Errol Uys Riding the Rails October 13, 2000 Do Lesson Plan Read Transcript of Online Session Beyond Books conducted phone interviews with two Depression Era boxcar teens: Phone Interview with Rene Champion Phone Interview with John West

Ride the Rails with Beyond Books and Errol Lincoln Uys (pronounced "Ace") Friday October 13 from noon-1pm (EDT). Bring questions for the creator of Riding the Rails: Teenagers on the Move During the Great Depression. We've also invited several Depression Era boxcar teens John West and René Champion to join our discussion.

The Great Depression of the 1930s marked a time of unparalleled suffering in the United States. For some, begging, stealing, or going hungry became the norm. Unemployment and poverty rose to unprecedented levels and many took to the rails in search of work or of a better life.

Those who lived through this era have fascinating stories to share. Between 1929 and 1941, many boys, and some girls -- often disguised as boys -- hit the rails, leaving their families and friends behind.

In Riding the Rails, Uys reconstructs the stories of former boxcar kids using over 3,000 testimonials from former teen hobos. His work, in conjunction with his son's award-winning PBS American Experience Documentary of the same name, accurately displays the courage and strength that it took to make it as a teen on the go during this trying time.

During our session, questions about the danger ("You had to be careful not to stumble and fall under the wheels when you climbed on the cars") and the desperation ("We were always hungry) can be asked. So, work with your class and stock up on questions for these "gaycats" (novice riders) and "dingbats" (seasoned hobos). We'll get to as many as the hour session permits.

About Errol Uys

But that didn't stop him. He joined forces with the prolific author James A. Michener to help him write The Covenant, which is about South Africa, Apartheid, and the Afrikaner belief system.

Among one of Uys's greatest accomplishments was his book Brazil, a comprehensive work detailing five centuries of Brazilian culture. The book includes the stories of two fictional families, the Cavalcantis and Da Silvas. In order to pen this opus, Uys moved his family to Portugal where he did his research.

It took five years and 15,000 miles of travel by bus for Uys to learn about the people and the land of Brazil firsthand. His descriptions of the country transport the reader to this historical, tropical wonderland.

To learn more about Mr. Uys, visit his homepage.