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Tenmile
Life in 1880 Tenmile, Colorado, isn't easy. But it's all that 12-year-old Sissy Carlson knows. She's lived here her whole life, watching her father, the local doctor, tend to the town's citizens. And while the mountain setting is gorgeous, Tenmile is a rough gold mining town. It often feels like there's just a thin line between life and death. Mining is a hard job; men are hurt or even killed. Sissy sees the same thin line between the haves and the have-nots as she assists her father in his practice, seeing firsthand the personal and not-always-private struggles of his patients. Now that she's older, Sissy is starting to think of the world beyond Tenmile and where she might fit in. What opportunities might she find if she could just get away? What kind of future does Tenmile offer, especially for a girl? A poignant coming-of-age middle grade novel by New York Times-bestselling author Sandra Dallas.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2022
60 people are currently reading
475 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Dallas
51 books1,925 followersAward-winning author SANDRA DALLAS was dubbed “a quintessential American voice” by Jane Smiley, in Vogue Magazine. Sandra’s novels with their themes of loyalty, friendship, and human dignity have been translated into a dozen foreign languages and have been optioned for films.
A journalism graduate of the University of Denver, Sandra began her writing career as a reporter with Business Week. A staff member for twenty-five years (and the magazine’s first female bureau chief,) she covered the Rocky Mountain region, writing about everything from penny-stock scandals to hard-rock mining, western energy development to contemporary polygamy. Many of her experiences have been incorporated into her novels.
While a reporter, she began writing the first of ten nonfiction books. They include Sacred Paint, which won the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Western Heritage Wrangler Award, and The Quilt That Walked to Golden, recipient of the Independent Publishers Assn. Benjamin Franklin Award.
Turning to fiction in 1990, Sandra has published eight novels, including Prayers For Sale. Sandra is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award for New Mercies, and two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award, for The Chili Queen and Tallgrass. In addition, she was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award, the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Assn. Award, and a four-time finalist for the Women Writing the West Willa Award.
The mother of two daughters—Dana is an attorney in New Orleans and Povy is a photographer in Golden, Colorado—Sandra lives in Denver with her husband, Bob.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/sandra...
A journalism graduate of the University of Denver, Sandra began her writing career as a reporter with Business Week. A staff member for twenty-five years (and the magazine’s first female bureau chief,) she covered the Rocky Mountain region, writing about everything from penny-stock scandals to hard-rock mining, western energy development to contemporary polygamy. Many of her experiences have been incorporated into her novels.
While a reporter, she began writing the first of ten nonfiction books. They include Sacred Paint, which won the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Western Heritage Wrangler Award, and The Quilt That Walked to Golden, recipient of the Independent Publishers Assn. Benjamin Franklin Award.
Turning to fiction in 1990, Sandra has published eight novels, including Prayers For Sale. Sandra is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award for New Mercies, and two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award, for The Chili Queen and Tallgrass. In addition, she was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award, the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Assn. Award, and a four-time finalist for the Women Writing the West Willa Award.
The mother of two daughters—Dana is an attorney in New Orleans and Povy is a photographer in Golden, Colorado—Sandra lives in Denver with her husband, Bob.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/sandra...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 6, 2025
Perfect first book of the year. A middle school level book about a young girl living in Tenmile Colorado in the 1800s. She dreams of escaping the realities of living in a mining town and studies under her father who is the town doctor.
April 26, 2023
3.5 stars
Middle-grade historical fiction about life in the Colorado mining camps of the 1880’s.
I’ve read many books by this author, all set in Colorado, and I’ve enjoyed every one.
Middle-grade historical fiction about life in the Colorado mining camps of the 1880’s.
I’ve read many books by this author, all set in Colorado, and I’ve enjoyed every one.
December 19, 2022
Sandra Dallas always does a fine job of taking her readers back in space and time, bringing history to life through her characters. In this particular book featuring twelve-year-old Sissy Carlson, readers travel back in time to 1880 as Sissy eagerly looks forward to leaving the mining town of Tenmile, Colorado, where she has grown up. She sees the town's limitations and longs for more. As her doctor father's helper, she gains important nursing and social skills and becomes increasingly aware of the differences between how the more privileged (the mine's owner, for instance) and the less privileged (the miners themselves and their families) live. Various tragedies strike her friends and their families, and Sissy has to step up to offer a helping hand more than once. Although she is sure that there is no place for her in Tenmile or room for her to follow her dreams of becoming a doctor, over time she realizes that there just might be a way to do so. Readers may be puzzled by Sissy's father's attempts to dissuade her from some of her ambitions, but those comments are explained near the end of the story. While some of the plot elements seemed a bit forced, it's easy to root for Sissy and to appreciate her growing awareness of how unfair it is that others profit off the labor of poorly-paid men, an indictment of the status quo. Fans of historical fiction will certainly enjoy this middle-grade novel.
