Board the first train
Start with The Silver Arrow, then continue to The Golden Swift once Kate's role on the railway is familiar.
Book Series · 2 Books
The Silver Arrow Books
In order from The Silver Arrow to The Golden Swift.
Kate and her brother Tom become conductors on a magical railway that carries talking animals to safety. Their journeys mix cozy train fantasy with honest questions about extinction, climate change, and how much one child can fix.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read The Silver Arrow Books
Read The Silver Arrow first and The Golden Swift second. The sequel begins after Kate and Tom have become regular conductors and deepens the first book's environmental questions while continuing their relationship with Uncle Herbert and the railway.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The whimsical trains and animal passengers sit alongside real concern about habitat loss, extinction, wildfire, and climate change. Animals and children encounter peril, accidents, and frightening environments, while the second book directly explores Kate's helplessness and climate anxiety.
The tone stays funny, hopeful, and adventurous rather than bleak. The books do not promise that one heroic trip solves an environmental crisis; instead, they invite conversations about responsibility, limits, cooperation, and continuing to help when a problem is too large to fix alone.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
The first journey introduces the railway, its talking passengers, and Kate's new responsibility as a conductor.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$858
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020
The Silver Arrow
By Lev Grossman
A birthday gift steam locomotive whisks siblings on a magical, world-saving adventure.
272 pages· 36,046 words· Est. 5 hour read
6.3/7 Bookroo
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Kate's mundane life takes a wild turn when her mysterious Uncle Herbert gifts her a colossal steam locomotive for her birthday. With her brother Tom, she embarks on a journey aboard the Silver Arrow, traveling through magical lands with talking animals. As they navigate this thrilling adventure, the siblings must rely on their wits and courage. Can they uncover the secrets of the Silver Arrow and perhaps even save the world? Join Kate and Tom as they discover the wonders and challenges of a world beyond their imagination, where every turn of the track brings new surprises.
In reading order
The Silver Arrow Series
2 books · Published 2020–2022
#1
Sale price
$858
The Silver Arrow
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020
A birthday gift steam locomotive whisks siblings on a magical, world-saving adventure.
#2
Sale price
$1597
The Golden Swift
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022
Kate's unsanctioned train mission uncovers a rival with mysterious motives. Can she restore balance before it's too late?
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Silver Arrow series?
There are 2 books in the Silver Arrow series. It began with The Silver Arrow in 2020, and the newest book, The Golden Swift, was published in 2022.
What order should you read the Silver Arrow books in?
Start with The Silver Arrow and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #2.
What ages are the Silver Arrow books best for?
The series is best for ages 8–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Silver Arrow book is the longest?
The Golden Swift (Book #2) is the longest book in the series at 38,451 words (272 pages).
Which Silver Arrow book is the shortest?
The Silver Arrow (Book #1) is the shortest at 36,046 words (272 pages).
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring The Silver Arrow to life.
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