Once upon a time, a train came to the island, seizing control of all life.
This train created its own rules, enforced them arbitrarily, and decided who would live and who would die. It carried away anyone who dared to resist, separating families and crushing dreams.
Then one day, the train suddenly vanished. Those left behind had to piece together their past.
In this award-winning book, a grandfather recounts the story of the train to his granddaughter. Once Upon a Time, A Train Came to the Island encourages young readers around the world to reflect on authoritarianism and state violence. Author and illustrator Huang Yiwen drew inspiration from Taiwan's history of martial law. Roughly three decades after martial law was lifted, Taiwan has become one of the most free and democratic societies in the world. As Huang put it, “In remembering our past, we ensure that those who disappeared do not vanish into thin air.”