COLD SPRING

Desperate to save his sweetheart’s family farm, a teen embarks on a grueling journey to pan for gold in Shapiro’s historical novel, set in the mid-19th century.

The instant Cole Thomas and Belinda Wright met as 11-year-olds, they shared a deep connection. Life hasn’t been easy for either of them. Cole’s widowed mother, the formidable Elizabeth, works tirelessly to keep their farm running, while Belinda (whom Cole affectionately calls “Blue” because of bright blue eyes) is regularly beaten by her older brother Tommy; her father’s a drunk, and her mother is detached. When Belinda’s dad dies, the family (which also includes Belinda’s two younger siblings, Alice and Buck) is faced with managing the debt-riddled farm. Months after Tommy’s latest assault leaves Belinda with broken ribs and an eye swollen to the “size of a crab apple,” he vanishes, leaving the farm unattended. This sets Cole’s gold-panning mission in motion. Departing on foot from New York and heading toward Oregon with his bacon-loving dog Tusk and a cart horse in tow, Cole suffers through arduous days and encounters a revolving cast of sex workers, thieves, and swindlers. (These characters add varying degrees of drama, but only a handful prove consequential.) It’s a relief when he meets Cyrus Ryerson, a Methodist pastor traveling with his family by wagon, and they invite him along. Enduring hunger, harsh elements, and a tragic death, Cole finally reaches his destination, but months of panning prove fruitless. Meanwhile, Tommy has returned, and the Wright farm is nearing collapse. Without a lucrative return—and soon—they’ll never survive. The author realistically captures the hardships and settings of a fascinating historical period. However, the writing, though serviceable, could use some tightening, as excessive exposition and drawn-out descriptions of farming and weather slow the pace. Momentum also lags as Cole spends long stretches alone on his journey. Heartfelt passages will appeal to romance readers (when Cole sees a willow tree “catching moonlight between its densely layered, cascading branches” it lovingly reminds him of Belinda’s hair), as will the satisfying, unexpected ending.

A touching story of fortitude and grit set in the Gold Rush era.