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36th out of 39 books
—
16 voters
Emily's Fortune
From Newbery Award winner Phyllis Reynolds Naylor comes a witty tale of the Wild West filled with comical cliffhangers and featuring a cast of plucky orphans and dastardly villains.
Emily Wiggins is poor and timid, without a drop of self-confidence. When she is unexpectedly orphaned, she is left all alone except for her turtle, Rufus.
What in blinkin' bloomers should Emily d...more
Emily Wiggins is poor and timid, without a drop of self-confidence. When she is unexpectedly orphaned, she is left all alone except for her turtle, Rufus.
What in blinkin' bloomers should Emily d...more
Hardcover, 160 pages
Published
June 8th 2010
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
(first published May 27th 2010)
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I'll admit it- I flip through the children's books at my part-time job at the bookstore. There's just something incredibly fun in most children's books that seems to stretch across the age boundaries, if that book is well written. Since this book has been written by the author of Shiloh, you can expect it to be an entertaining read.
Emily's mother is a housekeeper for the insanely wealthy Mrs. Nash (emphasis on the insane). When an overturned buggy turns her into an orphan, Emily knows that the o...more
Emily's mother is a housekeeper for the insanely wealthy Mrs. Nash (emphasis on the insane). When an overturned buggy turns her into an orphan, Emily knows that the o...more
Fans of comic Wild West adventures like Betsy Byars' Golly Sisters books should eat up this rip-roaring tale from Newbery winning author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, who has written over 135 diverse books for young readers. Our heroine, Emily, is a very meek eight-year old who is tragically orphaned when her mother and her very wealthy employer are killed in a carriage accident. Her only friend is a small turtle, Rufus, who lives in a box.
With her only living relative the evil Uncle Victor, Emily is...more
With her only living relative the evil Uncle Victor, Emily is...more
Apr 09, 2012
Charlyn Trussell
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Grades 4 and up
Recommended to Charlyn by:
Texas Bluebonnet Reading List 2013
When both Emily's mother and her mother's employer are killed in a buggy accident, Emily is orphaned and becomes the heir to a fortune. Emily is a quiet child whose only friend and solace is her turtle Rufus. What will happen to her? The neighbors, Mrs. Ready, Mrs. Aim, and Mrs. Fire, prepare Emily to travel by stagecoach to join her gentle aunt by marriage, Hilda, who is ready to welcome Emily into her home.
But the neighbors aren't the only ones with plans. Mrs. Catchum of the Catchum Child-c...more
But the neighbors aren't the only ones with plans. Mrs. Catchum of the Catchum Child-c...more
Jan 05, 2012
Jess
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
4th grade or so
Recommended to Jess by:
ES Book
A quick-paced, short adventure where a kid lit orphan travels west in hopes of finding a home, getting into a bit of trouble, and avoiding her uncle with the tiger tattoo.
Two things would make this easier to recommend to students in 4-8: making Emily 10-12 instead of 8 and different illustrations. She just looks so young.
The book's fun in a western slang kind of way. How do you feel about phrases like rootin-tootin'? You need to like them for this one.
Someone below wrote that this would be a g...more
Two things would make this easier to recommend to students in 4-8: making Emily 10-12 instead of 8 and different illustrations. She just looks so young.
The book's fun in a western slang kind of way. How do you feel about phrases like rootin-tootin'? You need to like them for this one.
Someone below wrote that this would be a g...more
A good light read with plenty of adventure and some humor thrown in as well. Emily finds herself to be an orphan. So her three neighbors, Mrs. Ready, Mrs. Aim, and Mrs. Fire and trying to help figure out where Emily is to go. Emily wants to go live with her Aunt Hilda, but when the children catchers show up they have other plans and want to send her to live with her mean Uncle Victor (since they will get more money placing her with a blood relative). What follows next is a great adventure that E...more
Aug 04, 2010
Heidi
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Grades 2-5
Shelves:
juv-fiction,
historical-fiction
Now that 8-year-old Emily Wiggins is an orphan, her neighbors, Mrs. Ready, Mrs. Aim, and Mrs. Fire decide that she should live with her aunt Hilda (by marriage) who would love to have her. As she travels with her pet turtle, Rufus, by train and then by stagecoach to aunt Hilda’s home, Emily encounters Miss Catchum of Catchum Child-Catching Services who will receive a bonus for placing Emily with her blood-relative, uncle Victor. However, uncle Victor wants nothing to do with Emily until he finds...more
I never had the opportunity to ride on a stagecoach, but through Phyllis Reynold Turner's book EMILY'S FORTUNE, I feel like I did. Poor Emily becomes an orphan early in the book. Her closest relative is her horrible uncle with whom she does not want to live. Avoiding the orphan society, three concerned ladies who have an impact on Emily throughout the book, put her on a train bound for her aunt out west. Emily, accompanied by her best friend, Rufus the turtle, experiences many firsts on this jou...more
3 1/2 stars. A comic, historical adventure set in the 19th century west. After shy Emily Wiggins is orphaned, she is left with no one but her pet turtle, Rufus. So she sets out to find her sweet Aunt Hilda in Redbud. Aunt Hilda is many days away by stagecoach and the ride to Redbud is anything but dull. There are streams to ford, stagecoach mishaps and even bandits. But most terrifying, Emily finds herself being pursued by some awfully greedy grownups: the Catchum Child-Catching Services and her...more
Feb 04, 2012
Katisha Lair
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Adventure lovers who like the Wild West
Recommended to Katisha by:
Austin C.
