By The Great Horn Spoon
1963
- children's literature
- historical fiction
- adventure
- comedy
- western
- gold rush
- california
- friendship
- family
- courage
The story
For fans of the I Survived series, this classic rollicking adventure about the California Gold Rush and one determined twelve-year-old has sold nearly a million copies! When Jack's aunt is forced to sell her beloved mansion but is still unable to raise enough money to pay her debts, the twelve-year-old goes to California in search of gold to help her. Joined by his trusty butler, Praiseworthy, Jack finds adventure and trouble at every turn. Will Jack strike gold in San Francisco or come home empty-handed?
What it’s like
Brisk, sunny storytelling with a wry, tall-tale voice: a comic narrator who loves a good exaggeration and keeps the sentences bouncing along like a wagon on a rough road. The world on the page is dusty mining camps, muddy river crossings, crowded San Francisco streets and the glitter of gold dust in a pan, drawn in quick, vivid strokes rather than lingering description. Its mood is cheerful and mischievous, with a warm, low-stakes calm underneath the scrapes and bluster. Short chapters and quick scene changes make it an easy pick for a sunny afternoon, a long car ride, or reading aloud at bedtime. The arc follows a headstrong boy who learns that pluck and loyalty matter more than fortune, shaped by his bond with a dignified, quick-witted manservant. Violence is minimal and cartoonish; there is some peril, rough frontier talk and mild danger, but nothing graphic, cruel or frightening. It suits gentle, funny adventure for young readers and grown-ups who want a lighthearted western.
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