February 16, 2023
Life is hard in Tenmile in 1800s, especially for women. Good book of a young girl growing up in a town of the poor but she kept her spirits high and dreamed of a college education to be a doctor. Even though she was told over and over "women can't be doctors ".
March 21, 2023
This awesome historical fiction in the Western part of US is always fascinating because it shows how people struggled and survived during that 1800 era. In a mining town, people were poor or uneducated, so with Sissy’s father being the doctor of the town, she hoped to contribute what she can to the community. Sissy is ambitious and has many plans to help the poor people of Tenmile, CO, yet many friends and even her own father were against her plans to become a doctor someday. It is sad that many people disagreed with her telling her that women have no place as doctors. I was rooting for Sissy the entire time and glad that she stood her ground. It is a wonderful book to read how strong and persistent Sissy is and what she believes paved her ways to the end. It is a book every girls should read!
March 2, 2023
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Sissy Carlson is reminded daily that living in Tenmile, Colorado in 1880 is difficult. While her father is the local doctor and she lives in a nice house, her mother died when she was young. Luckily, the housekeeper, Mrs. Greenwood (whom she calls Greenie) is kind and understands Sissy's desire to get an education and move away from the small mining town. The local school educates everyone, so some of Sissy's friends have much harder lives, especially the ones who live in Chicken Flats. Jack's father is a miner, but he also wants to pursue an education. When his father gambles away his wages and puts the family in debt, Jack has to quit school and go to work. Nelle's father runs a restaurant, but since her mother's death, more and more of the work has fallen to her and her sister Essie. When their work isn't satisfactory, their father often beats them. Poverty isn't the only thing that makes life hard; Sissy gets a job tutoring Willie, the son of the mine's owner, Mr. Gilpin, whose mother is so fearful of losing him that he is never allowed outside and has no friends. Sissy tries her best to keep up in school, but she is an integral part of her father's practice, helping to deliver babies and stitch up wounds at the mine, even though her father doesn't completely appreciate how much she contributes. When Jack is injured in a mine collapse, he is slow to heal, and she visits him. She helps Nelle out, and sometimes ventures out to gather mushrooms and visit with Sarah and her mother, helping to heal Sarah's father when he comes down with ague. She does help Willie, and brings Jack's young brother Pete to play with him, which seems to have a good effect on Willie's health as well as give him some empathy for the families who rely on his father's business. It's difficult to find a way to get out of Tenmile's harsh existence, but some of our characters manage. Sadly, not all of them manage to get out alive.
There could certainly be a lot more books set in the late 1800s in the US West. There were many of these published in the first half of the twentieth century, but many have problematic content concerning the treatment of Native Americans. That issues is not addressed in this book, but there are plenty of details about life in a mining community during this time period.
A wide array of characters are portrayed, from mining families like Jack's to new transports from the South like Sarah and her mother Willow Louise. Mrs. Gilpin, the mine owner's wife, wants to keep her distance from the "lower classes", but most people, like her housekeeper Mrs. Ogden, know that the community is best served by having everyone work together. Greenie supports Sissy's ambitions and helps her to save money, encouraging her to set her sights on college. There is plenty of discussion about what the expectations are for girls, and how unusual it would be for Sissy to be able to train to be a doctor, but also community support for her when her skills are put to good use.
Fans of Wilder's Little House on the Prairie will be glad to see some familiar settings, like the school and restaurant, and it is fascinating to see the perspective of the doctor's household. Fans of Hobbs' City of Gold, Meyer's A Sky Full of Song and Park's Prairie Lotus will want to take a look at this slice of life novel about a time period quickly slipping from collective memory.
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Sissy Carlson is reminded daily that living in Tenmile, Colorado in 1880 is difficult. While her father is the local doctor and she lives in a nice house, her mother died when she was young. Luckily, the housekeeper, Mrs. Greenwood (whom she calls Greenie) is kind and understands Sissy's desire to get an education and move away from the small mining town. The local school educates everyone, so some of Sissy's friends have much harder lives, especially the ones who live in Chicken Flats. Jack's father is a miner, but he also wants to pursue an education. When his father gambles away his wages and puts the family in debt, Jack has to quit school and go to work. Nelle's father runs a restaurant, but since her mother's death, more and more of the work has fallen to her and her sister Essie. When their work isn't satisfactory, their father often beats them. Poverty isn't the only thing that makes life hard; Sissy gets a job tutoring Willie, the son of the mine's owner, Mr. Gilpin, whose mother is so fearful of losing him that he is never allowed outside and has no friends. Sissy tries her best to keep up in school, but she is an integral part of her father's practice, helping to deliver babies and stitch up wounds at the mine, even though her father doesn't completely appreciate how much she contributes. When Jack is injured in a mine collapse, he is slow to heal, and she visits him. She helps Nelle out, and sometimes ventures out to gather mushrooms and visit with Sarah and her mother, helping to heal Sarah's father when he comes down with ague. She does help Willie, and brings Jack's young brother Pete to play with him, which seems to have a good effect on Willie's health as well as give him some empathy for the families who rely on his father's business. It's difficult to find a way to get out of Tenmile's harsh existence, but some of our characters manage. Sadly, not all of them manage to get out alive.
There could certainly be a lot more books set in the late 1800s in the US West. There were many of these published in the first half of the twentieth century, but many have problematic content concerning the treatment of Native Americans. That issues is not addressed in this book, but there are plenty of details about life in a mining community during this time period.
A wide array of characters are portrayed, from mining families like Jack's to new transports from the South like Sarah and her mother Willow Louise. Mrs. Gilpin, the mine owner's wife, wants to keep her distance from the "lower classes", but most people, like her housekeeper Mrs. Ogden, know that the community is best served by having everyone work together. Greenie supports Sissy's ambitions and helps her to save money, encouraging her to set her sights on college. There is plenty of discussion about what the expectations are for girls, and how unusual it would be for Sissy to be able to train to be a doctor, but also community support for her when her skills are put to good use.
Fans of Wilder's Little House on the Prairie will be glad to see some familiar settings, like the school and restaurant, and it is fascinating to see the perspective of the doctor's household. Fans of Hobbs' City of Gold, Meyer's A Sky Full of Song and Park's Prairie Lotus will want to take a look at this slice of life novel about a time period quickly slipping from collective memory.
June 7, 2023
First sentence: The baby stretched its arms and legs as Sissy wrapped it in the soft flannel blanket. She smiled at the wriggling infant with its tiny wrinkled face.
Premise/plot: Sissy Carlson, the doctor's daughter, struggles with life in her hometown of Tenmile, Colorado, a mining town. When this children's novel opens, Sissy knows one thing for sure: she wants to leave Tenmile and never, ever, ever return. She sees only the negative aspects of life in Tenmile--the poverty, the poverty, the limited opportunities, the limited resources, the distinctions in social classes and in genders. (To be fair, I don't know so much that girls have it so much worse than boys in Tenmile. I think both boys and girls are expected to quit school at an early age--8 or 9--to work to help support the family.) To live in Tenmile is to live in misery from birth to death.
This is historical fiction set in 1880s Colorado. The novel chronicles Sissy's experiences--again, mostly negative. She goes to school. She helps her father in and out of the home. She helps with his medical practice. She spends time with friends. She hates Tenmile. She knows that all of her friends and classmates are trapped in Tenmile. No bright futures for anyone unfortunate enough to live there.
Her view shifts, however, by the end of the novel. Has she made peace with her hometown?
My thoughts: Tenmile is bleakity-bleak. Sissy is the complete and total opposite of Pollyanna. She doesn't see the good in anything or anyone. Not really. It was hard as a reader to like Sissy. She was such a downer. That's not to say that her views and opinions were unfair. I have no doubt that life in a mining town was harsh, cruel, unfair. There being no way to break the cycle of poverty. Once a child enters work in the mine, it's unlikely that they'll escape mining life. They'll risk their life every single day and still be stuck in poverty. Because the circumstances don't really change, it makes for an odd choice that Sissy decides that Tenmile is HER forever home, and that she wants to spend her life serving this community. That's not to say that attitudes can't change. But it's hard to reflect that well in the narrative. The town is peopled with characters that weren't super likable. (With one exception of Greenie.) Because the characters weren't all that wonderful to spend time with, this made for a different read.
I think for those that like historical fiction and don't want particularly happy endings, this one could definitely work.
I don't have to have tied-in-a-bow endings. I can accept history for history. I am thankful that the characters seem to reflect the life and times MORE than being twenty-first century characters dressing up. I think there were many elements of this one that were realistic.
Premise/plot: Sissy Carlson, the doctor's daughter, struggles with life in her hometown of Tenmile, Colorado, a mining town. When this children's novel opens, Sissy knows one thing for sure: she wants to leave Tenmile and never, ever, ever return. She sees only the negative aspects of life in Tenmile--the poverty, the poverty, the limited opportunities, the limited resources, the distinctions in social classes and in genders. (To be fair, I don't know so much that girls have it so much worse than boys in Tenmile. I think both boys and girls are expected to quit school at an early age--8 or 9--to work to help support the family.) To live in Tenmile is to live in misery from birth to death.
This is historical fiction set in 1880s Colorado. The novel chronicles Sissy's experiences--again, mostly negative. She goes to school. She helps her father in and out of the home. She helps with his medical practice. She spends time with friends. She hates Tenmile. She knows that all of her friends and classmates are trapped in Tenmile. No bright futures for anyone unfortunate enough to live there.
Her view shifts, however, by the end of the novel. Has she made peace with her hometown?
My thoughts: Tenmile is bleakity-bleak. Sissy is the complete and total opposite of Pollyanna. She doesn't see the good in anything or anyone. Not really. It was hard as a reader to like Sissy. She was such a downer. That's not to say that her views and opinions were unfair. I have no doubt that life in a mining town was harsh, cruel, unfair. There being no way to break the cycle of poverty. Once a child enters work in the mine, it's unlikely that they'll escape mining life. They'll risk their life every single day and still be stuck in poverty. Because the circumstances don't really change, it makes for an odd choice that Sissy decides that Tenmile is HER forever home, and that she wants to spend her life serving this community. That's not to say that attitudes can't change. But it's hard to reflect that well in the narrative. The town is peopled with characters that weren't super likable. (With one exception of Greenie.) Because the characters weren't all that wonderful to spend time with, this made for a different read.
I think for those that like historical fiction and don't want particularly happy endings, this one could definitely work.
I don't have to have tied-in-a-bow endings. I can accept history for history. I am thankful that the characters seem to reflect the life and times MORE than being twenty-first century characters dressing up. I think there were many elements of this one that were realistic.
February 19, 2023
A fine story, but I didn't care for the writing style. It is annoyingly tell-y and drags on in unnecessary descriptions that delay the action. For example, in one place where Sissy goes to open the door, instead of the reader first finding out who is at the door, the narrative goes on and on about the season and her musings about the history of the town outside the door, and when we get to who is at the door half a page later, we find out it is a very smelly man which distracted me into wondering why Sissy had spent all that time on the weather and town history before acknowledging the man whom it says she smelled before she saw. And then it's another half page before we find out who the man is, even though Sissy knows him. Also, in an attempt to make the third person writing closer to the main character, the author uses "Sissy knew that (detail about whatever)..." or "Sissy had heard that (bit of info)...." A LOT. These sentence starters are not necessary and just distract from the details being presented.
There are also a number of glaring editorial errors in the book, misspelled words (check instead of cheek) and even a page turn that ends with a period, turn page, then starts in the middle of a sentence on the next page. That is tragic. I feel badly for the author that the editors didn't catch these things.
There are also a number of glaring editorial errors in the book, misspelled words (check instead of cheek) and even a page turn that ends with a period, turn page, then starts in the middle of a sentence on the next page. That is tragic. I feel badly for the author that the editors didn't catch these things.
September 6, 2025
This book is about a pre-teen/teen girl named Sissy who lives with her doctor father in a mining town in 1880 called Tenmile. She has a couple of friends at her school, but both of those friends come upon different sorts of trouble. Sissy has been wanting to get out of Tenmile. There are very poor people there and then there are some who are a little wealthier. She has a lot of heart and wants to help people.
As sweet as this story started out, the whole thing is depressing and sad! There are just really awful situations that occur throughout the book. I think it could be a heavier book for middle grade readers. Sissy is a good example of how a young girl should act though. She is kind, responsible, and hard working.
