The Train Jumper

In Gwen Banta's "The Train Jumper," 19-year-old Kat Caswell escapes her painful past by traveling across the South and finding herself in New Orleans, where she befriends an eccentric woman and a mysterious immigrant worker named Leni. As their lives become intertwined in the vibrant city, a looming threat to Leni's safety propels the characters into a series of thrilling and life-changing events. The story explores themes of friendship, survival, and adventure, all connected by the metaphor of railroads and distant, exotic destinations.