Amidst the Gold Dust: Women Who Forged the West

The compelling stories in AMIDST THE GOLD DUST bring to life the exciting and difficult stories of five fascinating women - a welcome departure from typical Wild West histories which usually consider the era in terms of its famous men.Ms. Danneberg's use of a 'fictional narrative' style is an effective and accessible approach for middle and upper grade readers. Telling the women's stories from various first- and third-person perspectives keeps the subject matter fresh and realistic, and allows for the author's creative use of voice. (I think this format would lend itself well to class biography or autobiography assignments.) Ms. Danneberg imaginatively weaves historical tidbits into the narrative which, coupled with informational sidebars, makes AMIDST THE GOLD DUST as educationally enriching as it is enjoyable.

As five strong, resourceful women tell their stories of life in the 1800's, readers can feel their courage, sense of adventure, struggles, fears, and joyous triumphs. These women are fascinating, very human role models. Readers will not only learn about the history of the Wild West, but also gain insight into people who made an impact on its development. Their voices linger with me even after finishing the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed AMIDST THE GOLD DUST, an easy-to-read retelling of the lives and adventures of five unconventional and admirable women. By creatively rendering journal entries, letters, and commentary, Ms. Danneberg gives each character and the folks they encounter lively voices that makes the history come alive. The sidebars and page backgrounds are jam-packed with tidbits and pictures of what life was like in the days of the great gold and silver rushes of Alaska and the West. I can see this will become a favorite among young history buffs and a great resource book for anyone interested in the development of the West.

Amidst the Gold Dust strikes it rich in both the social studies and language arts curricula. Our teachers have found the book to be a gold mine for examples of voice in research writing. The format of the book, with its informative sidebars and primary source materials, also enhances this rich, accurate, overall research treasure.