I did enjoy learning about the different characters.
There were some things that bothered me a lot, especially the one friend's father who constantly called Sissy a "pretty little thing" and it just didn't sit well with me. There are things that I want to say that happened in this book, but it is something that will spoil a part of the story. There were people who were drunk here and there in the book too.
As sweet as this story started out, the whole thing is depressing and sad! There are just really awful situations that occur throughout the book. I think it could be a heavier book for middle grade readers. Sissy is a good example of how a young girl should act though. She is kind, responsible, and hard working.
I did enjoy learning about the different characters.
There were some things that bothered me a lot, especially the one friend's father who constantly called Sissy a "pretty little thing" and it just didn't sit well with me. There are things that I want to say that happened in this book, but it is something that will spoil a part of the story. There were people who were drunk here and there in the book too.
July 4, 2023
Tenmile is author Sandra Dallas’ fifth book for middle readers, and like her previous books I’ve reviewed — Hardscrabble and Quilt Walk — the writing feels ageless. It will appeal just as much to adults as it will kids, although middle readers may get more out of it.
There’s no doubt that Dallas covers some tough topics — death, poverty, an abusive parent. She tackles these themes with such skill that even the grizzly task of a 12-year-old sewing up wounds or delivering someone’s baby aren’t particularly shocking. And the foreshadowing leading up to the abusive parent is clear, careful and well informed.
Sissy is a strong, smart protagonist who has the opportunity to see how people from all walks of life live. She grows throughout, and you truly care about her by the time you finish.
Tenmile is an engaging historical middle-grade novel that will appeal to a large cross-section of readers and especially to those with an interest in the American West.
There’s no doubt that Dallas covers some tough topics — death, poverty, an abusive parent. She tackles these themes with such skill that even the grizzly task of a 12-year-old sewing up wounds or delivering someone’s baby aren’t particularly shocking. And the foreshadowing leading up to the abusive parent is clear, careful and well informed.
Sissy is a strong, smart protagonist who has the opportunity to see how people from all walks of life live. She grows throughout, and you truly care about her by the time you finish.
Tenmile is an engaging historical middle-grade novel that will appeal to a large cross-section of readers and especially to those with an interest in the American West.
August 28, 2024
I love the writing style of this book -- kind of terse, very straightforward, short chapters. It flows from one episode to the next. There is a lot of hardship in this book -- kids injured, kids dying, abuse, poverty and the main character is a bit of a golden girl outside of it all. Sissy is privileged as the child of the doctor, and more so as the ward of housekeeper Greenie, who clearly has a heart of gold and ambition for charge to live a happy and fulfilled life. The Doctor is equal parts frustrating and inspiring -- he doesn't seem to believe his child can follow in his footsteps, and yet he does everything in his power to educate her. The portrait of an 1880s mining town in Colorado is similar -- it's a hard place to grow up, but a beautiful one.
April 11, 2023
I appreciated the setting of the book in a Colorado mining community. Perhaps there was a community named Tenmile, but I haven't heard of it. This community was comprised of people of various ethnicities and one doctor served them all. It would have been a nice historical touch for the author to include Elizabeth Blackwell, a female doctor in Colorado at the turn of the century, but perhaps the time periods were different. It was difficult for me to pinpoint an exact time period this story's setting fit into.
At times, I was reminded of The Secret Garden because of the sickly character named Willie and the old-fashioned time period.
At times, I was reminded of The Secret Garden because of the sickly character named Willie and the old-fashioned time period.
April 15, 2023
As a homeschool mom who reads middle grade literature for educational content, this one fits the bill. Dallas does a great job of educating her readers of the tough times experienced in an 1880s Colorado mining town, such as illness, injury, death, poverty, and discrimination of women in the medical field. Sissy was a likable main character with her kindness and ambition, yet also realistically portrayed as a young girl with typical insecurities. The book does delve into some hard topics such as death and child abuse, but also includes themes of courage, hope and faith. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of Dallas’s historical fiction novels.
December 30, 2022
Historical fiction may be a regular genre in adult novels, but not so much in middle grade & YA. In 2019, Dallas’s “Someplace to call Home” about 3 kids in Kansas in 1933 was released. And it was fantastic. Her new book rather hits close to home for me now as it is set in 1880 in the fictional mining town of Tenmile, Colorado 12 yr old Sissy’s dad is the town doctor and tends to the just scraping by immigrant families living and working near the mines. When she’s asked to tutor/nanny the mine owner’s son, she sees the unjust differences between the wealthy and the miners.
