Jem Strikes Gold / Jem's Frog Fiasco

Jem Strikes Gold 

(Goldtown Beginnings #1) 

Paperback – ebook

September 24, 2019

by Susan K. Marlow  (Author), Okan Bülbül (Artist)

Age Range: 6 - 8 years

Grade Level: 2 - 4

Paperback: 80 pages

Publisher: Kregel Academic & Professional 

ISBN-13: 978-0825446252

Seven-year-old Jem Coulter's family is trying to make a go of it in Goldtown, with Pa panning for gold and Mama baking pies and washing laundry to make ends meet. Jem and his little sister, Ellie, do everything they can to help out.

But it's hard to help when Will Sterling, a rich boy with a mean streak, picks on Jem every time he runs errands for Mama. When Will's antics end up ruining the pies, Jem's had enough. No pies means no money for the whole family! How can he get Will to stop?

When Strike-It-Rich Sam, Jem's prospector friend, shows up with a scrawny dog, Jem might have an answer to the bully problem. The brave pup can protect them--if only Jem can convince his parents that another mouth to feed is a good idea . . 

My thoughts: JEM STRIKES GOLD is a cute little historical fiction for beginning readers. The point of view character is a little boy so this story might appeal to boys, especially if they like westerns and gold rush stories. There are a lot of historical details so also  great for homeschoolers. I loved  the puppy and the lessons Jem learns along the way.  I highly recommend this series for beginning readers.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

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Jem's Frog Fiasco 

(Goldtown Beginnings #2) 

Paperback – ebook

October 15, 2019

by Susan K. Marlow  (Author), Okan Bülbül (Artist)

• Age Range: 6 - 8 years
• Grade Level: 2 - 4
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Children's Books 

• ISBN-13: 978-0825446269

Jem needs to buy food for his dog, Gold Nugget. But try as he may, his panning just never leads to gold. When he asks for a job, Mr. Sims, the café owner, sends him out to catch bullfrogs for the menu. Money and frog catching--what a great solution for this active boy!

But Nugget and Jem's little sister, Ellie, get in the way and ruin his plans. When he argues with Ellie, she stomps off in a huff, and Jem can get back to work. He heads home with a bucket full of frogs and the knowledge that he'll have plenty of cash for Nugget's food.

There's just one big problem--no one knows where Ellie has gone. She's disappeared! Search parties go out, but no matter where they look, there's no sign of her. And Jem knows that it's all his fault for yelling at her. Can he find Ellie before it's too late?

My thoughts:  JEM'S FROG FIASCO is book two in this series but it stands alone.  Jem needs money to feed his hungry dog and he's hired to catch bull frogs for frog legs. But how easy is it to catch frogs with an active dog who loves to play in the water and a too-helpful preschooler?  You'll want your beginning readers to read this historical froggy adventure. Great for homeschoolers with all the historical detail.  The main character is a boy so this might appeal to boys, especially if they like westerns and bull frogs.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.