Shelves:
spring-2012-reading-requirements
Emily Wiggins, a quiet and shy girl, becomes an orphan and must travel alone through the Wild West to make her way to her Aunt Hilda. Along the way, Emily discovers she has inherited $10 Million. She meets Jackson, an orphan who helps her disguise herself as a boy to escape those who want to collect her money. The cover of this book certainly matches the story as it shows Emily and Jackson running from an evil man. The illustrations in the book are charming sketches that helped me create my own...more
Emily's mother works for slightly wacky and wealthy Luella Nash, who believes children are best out of sight and certainly not heard from. Lacking self-confidence Emily is thrust out into the world after a carriage accident claims both Miss Nash and her mother. She now must out-wit the child catchers and her mean Uncle Victor, and at the same time manage to navigate her first childhood friendship with Jackson and reach her Aunt Hilda's. The chapters are relatively short and punctuated with bold...more
Read this with my girls. Beehive book award nominee this year. Emily has been orphaned and sets off on a stagecoach to live with an aunt (by marriage). She runs into some trouble along the way...she finds out she has inherited money and her awful uncle Victor wants to catch her so he can get his hands on the money. She meets another orphan named Jackson and they set out to try to reach her aunt safely. Has adventure, friendship,great names for the characters (we loved Mrs. Ready, Mrs. Aim and Mr...more
Reading Level: Grades 3-5
After she is orphaned, young Emily makes the best of her situation, writing to her favorite aunt for a place to live. Unfortunately, the Catchum Child Catching Services have other plans - Emily must live with her closest blood relative, something Aunt Hilda is not. Instead, she is supposed to live with her money-grubbing, mustached Uncle Victor. What in the flippin' flapjacks is Emily supposed to do?!?!
For more book reviews from the HPPL Youth Department, click here.
After she is orphaned, young Emily makes the best of her situation, writing to her favorite aunt for a place to live. Unfortunately, the Catchum Child Catching Services have other plans - Emily must live with her closest blood relative, something Aunt Hilda is not. Instead, she is supposed to live with her money-grubbing, mustached Uncle Victor. What in the flippin' flapjacks is Emily supposed to do?!?!
For more book reviews from the HPPL Youth Department, click here.
Emily is orphaned after a tragic carriage accident that kills her mother and the wealthy women with whom they live. Emily escapes from her wicked Uncle Victor and attempts to flee to her aunt Hilda in Redbud. During her long train/stagecoach trip Emily befriends a fellow orphan Jackson. When it is discovered that Emily has inherited a considerable fortune and a reward is offered for her whereabouts she continues her trip as a boy, Eli, Jackson’s younger brother. Emily and Jackson come face-to-fa...more
Grades 3-4
After Emily is orphaned, the kindly neighbor ladies (Mrs. Ready, Mrs. Aim, and Mrs. Fire) help her plan her journey to Aunt Hilda in Redbud-- and just in the nick of time, for the Catchum Child-Catching Services is hot on her heels. Mrs. Catchum doesn't care if she has a loving aunt in Redbud who wants her; she gets a "super-duper-dinger-zinger bonus" if she gets Emily to her closest living blood relative. That would be evil Uncle Victor, and Emily does NOT want to live with him. While...more
After Emily is orphaned, the kindly neighbor ladies (Mrs. Ready, Mrs. Aim, and Mrs. Fire) help her plan her journey to Aunt Hilda in Redbud-- and just in the nick of time, for the Catchum Child-Catching Services is hot on her heels. Mrs. Catchum doesn't care if she has a loving aunt in Redbud who wants her; she gets a "super-duper-dinger-zinger bonus" if she gets Emily to her closest living blood relative. That would be evil Uncle Victor, and Emily does NOT want to live with him. While...more
I read this book with my 8 year old daughter for a mother/daughter book club. It was a fun adventure and a very exciting story line just perfect for an 8-10 year old. There was action and excitement as Emily and Jackson make their way across the West to Emily's kind Aunt after she has been orphaned. It is constant suspense wondering if they they will be caught by the child catchers, or found out by her mean Uncle Victor. It was a great one to read aloud.
