Nelly's Silver Mine: A Story of Colorado Life

by Helen Hunt Jackson

A New England preacher suffering from asthma moves his family to Colorado. A classic tale illustrating the positive thinking that won the West.

332 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1878

About the author

People know American writer Helen Maria Fiske Hunt Jackson for Ramona (1884), a romantic novel concerning the injustices that Native Americans suffered.

This author, an activist for rights, wrote best about the ill treatment in southern California.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_H...

Reviews

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see how this book informed my reading choices as a child. While the adults make much of Nelly's calm, mature behavior, I would add that in addition to her kindness, Nelly was observant, a good problem solver, creative as well as being persistent, and brave. While we see Rob do a bit of maturing over the course of the story, I hadn't remembered him starting out as a demanding, erratic brat! He remains fairly impulsive and self-centered while also being anchored by a fierce love for his family.
I loved the immigrant settlers of their Colorado locale. I also was struck by the strong feminist message which was often expounded by Lucinda.
While the original publication date is listed as 1878, there was a minimum of questionable references which make a modern reader sit up and challenge. That said, the narrarator's voice sometimes seemed a bit cloying to my much older adult self than it did to the child who found this treasure in her grandmother's basement.

This was at least a third read, but I'm guessing the last one was 30 years ago.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quaint story - ait like 'Little women 'or the Laura Ingles wilder stories.

A family moves to Colorado for the health of the father. Things are a struggle, they buy a farm and the first year all is well but things get more difficult.

They remain supremely positive throughout and the children are rather too good to be true.

May be more of a children's story in my opinion

[Becca Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ended up being a really sweet story! I was thinking things were going a little too easily until just near the end and I loved how the author finished the story. Beautiful descriptions of Colorado!