4A young boy plunged too soon into manhood when the death of his parents left him alone to fend for himself in a world where it's dog eat dog. Only fourteen years old in 1954, he meets a hobo who educates him about "riding the rails," and he catches a freight train in Fort Worth, Texas, headed for California. The trip is long, cold, and dangerous, but he is determined and strong willed. The boy finally makes it to a farm labor camp in California, where he finds his long-lost older brother, and they set out on new adventures. Hard times and new friends are in store for him. The book discusses how people who were looked down on as "Okies" during and after the Great Depression were able to rise up, accomplishing great deeds and dedication to their country. There is loss of loved ones and romance, an action-packed, historically correct novel that will leave one spellbound and wanting more. It's an entertaining, informative, and heartwarming reading experience. This is an autobiographical work of fiction that is loosely based on the real-life events of the author.