Brave Tom; Or, The Battle That Won

In the quiet Pennsylvania hamlet of Briggsville, young Tom Gordon is the pride of his modest household—a bright, honest boy whose curiosity and athletic spirit make him a favorite at school. When the dazzling posters for Jones’s Great Moral Menagerie and Transcontinental Circus roll into town, Tom’s imagination runs wild with visions of towering elephants, fierce tigers, and daring acrobats, and he vows to be there no matter what.

A sudden fever threatens to keep him from the spectacle, and despite his determination he watches the circus pass from his window, feeling the sting of disappointment. As the day fades, a frantic horse‑drawn wagon thunders toward him, its driver shouting warnings and pointing to a looming danger on the road. Tom’s quick mind and brave heart are thrust into a mystery that could change the fate of his village, promising the kind of adventure that tests the very qualities that make him a local hero.