Randolph, Ohio, 1842. Allen Jay and his family are Quakers, members of a religion that opposes slavery. Allen's home is a stop on the Underground Railroad, and his family helps escaping slaves reach freedom. When Henry appears in the Jays' yard, Allen must help him reach the next safe house. But can they escape the slave catchers?

Marlene is an award-winning author of almost 70 titles for readers preschool through adult. She began writing while teaching children with disabilities, producing materials to help her students learn. With time, the desire to write grew stronger. Soon she was writing for a variety of formats—magazines, internet, newspapers, scripts, books, and textbooks for readers of all ages. Yet, she never forgets where the dream of writing originated—through work with children. She is drawn back into classrooms to share the wonders of research and writing, and, of course, reading books.