I was up late last night finishing Emily's Fortune--it is that kind of book! A rip roaring adventure with lots of historical detail, twists, turns, and chuckles.
Emily is 10 years old when her mother dies, leaving her with just two living a relatives: Aunt Hilda, who Emily remembers as having a kind face and lots of hugs, and Uncle Victor, who took her mother's money and made her cry. Not much of a decision for Emily, but since Uncle Victor is a blood relative and Aunt Hilda is not, it is not clear if Emily will be allowed to go to Hilda, even though Hilda writes to say she will be happy to take Emily. Emily's neighbors, Miss Ready, Miss Aim, and Miss Fire (yes, it is that kind of book too), decide to take the bull by the horns and pack Emily off on her way to Aunt Hilda in Redbud.
Emily, accompanied only by her adored pet turtle, Rufus, starts out on the train, then switches to the stage coach, all the while being pursued by the Catchum Child-Catching Services, who get a "super-duper-dinger-zinger bonus" for every orphan they place with a blood relative. Soon Emily meets up with Jackson, a more-experienced orphan who takes her under his wing.With his help she avoids the child-catching service, but soon the trouble multiplies in spades when Uncle Victor appears looking for Emily. It turns out Emily has inherited ten million dollars from her mother's employer (hence the book's title).
It would be hard to find a darker villain than Uncle Victor. Emily has no illusions about why he is pursuing her--he either wants to get his hands on her and her money, or do away with her entirely since then he would inherit the millions! Jackson, always quick-thinking, derives a plan in which Emily dresses as a boy and pretend to be his mute, half-witted brother, Eli. Thus attired, Emily is forced to ride for days in the stagecoach with a suspicious Uncle Victor, being bounced, jostled, stuck in mud, mired in sand, and many other uncomfortable situations.
I won't tell any more, but suffice it to say that Emily is a great character who finds courage and fortitude when she needs to. The book has wonderful language, and every chapter ends with a bold question such as "WHAT IN SHOOTIN' SHIVERS WOULD EMILY DO NOW?" Emily's Fortune would make a superb read aloud and would be enjoyed by any kid with half a dose of sense, for Pete's sake! So read it!
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