Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Coal River
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
In this vibrant new historical novel, the acclaimed author of The Plum Tree and What She Left Behind explores one young womans determination to put an end to child labor in a Pennsylvania mining town As a child, Emma Malloy left isolated Coal River, Pennsylvania, vowing never to return. Now, orphaned and penniless at nineteen, she accepts a train ticket from her aunt and uncle and travels back to the rough-hewn community. Treated like a servant by her relatives, Emma works for free in the company store. There, miners and their impoverished families must pay inflated prices for food, clothing, and tools, while those who owe money are turned away to starve. Most heartrending of all are the breaker boys Emma sees around the villageyoung children who toil all day sorting coal amid treacherous machinery. Their soot-stained faces remind Emma of the little brother she lost long ago, and she begins leaving stolen food on families doorsteps, and marking the miners bills as paid. Though Emmas actions draw ire from the mine owner and police captain, they lead to an alliance with a charismatic miner who offers to help her expose the truth. And as the lines blur between what is legal and what is just, Emma must risk everything to follow her conscience. An emotional, compelling novel that rings with authenticityCoal River is a deft and honest portrait of resilience in the face of hardship, and of the simple acts of courage that can change everything.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
tdrosebud
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image
blurb
sblbooks
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

#12AuthorsIn22 Day 12 Ellen Marie Wiseman
The one book I've read: The Life She Was Given was amazing, but brutal.
I'm planning on reading one of these soon.

megnews I gave The Orphan Collector and What She Left Behind 4 stars. I have the other one on my tbr 3y
33 likes1 comment
review
AmyK1
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image
Pickpick

19 year old Emma is forced to move to Coal River to live with her aunt and uncle, who is a mine supervisor, after the death of her parents. Once there she learns about the horrible conditions in the mine and is determined to help the breaker boys, young boys who are forced to work a dangerous job to help support their families.

This is my #doublespin for March @TheAromaofBooks

Crazeedi I've wanted to read this one for a long time, isnt it set in Pennsylvania? I lived in coal country for years 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
AmyK1 @Crazeedi yes it is! Hope you like it 😁 4y
42 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
sebrittainclark
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

Thanks @CocoReads for this wonderful collection of books and goodies to start 2021 off right! I'm so excited to dig into all these books! Also love the mug that answers any questions my husband might have about the number of books in our house 😆😆

Thanks @candority for organizing this super fun swap!

#bestof2020 #bestof2020swap

CocoReads You‘re welcome! I had a lot of fun picking out the books and stuff. I meant to put a card in too but obviously I forgot. 🤣🤣 enjoy the books! 3 more hours of work and I can open my stuff when I get home! 4y
sebrittainclark @CocoReads I hope you enjoy yours too! My cats are already obsessed with the blanket! 4y
candority That blanket looks so cozy! 😍 4y
CocoReads I‘m a fuzzy blanket addict. An absolute must for the winters here. 4y
55 likes4 comments
blurb
Lynnsoprano
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

This was an Amazon Kindle deal a few weeks ago. Hubby grew up in Pennsylvania coal country. His dad and uncles worked in the mines until an uncle lost a leg in a mine accident. So this was a must buy when I saw it. About to start, but I ddon‘t expect this to be a happy read.

CocoReads It‘s not a happy read but it was really well written and totally engrossing. 4y
50 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
tdrosebud
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image
OriginalCyn620 👌🏻📚🧡 5y
25 likes1 comment
blurb
thereadingowlvina
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

This was fun! Thanks @RealLifeReading ! 😁

#alphabetbookishquiz

blurb
LauraJ
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

Okay. Got the last #lmpbc book off to @emilyjwhit9 via 2-day mail.

Meanwhile...here‘s the kitties enjoying their new box.
#catsoflitsy

suvata Awww! Pretty kitty. 6y
Wife 🌹 6y
Susanita Cats are so judgey! 6y
43 likes3 comments
blurb
LauraJ
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

Guess I won‘t be finishing this book tonight.
#kal #catsoflitsy

rubyslippersreads That paw is laying down the law. 😹 6y
mcipher What a beautiful kitty! Clearly a book lover, too. 😝 6y
CoverToCoverGirl Ha! 😍 6y
See All 8 Comments
Amabear Looks like the panther on jungle book! 6y
emilyhaldi Gorgeous 😍 6y
Tamra I agree. 6y
LauraJ @rubyslippersreads Cecil is pretty adamant about getting his play time in. 6y
LauraJ @emilyhaldi @mcipher @Tamra Thanks. He had a good temperament too. 6y
87 likes1 stack add8 comments
blurb
LauraJ
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

Why are there no good construction emojis? Or wood chipper symbols? Major construction going on next door since 7am. Trying to read the book @Wife chose for #lmpbc, but it‘s so LOUD! Poor Cecil is hiding under the blankets.

