In the summer of 1911, (2 years fter the close og Volume 1) twelve year old piano prodigy Elly Robin and her pal Jimmy McGann arrive in the Colorado gold mining town of Cripple Creek in search of Jimmy's sister, Liddie. While they look for clues to Liddie's tragic disappearance,Elly lands a job playing at Crapper Jack's Saloon and Dance Hall.Elly helps rebuild a Model T Roadster, and discovers a mechanical aptitude on a par with her extraordinary musical abilities. And Jimmy loses his heart to Sara Grundy, a proud young girl forced by desperate circumstance to become one of Crapper Jack's forty dancing whores.While playing detective, Elly learns how the murder of a score of miners seven years ago destroyed the miner's union. And when Sara turns out to hold the clue which could finally solve the murders--and implicate some of the most powerful men in the state--all of their lives are put in jeopardy..
Reviews:
Ann Stoudt (USA: HI) (2023/05/05): A great follow up (2nd book) of the Elly Robins Series by PD Quaver I loved the first book, and this volume just continues the saga. This picks up with Elly at the ripe old age of 12, where she and her friend, Jimmy, decide to go to Ohio and leave TN NOTE!! These books are written in a Series - so be sure to start with the first book “The ordeals of Elly Robins”. (There are 10 books in the series, and I do Hope Elly keeps growing up for an 11th book . Once you read the first one you definitely will want to keep reading! The first book was written in the style of a child – this is written in the style of an adolescent- which makes it all the more enjoyable - as you see it from that age point of view. The success of the characters and the excitement continue, as in the first volume. Her choice of working conditions – playing as a genius on piano - make sense knowing the era. It also gives Elly the first impression of what some people think of her by what she wears. This continues with Elly earning a living as an accomplished pianist. It takes you through several states – basically “going on tour”, going to a place she remembers as where her Mother once lived. Then Elly decides it is time they look for Jimmy’s lost sister. She feels she owes it to him as he has helped her out for so long and because he is her friend. The only knowledge Jimmy has of his sister whereabouts is a postcard with a postmark of Colorado. They start their search and find a boarding house that Jimmy’s sister had stayed, and endmake arrangements to stay there. The boarding house caters to mostly miners ,who want a Union started and takes you some happening of that period. In this environment Elly meets someone who becomes like a mother to her, an old colored pianist who becomes a great teacher, and another friend ,who is just like her! She also learns another trade. This book brought the light of a lot of things to me, especially in understanding Mr. Quaver writing style. 1. The books seem to be written in the age of the child at that time – making her reasoning perfectly reasonable. 2 The books are an historical happening, or journal, which show a great deal of research on the underlying storys, the era, and also make you understand the condition children were raised in, in that period of time. 3 The illustrations in the book are really neat, well done, and go with my “mind pictures” as I read.. 4. Made me realize why she did what she did with-in the time frame of the era. It also shows how children had more value to work and friendship than they do today 5. Just like today you see how people make a conception of one thing about another person - and are wrong! 6. There are words in there that are no longer in existence – or at least not very rarely used - nowadays! “Sparking” was one my grandmother used in describing my Grandfather when I was a child! Another she used -when I did something, or just very ; or plain stupid, "Discombobulated" ( I really laughed about that one as the memories flowed back to me!!!) And there is “Hell-fire“ especially heard from the traveling Preachers of the day! This is a great follow-up to the first Robin book. It's fun to grow up with Elly, and learn things - almost like you get to be there for that. Mr. Quaver repeats his quality of writing – but does NOT repeat himself on every page (from the first book) - and he gives the book, and the characters, a realistic feel. Definitely a series you do not want to miss! Looking forward to the third Book!!!
Ann Stoudt (USA: HI) (2023/05/05): A great follow up (2nd book) of the Elly Robins Series by PD Quaver I loved the first book, and this volume just continues the saga. This picks up with Elly at the ripe old age of 12, where she and her friend, Jimmy, decide to go to Ohio and leave TN NOTE!! These books are written in a Series - so be sure to start with the first book “The ordeals of Elly Robins”. (There are 10 books in the series, and I do Hope Elly keeps growing up for an 11th book . Once you read the first one you definitely will want to keep reading! The first book was written in the style of a child – this is written in the style of an adolescent- which makes it all the more enjoyable - as you see it from that age point of view. The success of the characters and the excitement continue, as in the first volume. Her choice of working conditions – playing as a genius on piano - make sense knowing the era. It also gives Elly the first impression of what some people think of her by what she wears. This continues with Elly earning a living as an accomplished pianist. It takes you through several states – basically “going on tour”, going to a place she remembers as where her Mother once lived. Then Elly decides it is time they look for Jimmy’s lost sister. She feels she owes it to him as he has helped her out for so long and because he is her friend. The only knowledge Jimmy has of his sister whereabouts is a postcard with a postmark of Colorado. They start their search and find a boarding house that Jimmy’s sister had stayed, and end make arrangements to stay there. The boarding house caters to mostly miners ,who want a Union started, and takes you some happening of that period. In this environment Elly meets someone who becomes like a mother to her, an old colored pianist who becomes a great teacher, and another friend ,who is just like her! She also learns another trade. This book brought the light of a lot of things to me, especially in understanding Mr. Quaver writing style. 1. The books seem to be written in the age of the child at that time – making her reasoning perfectly reasonable. 2 The books are an historical happening, or journal, which show a great deal of research on the underlying storys, the era, and also make you understand the condition children were raised in, in that period of time. 3 The illustrations in the book are really neat, well done, and go with my “mind pictures” as I read.. 4. Made me realize why she did what she did with-in the time frame of the era. It also shows how children had more value to work and friendship than they do today 5. Just like today you see how people make a conception of one thing about another person - and are wrong! 6. There are words in there that are no longer in existence – or at least not very rarely used - nowadays! “Sparking” was one my grandmother used in describing my Grandfather when I was a child! Another she used -when I did something, or just very ; or plain stupid, "Discombobulated" ( I really laughed about that one as the memories flowed back to me!!!) And there is “Hell-fire“ especially heard from the traveling Preachers of the day! This is a great follow-up to the first Robin book. It's fun to grow up with Elly, and learn things - almost like you get to be there for that. Mr. Quaver repeats his quality of writing – but does NOT repeat himself on every page (from the first book) - and he gives the book, and the characters, a realistic feel. Definitely a series you do not want to miss! Looking forward to the third Book!!!
