Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch; or; Schoolgirls among the Cowboys

Ruth Fielding #5

by Alice B. Emerson

Ruth and her friends journey to Silver Ranch with Jane Ann Hicks. Ruth learns that the ranch is in the same general area as Tintacker Mine, the mine in which her uncle invested a large sum of money—and lost. Ruth hopes that she can learn something about the mine so that perhaps her uncle's money can be recovered.

Ruth travels to town with Bill Hicks and takes a look at the mine's records. Ruth learns that a young man named John Cox bought up the lands around the mine. Ruth is intrigued, since John's last name is the same as that of Mary Cox. Ruth has also noticed that Mary has been interested each time Ruth has mentioned the mine. Ruth also learns that a crazy young man has been seen near the old mine and suspects that he might be John Cox.

In time, Ruth finds John Cox, but he is deathly ill. Ruth now must try to save John Cox's life while defending herself against wild animals. If Ruth can save John Cox's life, she may be able to solve the mystery of the mine.

Genres: Young Adult, Classics

226 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1913

About the author

Alice B. Emerson was a pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate for the Betty Gordon and Ruth Fielding series of children's novels. The writers taking up the pen of Alice B. Emerson were: Josephine Lawrence (Betty Gorson series #1-4, 7, 9), W. Bert Foster (Ruth Fielding series #1-19, Betty Gordon series #5,6), Elizabeth M. Duffield Ward (Ruth Fielding series #20-22, Betty Gordon series #8), Eunice W. Creager (Betty Gordon series #10-15) and Mildred Benson (Ruth Fielding series #23-30).

Series:
* Betty Gordon
* Ruth Fielding

Reviews

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

eponymous sentence:
p7: "...Thar's goin' to be more newfangled notions at Silver Ranch from now on than you kin shake a stick at...."

Quite a gal, alright.

[Danada · Rating 2 out of 5]

The violence and racism in this installment overbalance the charming and quirky characters. The violence isn’t needed, the adventures are fun enough without it.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine storytelling, but cringe inducing depictions of Native Americans and Mexicans

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly fun adventure in YA "spunky" girl's literature in the 1910s. The 5th book in the Ruth Fielding series (which began with _Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill_) follows the adventures of Ruth and her Eastern friends on the cattle ranch of a school chum. We get to see round ups, stampedes, wolves, cougars, rampaging bulls, the first car disrupt a ranching town, dances, and courting. It was far more gory than I expected, but interesting to see that time's version of women, the West, wildlife, etc.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice for the period - gives an interesting look at western cattle operations, I guess. And I could be wrong about my count, but total times that Ruth nearly died - 4. Number caused directly by Mary Cox - 1.