Wife What are they building? Could this go on for an extended time? Poor Cecil 😕🌹 6y
LauraJ @Wife I have no idea, but they only work on Sat & Sun. 6y
43 likes2 comments
review
StephanieGeiser
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image
Mehso-so

For those of you keeping track at home - I did finish the book on the train ride home!

I‘m not going to say much here because it still needs to make it to 2 other readers in my #lmpbc group. Regardless, this will hit a post Office this week and be on its way!

blurb
StephanieGeiser
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

You know what‘s the worst? Arriving at the train station when you have just 10 pages left in your book and knowing you need to sit through an entire day of work before getting to finish. It‘s going to be a long day ...

#lmbpc

RaimeyGallant Argh! 6y
Wife 😕 6y
Reviewsbylola You‘ve got to just sneak in those last ten pages! 6y
rather_be_reading hate when tht happens! 6y
44 likes5 comments
blurb
StephanieGeiser
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

#lmpbc update - I am still plugging along with this read and I only have 100 pages left but I‘m not sure I will be able to mail it until after Labor Day. Sorry in advance for the delay! I hope this doesn‘t mess up your pacing too too much!

(Side note for the curious: I don‘t make a habit of using bookmarks with gross looking bugs on them. This one just happens to be from The Alchemist, promoting one of their beers. 🍻)

callielafleur Yassss The Alchemist!! So good. Have you ever had their cheese, Cheddy Topper? It's delicious. 6y
Wife 🌹 6y
emilyjwhit9 Oh good! I‘m not the only one running a bit behind. Mine will go out on Tuesday. 6y
45 likes3 comments
blurb
StephanieGeiser
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

Another Monday, another #bookclub book started on the train. This time it‘s for #lmpbc round 3, group R. I‘m looking forward to getting started!

38 likes1 stack add
blurb
StephanieGeiser
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

@Wife - I realize now that I never announced that my latest #lmpbc book from you arrived safe and sound. Sorry about that! My plan is to finish my read for #TheBreakfastBookClub this week, which will free me up to read this next week! (Nothing like waiting until the last minute, huh? 😬)

Wife No problem. Happy Reading 🌹 6y
LauraJ @emilyjwhit9 Did you receive The Annie Year? 6y
emilyjwhit9 @LauraJ I did! Sorry I didn‘t post about it. I will next time. Can‘t wait to read it. 😀 6y
35 likes3 comments
blurb
thereadingowlvina
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

BOOK ➡️ Coal River 📚

AUTHOR ➡️ Kristy Cambron 👱‍♀️

TV SHOW ➡️ Chicago P.D. 👮‍♂️👮‍♀️

FOOD ➡️ Cheesecake 🍰

Thank you @JoScho ! #ManicMonday

JoScho Cheesecake 🙌🏼❤️ 6y
30 likes1 comment
review
Wife
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image
Mehso-so

I forgot to take a pic of my book before mailing it to the next #LMPBC person. The story dealt with child miners in the early 1900‘s. I won‘t say more to prevent spoilers for my group. I pulled the pic from the Smithsonian website.

review
Judybskt
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image
Pickpick

Sad but good.

10 likes1 stack add
blurb
Judybskt
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

Nothing better than a good book and a cup of coffee. 📚☕️

blurb
Judybskt
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

I like this author. Looks like a good book.

4 likes1 stack add
review
mowayv6899
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
Pickpick

Sad but beautiful

review
SonyaBeatty
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image
Pickpick

#aprilbookshowers Day 20 & 22: #ruralsetting & #earthtonecovers Close enough right?

This was a #goodreadsgiveaway that I won last fall. It's been a little while since I read it. It was interesting. I learned a little about how awful mining conditions were. The saddest part was probably learning about the little kids that had to work in the breakers. I love historical fiction.

6 likes1 stack add
review
thereadingowlvina
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image
Pickpick

Emma returned to Coal River after a fire incident left her orphaned. She hated Coal River for many reasons but the most heartrending was the constant shroud of oppression over the lives of the young children working as #breakerboys in #coalmines. She is determined to change their lives through her acts of courage and kindness. Another #poignant #historicalfiction by Wiseman I really enjoyed.

blurb
pernsteinersmith
Coal River | Ellen Marie Wiseman
post image

Half way through - great historical novel.

rechreads Oh that looks good! 8y
1 stack add1 comment