and look at the railway,” said Peter. (page 8)

…the chidren went to fetch the present which other people had promise… (page 36)

Description : Father is always positive with his children that everything shall

be fine.

‘Of course, there’s a hope!’ said Father smiling . ‘I’ll mend it on Saturday , and you can all help me.’ (page 3)

Bobbie has high hopes that the old man can help her seek the truth about her father’s innocence.

But Bobbie did think about it. She did not talk to Peter Phyllis, but she wrote a letter – to the old gentelman. (page 42)

The old man believes that Bobbie’s father is innocent.

‘I haven’t done much yet but I have hopes, my dear – I have hopes.’ (page 52)

Description : The family is fortunate to move to a country hoses that many

would dream of living in. They do not go to school; hence, they fully enjoy their privilaged freedom and have some advantures at their neighbouring railway line. The three siblings have more advantures than they ever did in London. They have a freedom they never had before.

The children did not go to school now … and Mother spent every day in her room, writing stories. (page 12)

The children could not keep away from the railway… (page 15)

Description : As a note of appreciation to Perks for being nice , his birthday

is celebrated with much kindness and benevolence from the children sa well as the villagers.

But other people gave things – a pipe, a ti of tea, a walking stick – and others promised to give small presents too. (page 35)

Description : The children have been formerly sheltered from a life of

hardship and led a comfortable life. However, after their circumstances changes, they have to learn and, over time, discover the harsh truth of poverty.

‘Mother must have those things,’ said Bobbie. ‘The Doctor said so. How can we get them from her? Think, everybody, just as hard asa you can.’ (page 17)

‘We have to play “being poor” for a while’ (page 4)

‘Can we light a fire? asked Bobbie. We can’t have fire in June,’ said Mother. ‘Coal is very expensive.’ (page 12)

Description : The Father of Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis is an innocent man

being falsely imprisoned for spying. He is finally vindicated with the help of the Old Gentelman.

He held her hand and said, ‘You must go in by yourself , and tell Mother very quietly that it’s all right. They’ve caught the man who did it. Everyone knows that your Daddy isn’t spy.’ ‘We always knew you weren’t,’ said Bobbie (page 57)

Description : The characters in this novel are resilient and courageous as they go

through hardship and difficulties without complaints or despair.

‘We can’t take everything ,’ Mother told them. ‘Just the necessary things. We have to play “being poor” for a while.’ On their last night in the house Peter had to sleep on the floor, which he enjoyed very much. ‘I like moving,’ he said (pgs 4, 5)

Then Bobbie fetched coal and wood and lit a fire. It was a strange supper – tomatoes, potato chips, dried fruit and cake. And they drank water out of tea-cups.

Despite being thrown into poverty, the children’s mother does not use it as an excuse to deprive the children of having one or two pleasures in life.

‘I’ve sold another story, darlings,’ she said. ‘We can have

cakes for tea.’ (pg 34)

The children are deprived of school and Mother has to write stories to put food on the table. Yet they are told that they are not to depend on others.

The children did not go to school now and Mother spent every day in her room, writing stories. Sometimes she managed to sell a story to a magazine and then there were cakes for tea. (pg 12)

‘Mother said we weren’t to ask people for things.’ (pg 34)

Description : The children send danger signals to stop the train by making

flag from red petticoats. Bobbies uses her petticoat to support Jim’s broken leg in the

tunnel while waiting for help.

They cut the petticoats into six pieces and put them on to sticks. (page 12)

Bobbie uses her petticoat to support Jim’s broken leg in the…

‘It needs something soft under it,’ she thought, and then remembered he petticoat. She took it off and carefully put under the boy’s leg. (page 49)

Description : Peter is naive to think that no one would notice if he takes coal

from middle of the heap.

Taking coal from middle of the heap goes unnoticeable.

Peter denies he is stealing the coal when caught by the Station Master. He isn’t sure that he s stealing. (pages 13, 14)

‘I’m not a thief.’ said Peter, but he did not sound very sure about it. (pages 13, 14)

Description : The children risk their lives to prevent a train accident.

They try to stop the train by standing on the railway line. (pg 30, 31)

The children enter the dark tunnel to look for the last ‘hound in a red shirt’ (pg 46)

Mother is being brave and patient with the children.

Bobbie saw her face when she turned away. ‘Oh, Mother,’ she thought. ‘How brave you are! How I love you! (pg 5)

Bobbie was determined to make the train stop at the risk of her own life.

She ran on to the line, waving her two flags. (pg 30)

Bobbie writes a letter to the Old Gentleman to seek justice for her father.

My Dear Friend,

You see what is in this newspaper. It is not true. Father never did it… (pg 42)