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February 6, 2023A coming of age story that focuses on Sissy Carlson. Now that she is growing up, she and her best friends, Jack and Nelle, dream of leaving this small mining town to find a better life. As the daughter and assistant of the local doctor, Sissy sees the poverty and struggle of those here, but as a girl in the late 1800s, can she find a different path?
Dallas brings here ability to capture history to this juvenile novel that shows the hardships and challenges of those trying to find a better life
Dallas brings here ability to capture history to this juvenile novel that shows the hardships and challenges of those trying to find a better life
June 24, 2024
I really enjoyed this one! It's sort of like a cross between Doctor Quinn and an American Girl book. I love that this book is set in Colorado in the 1880s. It gives a glimpse into the lives and struggles of people living in that time, and has a strong female main character. The book does deal with some heavy topics - poverty, death of a peer, domestic violence, and the difficulties of life during this time period - but it does so in an age-appropriate way. I think my daughter (11) will enjoy this book too.
August 22, 2025
3.5
First impression: Lots of action, light on character development, and very little description. Probably would appeal most to young readers. 4th and 5th grades???
At first I was under the impression that the setting was one of the small, grubby mining towns that dotted Colorado in the late 1800s. But then, on p 69, we learn that Some of the boys peddled candy, gum, and magazines to people waiting at the depot ...
And some boys worked in stores or as ushers at the theaters. And, there are a dozen restaurants.
All of the kids gave thought to what they would do when they were 'older.'
June 23, 2024
I picked up this book not realizing it's a YA novel. I wish the story had been geared towards adults because I thought the story itself would have been great with more adult tone, elaboration, and suspense. There were a lot of emotions and issues that, even in a YA novel, could have been more complex, in depth, and drawn out to build the reader's investment in the book. Unfortunately it was so simplistic, even for a YA novel, that I felt it took away from the book.
May 4, 2023
Tenmile demonstrates the harshness of living in a mining town in the 1880s. Sissy wants to move away but over time she witnessed what an assessment she and her father are to the community. She is a brave girl who is quite mature and young readers learn about the hardships and good moments.
Thanks to Edekweiss and Sleeping BEar Press for the early read.
Thanks to Edekweiss and Sleeping BEar Press for the early read.
November 27, 2023
A wonderful coming of age story set in the mining town of Tenmile, Colorado in 1880. Twelve year old Sissy is learning from her father who is a doctor, while going to school and helping townspeople in many ways. It is a wonderful middle grade novel. It just won the 2023 Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award for Young Reader Fiction.
November 17, 2024
Simple but good story. A little depressing, but has hope too, and gives a good picture of what life was like in Tenmile. It's definitely a kids book and constantly says stuff like "Sissy though this wasn't very nice". For the most part I liked Sissy's character, but it bothered me how clueless she was about Nelle's dad.
February 4, 2026
A simple historical fiction take on mining in the early West from the POV of a doctor's daughter. Some really great stuff here, but there is also some hard truths and content including death of children, abuse, alcoholism, and other subjects that might not make it a good fit for more gentle readers.
January 5, 2023
Reminded me a bit of The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and a few other books (female character defying gender norms in the late 19th century). Overall a good read; I love almost any book by Sandra Dallas so it was a nice read for me!
February 8, 2023
Sissy lives in a Colorado mining town with her father who is a doctor, and her housekeeper, Greenie. This is historical fiction at its best. Likable characters, a compelling story, historical information disseminated in an entertaining and accessible way.
February 26, 2023
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have her other middle reader titles. I'm not sure why, but it seems like the book was aimed at a younger audience with vocabulary for older kids. Very disappointing.
November 3, 2023
This is my favorite Sandra Dallas book so far. She always delivers when you get that hunkering for a good western. I thought everything was balanced: just enough happy and sad, hope and sadness.
Really enjoyed this book.
4.75 stars.
Really enjoyed this book.
4.75 stars.
July 1, 2024
This story is written for children, but I enjoyed its simplicity. It deals with some hard issues like abuse, poverty, and education being denied. But the timeline is in the 1880's and some of these things were pretty common in less affluent areas.
December 20, 2022
Very good for the age group
January 14, 2023
Great book but soooo many typos and editing errors. This author deserves better!
January 17, 2023
Nice story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews