Info of the Author

Patricia is an African American writer born in Smyrna, Tennesse.Her husband, Fredrick was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Both are living in St.Louis. Both have written over a hundred books about African Americans. They won countless awards and bringing

entertaining and informing young readers.

Stories of the Past

By: Adam Sigmon, Matthew Miller, Franco Garcia, and Andrew Willis

The Baker Heater League

Author: Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick McKissack

Setting & Picture

The setting of the story takes place in the St. Louis Station in the 1900’s

P.O.V & Fiction or Nonfiction?

The P.O.V, or the Point of View is in the 3rd person, in which a person outside the story is telling it.

The story has a section stating that it is nonfiction.

Plot

The plot of the story was that porters at that time told stories about old railroad heroes of the Baker Heater League.

Vocabulary

mishaps: Unfortunate or unlucky accidents

Burden: Weighed down by work, duty, or sorrow

Characters & Character Trait’s

Casey Jones – An engineer, brave, a railroad hero.

John Henry – Free slave, bulky, tallDaddy Joe – Real person, pullman, large

hands, and tall

Theme

You can accomplish great things if you believe in yourself.

Questions

Q: Did you enjoy this story?

Q: Why do you think the authors wrote this story?

Q: Did you find this story entertaining?

The 11:59

Author: Patricia C. McKissack

Author

Patricia McKissack was born in Smyrna, Tennessee. She now lives with her husband, Fredrick in St. Louis, Missouri. Patricia and Fredrick wrote books about African American experiences. Before she was a writer, she was a school teacher. After 9 years of teaching and six years of editing children books, she felt like starting a full time writing career. Today she wrote hundreds of books and won countless rewards.

Setting & Picture

Started at the St. Louis Station in the 1900’s. and in the porters in the Lester’s room.

Point of view & fiction or not

The point of view is 3rd person.

The story is fiction and realistic fiction, because some of the settings is real.

Plot-conflict & resolution

The plot is a retired man who tells old stories about railroad heros.

The conflict is Lester doesn’t want to die.

The resolution is he knows he can not escape fate

Vocabulary

Finery- fancy clothing and accessories.Worrisome- causing worry or anxiety.Lurking- ready to spring out, attack;

existing undiscovered.

Characters

Lester Simmons- retired porter. Tells stories about railroad heros.

Young Porters- young, they like hearing Lester’s stories.

Theme

You can’t cheat your way out of death.

Questions

Why did you think the author wrote this story?

Why do you think the author wrote the stories related to trains?

Did you expect the story to end this way?