Goldtown Beginnings

There’s never been a winter like this in all of Jem Coulter’s eight years. After weeks of heavy snowfall, no one can pan for gold. And all the wild critters—from rabbits to mountain lions—are coming down to low country around Goldtown, looking for food to stay alive. It isn’t all bad, though. Animals mean Pa can set his trapline to make some money for the family. Jem is excited to help with this grown-up job, until he and Pa spend the scariest night in Jem’s memory.

Missing dog posters are going up around town—and the dog looks just like Nugget! It turns out that a rich man from Scotland lost his favorite pooch in the mountains about Goldtown. There’s a reward for the pup’s return, and mean Will Sterling wants the money. Jem is desperate to keep his furry friend, but when all he can think of is for them to run away into the woods until it’s safe, he may get them both into worse trouble than just having to say good-bye.

Jem wants only one thing for his eighth birthday: a two-week prospecting trip with his grown-up friend Strike-it-rich Sam. But the trip doesn’t go as planned. Finding gold is hard work! There are more tall tales from Strike than there are gold nuggets. An injury and other problems endanger the two adventurers. Will they bring home treasure or return empty handed?

When a shiny silver dollar from mean Will Sterling’s coin collection goes missing, Jem is blamed. After all, he’s the only one who went indoors during recess on this sunny day. When a charm bracelet is stolen the next day, more fingers point Jem’s way. How can he prove he isn’t the culprit? To clear his name, Jem sets a trap for the mystery thief: his sister’s silver necklace lying in plain sight as bait. Will it go missing too? Will Jem’s good name be muddied forever?

To earn money for dog food, Jem gets a job from Mr. Sims, the café owner. All he has to do is catch bullfrogs for the menu—what a perfect task for an active boy! But Jem’s dog, Nugget, and his little sister, Ellie, get in the way and Jem turns angry. Now, Ellie is gone—and no one knows where! Jem knows it’s his fault she’s missing. Can he find her before it’s too late?

Pa’s panning for gold. Mama is baking pies and washing laundry—what can seven-year-old Jem to help out the family? He tries to run errands, but mean Will Sterling ruins everything. When Strike-it-rich Sam, Jem’s prospecting friend, shows up with a scrawny dog, Jem might have an answer to the bully problem—if only Jem can convince his parents that another mouth to feed is a good idea.