Kitten on the Keys

At the turn of the twentieth century, in a small town near Los Angeles, a quaint and loving family lives in a converted train depot. They have no electricity and no running water, but they have each other and work hard for the things that matter in life.

Rosie, or "Kitten," is a thirteen-year-old tomboy, who loves to run and even more so loves to race the trains that rumble past on the tracks next to their home. Mama wishes Rosie would learn to cook and sew, rather than spend all of her time outside running. But Papa and her older brother Pete encourage her to beat her fastest times, and they spend evenings whispering about victories.

A big race arrives, and Gloria, the girl who used to be the school's fastest, is determined to win at any cost. The event ends in a terrible accident for Rosie that leaves her unsure whether she'll ever run again. While recuperating, Rosie learns to play the piano, and finds she has some big decisions to make regarding life, family, friendship, and forgiveness. Kitten on the Keys offers readers a glimpse into a past era through a young girl's struggle to please her mother and at the same time follow her dreams.