A Tale of Gold

I loved this book ! It follows 14yr old James Erickson's adventures from San Francisco all the way to the Yukon, and then through a year or so of Yukon toil and troubles in his quest for gold. It is told in a light, borderline humorous "vein". The gritty harshness of the search for gold and those who sought it are downplayed, which is most appropriate for the age of the targeted readers. James Erickson is young and naturally does not have to take life as seriously as a man in the gold fields who has a family to support. James eventually takes a partner with which to stake his claim and (plot spoiler here) she is a delight, dressed in men's clothing of course. Their timely friendship with another gold hunter develops into a heartwarming ending to the story. The amount of detail included in this story is amazing. It appears to be very solidly researched and is a real "find" for anyone wishing to learn about the Yukon gold rush. I recommend it highly for grades 3-8, with an emphasis on grades 4-6, or even a read-aloud as young as second grade.