Author: Eve Sutton
In this post, I will cover the last two Eve Sutton books to be read and reviewed.
Green Gold: From the inside dust cover: "Adam Sterling and his father had set off with such high hopes on that long voyage to New Zealand. And now, guarding fiercely a dozen small parcels his dying father had entrusted to him, he found himself totally alone in a strange land. What did the parcels contain, Adam wondered? Was it gold? And how would he find his one relative in this rough, tough new country where you could trust no-one? But he did find friends who could help him at last, and set him on the path to find his uncle."
Valley of Heavenly Gold: From the back cover: "When Matthew Hamilton's father comes home from the goldfields desperately ill, Matthew sets out to retrieve the small fortune his father has had to leave behind on the diggings. But life on the goldfields is violent and Matthew and his Chinese friend, Ah Chong, are in great danger."
Eve Sutton’s Green Gold and Valley of Heavenly Gold bookend her career as a children’s author, with the former being her first chapter book and the latter her last. Both feature young male protagonists navigating early New Zealand settings, though Green Gold appears to unfold about 50 years after the gold rush era of Valley of Heavenly Gold.
Green Gold
Despite its title, Green Gold sidesteps the gold rush trope. Young Adam sets out to find his missing uncle, guarding precious packets that—surprisingly—hold seeds, not gold. The story hints at their eventual success in a seed-harvesting venture, delivering a satisfying twist. At under 100 pages, this short, easy-to-read tale is a page-turner, buoyed by beautiful illustrations. The reunion with Adam’s uncle offers a heartwarming climax, making it a gentle yet captivating read.
Valley of Heavenly Gold
Set during the 1860s gold rush in Gabriel’s Gully, Valley of Heavenly Gold echoes Ruth Dallas’s Shining Rivers in its vivid historical backdrop. Here, Matthew lives with his mother and sisters while his father toils at the gold fields. When his father returns gravely ill, Matthew journeys to retrieve his belongings and uncover a secret stash of gold. Sutton’s meticulous research shines through in her authentic portrayal of goldfield life and the town’s bustle. She weaves in the tragic flash flood that claimed lives and reshaped the valley, grounding the story in real events.
Homeschool families will value the book’s strong family themes. Matthew’s discovery of his father’s Bible—cherished as much as the gold—reflects Sutton’s knack for threading Christian faith into her narratives naturally, never veering into preachiness, a hallmark of true living books. His friendship with Ah Chong, a Chinese miner, subtly highlights colonial attitudes toward Chinese immigrants, adding depth and historical nuance.
Both books are treasures for readers 8 and up. Green Gold charms with its simplicity and warmth, while Valley of Heavenly Gold captivates with its richer historical tapestry. The illustrations in Green Gold enhance its appeal, though Valley relies more on its evocative prose. I found no content concerns in either—both are wholesome, engaging picks I wholeheartedly recommend.
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