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Out of the Deeps
Like many children throughout Canada's history, Savino had to quit school when he was twelve to work and help his family. In Out of the Deeps, Savino spends his first day at the mine working alongside his father and Nelson, his father's pit pony. When Savino's headlamp goes out deep in the coal mine, Nelson leads Savino out of the danger.
In 1944 the miners received their first paid holiday and insisted that their pit ponies receive a week's holiday too. In Out of the Deeps, Anne Laurel Carter captures a boy's first day at work in the mines and a special pit pony's first glimpse of daylight.
In 1944 the miners received their first paid holiday and insisted that their pit ponies receive a week's holiday too. In Out of the Deeps, Anne Laurel Carter captures a boy's first day at work in the mines and a special pit pony's first glimpse of daylight.
- GenresAnimals
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2008
About the author
Anne Laurel Carter
44 books15 followersAnne Laurel Carter has been a waitress, baker, store clerk, fruit picker and milked cows. Her all-time favourite job was being a school librarian. She often writes about experiences she, her siblings, her friends, her four children, even complete strangers had, or she imagines they had, and then embellishes. Liberally. She divides her year, writing and teaching, between Toronto and Nova Scotia.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 7, 2025
Tantalizing, evocative and bittersweet, this is based on a true story told by Cape Breton miner (and later, tour guide) Savino "Hinson" Calabrese. A new 12 year old miner (hey -- they used to start them as soon as they could walk) works with a remarkable one-eyed pit pony named Nelson, named after Admiral Nelson.
Kids might think this story ends on a good note, but as the smaller afterward "Historical Note" explains, it was just the lull in a storm.
Pit ponies and miners had it worse in Canada than even in Wales or the rest of the UK. Man, I didn't think that was possible.
Of course, the major question gone unanswered is --
What the heck color pony is Nelson?
He actually could've been a grey, since many get pale yellowish manes and tails. He also could've been a cream dun, which can produce a white coat with a yellow mane and tail.
There is also a rare color called champagne, which is a variation of the dun gene. I'm explaining it badly, but the genetics is too complicated to go into. I see that there are miniature horses with champagne coloration, but odds are Nelson was a Shetland, although he was described as "slim." The champagne gene tends to appear only in New World breeds.
Kids might think this story ends on a good note, but as the smaller afterward "Historical Note" explains, it was just the lull in a storm.
Pit ponies and miners had it worse in Canada than even in Wales or the rest of the UK. Man, I didn't think that was possible.
Of course, the major question gone unanswered is --
What the heck color pony is Nelson?
He actually could've been a grey, since many get pale yellowish manes and tails. He also could've been a cream dun, which can produce a white coat with a yellow mane and tail.
There is also a rare color called champagne, which is a variation of the dun gene. I'm explaining it badly, but the genetics is too complicated to go into. I see that there are miniature horses with champagne coloration, but odds are Nelson was a Shetland, although he was described as "slim." The champagne gene tends to appear only in New World breeds.
March 19, 2014
I found this book to be kind of choppy, and I had a hard time reading it aloud to the kids. So, that's the first thing.
Secondly, this book did not capture my kindergarten aged nephew's attention. He was almost totally bored by it, but I think that's partially because it was above his level of understanding. That's fine--some books that we read are aimed more at him, and others are aimed more at his older sister.
Thirdly, both kids asked me repeatedly who Nelson was. Nelson was a significant supporting character in the book. If they were not even able to keep track of the primary characters (there were three primaries), then something is amiss. They also had a very hard time following the plot of the story.
Finally, on the last page, my sister, who has a gift for cutting through the fog, said, "Geez! This book jumps around too much! What is going on?"
So this book is not so smooth. But the pictures were good. They were evocative of a mine. There was some good vocabulary in here, too. My nephew learned what slender means from this book, and there was even a new word to me in this story, too. The book also provided opportunities to discuss how kids once had to work alongside adults in some very scary and dangerous jobs. We didn't take advantage of those opportunities, but parents and teachers should know they're there. In the right hands, kids might be able to get some education from this book, but this isn't one that we particularly loved.
Secondly, this book did not capture my kindergarten aged nephew's attention. He was almost totally bored by it, but I think that's partially because it was above his level of understanding. That's fine--some books that we read are aimed more at him, and others are aimed more at his older sister.
Thirdly, both kids asked me repeatedly who Nelson was. Nelson was a significant supporting character in the book. If they were not even able to keep track of the primary characters (there were three primaries), then something is amiss. They also had a very hard time following the plot of the story.
Finally, on the last page, my sister, who has a gift for cutting through the fog, said, "Geez! This book jumps around too much! What is going on?"
So this book is not so smooth. But the pictures were good. They were evocative of a mine. There was some good vocabulary in here, too. My nephew learned what slender means from this book, and there was even a new word to me in this story, too. The book also provided opportunities to discuss how kids once had to work alongside adults in some very scary and dangerous jobs. We didn't take advantage of those opportunities, but parents and teachers should know they're there. In the right hands, kids might be able to get some education from this book, but this isn't one that we particularly loved.
August 4, 2016
Worldview - Universally Acceptable
Setting:
Location - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Time Period - Pre-WWII
Review
This is a charming story about a young boy on his first day working with his father in a coal mine. The pit pony, who pulls the coal cart up the tracks is also trusted to help the miners find their way should their lights go out.
The lovely illustrations set the scene of the dark mine and how frightening it would have been for a young boy working in this environment.
The dangers of the mines are highlighted, but the miners creativity and personalities show through in. One miner had even succeeded in creating a garden in the depths of the mine under the lights.
The story takes place on the day before the miners receive their first ever paid holiday. The miners insist that the ponies receive a holiday too and take them up to the surface, many of whom had been beneath the ground for many years.
Teacher Application
There is a wonderful field trip opportunity at the Miners Museum for those who are near by. http://www.minersmuseum.com
Nelson the Pony is named for Admiral Nelson:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/...
Character Traits Taught
Courage. Thinking and acting logically in the face of our fears.
Parental Warning
N/A
Setting:
Location - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Time Period - Pre-WWII
Review
This is a charming story about a young boy on his first day working with his father in a coal mine. The pit pony, who pulls the coal cart up the tracks is also trusted to help the miners find their way should their lights go out.
The lovely illustrations set the scene of the dark mine and how frightening it would have been for a young boy working in this environment.
The dangers of the mines are highlighted, but the miners creativity and personalities show through in. One miner had even succeeded in creating a garden in the depths of the mine under the lights.
The story takes place on the day before the miners receive their first ever paid holiday. The miners insist that the ponies receive a holiday too and take them up to the surface, many of whom had been beneath the ground for many years.
Teacher Application
There is a wonderful field trip opportunity at the Miners Museum for those who are near by. http://www.minersmuseum.com
Nelson the Pony is named for Admiral Nelson:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/...
Character Traits Taught
Courage. Thinking and acting logically in the face of our fears.
Parental Warning
N/A
May 7, 2015
Based on a story of an earlier Cape Breton miner, the story focuses on a boy's first day in the coal mines with his pit pony, Nelson. Pair with Ian Wallace's Boy of the Deeps.
Read
March 10, 2019Interesting historical fiction. Surprised who Nelson was the first time. Read it again. Lots to discuss with a Kindergartener
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews