From Blue Ground

Joe Harvey (Goodreads Author)

3.82 · Rating details · 11 ratings · 4 reviews

Set in 1876 in the coal hills of Pennsylvania, the story follows two unwitting orphans, Patrick and Sissy Hughes, who are propelled on a desperate journey after witnessing the murder of their father. They carry with them a wooden box retrieved from a secret compartment beneath their father's bed. His dying words to them: "keep it safe, keep it hidden." Powerful men are loo ...more

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Paperback, 150 pages

Published December 29th 2015 by Sunbury Press, Inc.

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Jul 03, 2017 Bruce rated it liked it

Good solid all ages tale of two kids trying to elude the evil Allen Pinkerton and his men during the Molly McQuires era of the coal region. Pretty quick read (for those that read for longer periods of time than I do!).

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Apr 01, 2016 J. Else rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-novel-society-reviews

n 1876, the owner of two major railroads, Franklin Gowen, is looking to control the coal mines. By limiting the shipment of coal and driving up costs, he can put independent mines out of business and purchase them for almost nothing. But first he will need to break the miners’ strike. Peter Hughes, a union leader and member of the “Molly Maguires” (an Irish group helping defend the miners), is the company’s target.

After witnessing Peter’s murder, his children, Patrick and Sissy Hughes, escape in n 1876, the owner of two major railroads, Franklin Gowen, is looking to control the coal mines. By limiting the shipment of coal and driving up costs, he can put independent mines out of business and purchase them for almost nothing. But first he will need to break the miners’ strike. Peter Hughes, a union leader and member of the “Molly Maguires” (an Irish group helping defend the miners), is the company’s target.

After witnessing Peter’s murder, his children, Patrick and Sissy Hughes, escape into the Pennsylvania coal hills. Pursued by the murderers, their only hope is to unlock the mystery behind a translucent blue stone their father, with his dying breath, charged them to protect. But how can a stone save them from the strikebreakers, “scabs,” and security agents chasing them? A professor of mineralogy may hold the key to this mystery, if Patrick and Sissy can reach him.

This is a fast-paced, chase-scene-driven middle-grade book, but it’s very boy-centric. The one girl character, 14-year-old Sissy, offers little in terms of decision making. It’s 12-year-old Patrick who makes every lifesaving choice and is given character development; however, this is scant.

The ending is anticlimactic. Harvey writes about historical people in this story, which limits him in repercussions these people face. However, this also causes things to fizzle out quickly and quietly.

I question the author’s references comparing the scenery to a photo negative. In researching negatives, I learned the product was not introduced until 1885, when the first flexible photographic film roll was sold, and thus not an accurate metaphor for the narrator to use.

The setting and plot are unique for juvenile fiction, for which I applaud the author, but the characters are one-dimensional. Historical accuracy and character diversity are also a “miss” in this book.

I read this as a reviewer for the Historical Novel Society. Review posted via their website at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
APPEARED IN: HNR Issue 77 (August 2016) ...more

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Apr 17, 2016 Kara Harvey rated it it was amazing

@J. Else: I don't usually comment on other reviewers, but I can't let this go unanswered. Everybody has their opinion on plot and things that interest them, so I'm not concerned about that. I'll only say, without giving too much away, that Sissy actually is involved in many of the decisions in the book--including a main point in the plot (when they decide to go to Philadelphia). Patrick relies on her as they seek to work things out. But, since the story is mainly about him, of course he's going ...more

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May 22, 2016 Kelly Freed rated it it was amazing

Just finished "From Blue Ground". Loved it! What a great story and well told. Loved the details from the Lenni-Lenape Indians to the Molly Maguires and breakers boys. My grandparents grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania coal country so I enjoyed learning more about the region. Cannot believe it is Joe Harvey's first book....the voice is one of a seasoned author. The fast paced action and settings including the breakers/coal mines and "New Jersey dinosaur" would make a thrilling movie. Great job. ...more

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