I have to admit that my expectations were fairly low after I saw the cover of this book -- I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed Emily's Fortune. Emily Wiggins' mother works for the incredibly wealthy Luella Nash. When Emily tragically and suddenly becomes an orphan, she's forced to travel to Redbud to live with her aunt. Along the way, she meets Jackson, discovers that she will inherit 10 million dollars, is forced to disguise herself as a boy, and spends 5 days riding in a stagecoa...more
Fun, fast read. A great book for the "young middle" readers (6-10) because of the suspenseful endings. It will have the kids want to keep reading. I liked the friendship Emily makes with Jackson. I enjoyed the ol' west setting. And I LOVED her turtle Rufus. (Surprise, surprise.) Not too complicated a story and one that is great to recommend for the intended age. For fun and humor, I can see why this was nominated. I wouldn't state it as outstanding, but definitely entertaining for the kids!
This silly story is a historical fiction William Allen White nominee that I didn't enjoy much. Emily becomes an orphan and as she's on her way to go stay with a nice relative, she finds out she inherited a fortune and has to run away from a mean uncle who wants her fortune. Naylor's large print hick comments at the end of each chapter are what's silly and the book would have been MUCH better without them.
I read this in an hour; it's a fun quick read about the pioneer west from a child's perspective - in fact two orphan children's perspectives. There's a bad guy that adds suspense, creative language and cliches to add character and historical perpective, and good guys/gals that add a feeling safety for young readers. I'll be recommending this one to my elementary grade students.
5-Star rating
Book 2- Emily and Jackson Hiding Out
Emily is an orphan in the 1800's American West. All she has in the world is her turtle, Rufus, her lunch, and her carpetbag to carry them. All she wants is a home and a loving family. All her villainous Uncle Victor wants is to take her hoped-for inheritance for himself. What is to become of poor Emily?
Book 2- Emily and Jackson Hiding Out
Emily is an orphan in the 1800's American West. All she has in the world is her turtle, Rufus, her lunch, and her carpetbag to carry them. All she wants is a home and a loving family. All her villainous Uncle Victor wants is to take her hoped-for inheritance for himself. What is to become of poor Emily?
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This is a good coming-of-age story for young girls. Emily grows throughout the book as she becomes stronger and braver. I think I would have liked this book more if it weren't for the annoying questions at the end of each chapter that were written in old west language and font. They did nothing but add false suspense. I prefer the real kind.
Emily’s fortune: This book is about Emily a young girl that has money and is being chased. On the way she meets Jackson and they go on an adventure together. I liked this book because it was just fun to read. The illustrations in the book were fun helped me understand the story better. I would recommend this book to historical fiction lovers.
I thought this little adventure book was a fun book to read. There aren't many children's books written about the 19th century West and I enjoyed this one.
With the author's impressive track record, would I say this is the best book she's ever written? No. But I enjoyed taking the journey with Emily and Jackson as they headed west (and away from mean old Uncle Victor). Some of the scenes with Uncle Victor and "Eli" creeped me out and reminded me of Sleeping with the Enemy.
I would definitely recom...more
With the author's impressive track record, would I say this is the best book she's ever written? No. But I enjoyed taking the journey with Emily and Jackson as they headed west (and away from mean old Uncle Victor). Some of the scenes with Uncle Victor and "Eli" creeped me out and reminded me of Sleeping with the Enemy.
I would definitely recom...more
I enjoyed this fun easy read. Emily is forced to go on an adventure after her mother dies suddenly, and she must travel alone out west to her Aunt Hilda's. She makes a friend in a boy who is also avoiding the orphan hunters. Together they avoid all sorts of trouble including the evil Uncle Victor who does not have Emily's best interests at heart. The artwork is a bit of an odd fit with the story.
A very engaging story of two orphans on an adventure in the west. Great end of the chapter questions. A fast read! I really enjoyed this fast read. Elementary students will enjoy this book because it's an adventure story that is fast paced. Jackson is a great character. The books has great questions for students.
A short, quick, delightful read about a young, newly orphaned girl headed west on a stagecoach. Her evil uncle is hot on her trail, as are Catchum Child-Catching Services. I love the change in font to build tension at the end of each chapter, and I love the happy ending. Wild west fun at its best for Grades 3 - 5.
A fun book for younger readers. The end of each chapter has a cliffhanger written in big bold type which very cleverly encourages reading on to find out what happens. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this myself. Nothing like breezing through a well written childrens book to brighten your day.
A rip-roaring adventure story involving 2 orphans and a greedy villainous relative out to claim a fortune. Loved the language... "Now, who in flippin' flapjacks could it be?" "Where in tumblin' tarnation was Emily supposed to sleep?""And what in blinkin' bloomers do you think she saw?" Lots of fun.
Featured on SLJ's "Best Books of 2010". Due to this, my expectations were rather high. I think "Emily's Fortune" would work best as a class read-aloud, where teacher's could really ham up the endings of each chapter, as in " where in the tumblin' tarnation was Emily supposed to sleep?"
A good choice for reluctant readers, this is a rousing adventure story of an orphaned little girl trying to reach her aunt Hilda while escaping the villainous clutches of her Uncle Victor and the Catchum Child-Catching Services. Fun wordplay and lively illustrations. 4th grade and up.
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Phyllis Reynolds Naylor was born in Anderson, Indiana, US on January 4, 1933.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good boo...more
More about Phyllis Reynolds Naylor...
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good boo...more
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