Nellie Bly: America's Best Reporter

by Iris Noble

211 pages, Hardcover

Published July 22, 2025

About the author

Born in Canada to American parents, Mrs. Noble grew up on a horse ranch, then reclaimed her American citizenship at eleven when she and her parents moved to Portland, Oregon. After studying English at the University of Oregon, she lived in California and worked as a secretary at a radio station while taking a few graduate classes at Stanford University. In 1941, she married Hollister Noble, also an author, and moved with him to New York City, where she began her free-lance career writing magazine articles and later books.

Although Ms. Noble wrote quite a few novels, she is probably most noted for her biographies for young adults. She was recognized by the Commonwealth of California in 1962 for First Ambulance Surgeon: Emily Barringer (1962). In 1983, Tingambato: Adventure in Archeology (1982) was awarded a silver medal by the New York Academy of Sciences. Another famous biography, Joseph Pulitzer: A Front Page Pioneer (1957), has since been translated into over 5 languages. She died on June 30, 1986 in Patzcuaro, Mexico.

Reviews

[Heidi Finney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why haven't I heard of Nellie Bly? That is the question I repeatedly asked myself while reading this well-written, exciting biography. I truly believe this book could add a vital piece to American history education. It covers many important issues of the late 1800's to 1920, such as women's rights, care for the poor and mentally ill. Not only that, it covers an amazing world journey!

This book was an exciting fast read. It is geared towards readers age 11+ due to some difficult topics. The book is clean. I wholeheartedly recommend this edition due to its unique addition of the actual Nellie Bly news articles at the end of various chapters! I was given an e-book of this title by Renewed Books in exchange for my honest review. What a beautiful gift to the world!

[Laura Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Nellie Bly: America's Best Reporter by Iris Noble, edited by Ambre Sautter, and just republished by Renewed Books. It was a fascinating glimpse into a woman's life who changed history as we know it. And many people have never even heard of her!

Nellie Bly was a pioneer in the newspaper world, not just as a female reporter, but as someone who was willing to do unheard of tasks to get the story. Spending time in factories and slums and going undercover in an insane asylum were just a few ways that she changed newspaper reporting for the better. Not to mention that she set out alone to try and beat Jules Verne's fictional hero Phileas Fogg and travel around the world in less than 80 days! You'll have to read the book to see if she was successful 😉

This edition is unique in that, unlike the original book, it includes some of Nellie Bly's actual newspaper articles. Reading these added so much to the story and really gave you a feel for Nellie's impact on her world. Her writing style was so engaging and you can see why she became a household name through her writing and daring acts.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an excellent biography about a captivating female leader. I think it is best suited for ages 11+ because of some of the harder topics that Nellie Bly dealt with, including harsh treatment of mentally ill and buying newborn infants as slaves. Nothing too graphic was mentioned, but the topics themselves are difficult ones.

I'm so thankful that great titles like this one are being republished with care and attention to detail by Renewed Books!

[Casey R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you imagine buying a baby on the black market? Or spending a week inside a mental institution just to expose the abuse and neglect within? These are just two of the extraordinary and courageous things Elizabeth Cochrane, better known by her pen name Nellie Bly, did during her groundbreaking career as a journalist.
Nellie Bly: America’s Best Reporter by Iris Noble, thoughtfully reprinted by Renewed Books, brings this fearless trailblazer’s story to life. The updated edition includes selections from Bly’s actual writings, enriching the reader's understanding of her bold and deeply personal journalism.
This fictionalized biography offers a compelling look at the social issues of a bygone era, many of which remain relevant today. Bly’s dedication to truth and justice shines through on every page, and her work paved the way for generations of women reporters to follow.
One highlight of the book is Bly’s interview with suffragist Susan B. Anthony—a powerful exchange between two women fighting for change in a time when their voices were often silenced.
In all, this book is an inspiring read and a powerful reminder of the impact one determined person can make through the written word.

[Emma Filbrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few years ago, I saw a brief mention of Nellie Bly in the description of a book I decided not to read in the end, but it was enough to intrigue me. When I was offered this biography of her, I jumped at the chance, and ended up really enjoying it. Each chapter tells about a different part of the life of this colorful woman, and those chapters are interspersed with actual articles written by her. Though they were written well over a hundred years ago, they are so witty and lively that I enjoyed them as much as or more than the actual biography. I read a digital edition of this book, but liked it so well that I would love to own a paper copy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, and these are my honest thoughts about it.