Local author aims to educate and entertain with third book

Recently released, “The Underground Railroad Twins” is part of the Blue Crescent Moon series 

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Caledon author has released her third book.

Lisa Oatway is the author of “The Dinosaur Encounter” and “The Harbour Explosion”, children's fantasy novels with ties to Canada's rich history. The books form the Blue Crescent Moon series, and now, the third book in the series is out.

The book, titled “The Underground Railroad Twins”, is set in Ontario — specifically at the Buxton Museum. This museum is a tribute to the Elgin Settlement which was built by and for Black people escaping slavery in the United States. 

It follows the story of the Stonehart family, who go on a trip to visit the museum. The family's youngest daughter has the ability to travel back in time, and while at the museum, she travels back in time with her siblings to help a set of twins who are fleeing slavery.

“It's a story of compassion and collaboration,” said Oatway. “The Stonehart siblings have to work together to ensure the safety of the twins. There's a couple of twists and turns and the twins have some secrets of their own.”

Oatway does lots of research for her books, and research for this one included visiting the Buxton Museum itself. The museum's curator is a descendant of one of the settlers of the Elgin Settlement. 

“In the back of the book, I actually encourage people to go visit the museum,” said Oatway.

She said visiting the museum was an amazing educational experience that highlighted the hardships people had to endure to escape slavery.

Oatway's book is on sale in Bolton at Forster's Book Garden and online through Amazon, Indigo and Barnes & Noble.

The Caledon Public Library also carries Oatway's books.

Oatway has already started work on her next book in the Blue Crescent Moon series, which will be set in British Columbia.