Anisett Lundberg: American Diaries #3: California 1851 [Paperback]

Kathleen Duey (Author)

Book Description

Series: American Diaries

Anisett and her family are struggling to make ends meet by providing food for miners in the gold camps when Anisett finds a small chunk of gold, which she keeps a secret, until a sinister stranger discovers it.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-One day in the life of Anisett Lundberg in California's gold mining region in 1851 involves a varied cast of characters representative of those who couldn't resist the lure of that lucky lode. The girl's mother, a strong and capable widow, runs a sort of catering service to support her daughter and her son, Colin. Anisett and her mother prepare meals in the early morning and, with Colin aboard the mule wagon, spend the remainder of each day riding from camp to camp delivering them, arriving home in time to rest briefly before beginning the work again. On this fateful day, an unlucky, near-crazed and dangerous miner overhears Anisett asking someone whether the rock she has found could be gold; he decides to hold her and her family at gunpoint until he discovers where the rock was found. Though the writing is pedestrian at times, the view of the gold-rush culture highlights the courage of those who were a part of it. Though not every character is well developed, this entry in the series helps readers perceive the participants in the gold rush, including the women as individuals.
Susan F. Marcus, Pollard Middle School, Needham, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689803869
• ISBN-13: 978-0689803864
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,971,671 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have published over 80 books for children of all ages and YA/Adult readers. Many have won state and national awards and all of them have brought me the kind of fan mail that writers love to get.

Two from today's email (Jan 27 11)
Dear Ms. Duey,

I am 8 years old and I live in Catalonia (Spain). I just finished reading your book "Moonsilver" with my mom, and I really liked it. I want to ask you, what was your dream in 3rd grade? I'm asking you because at the end of the book, it says that the series of the Unicorn's Secret books is based on a dream you had in 3rd grade. I am in third grade right now, so I'm really curious!!!
Please tell me

(writer's name)



Dear Ms. Duey,

I loved your book the Unicorn's Secret. Me and my mom read it together. I like your books because I like unicorns and your story was very exciting. I like to draw unicorns. They are one of my favorite animals. I have two stuffed animal unicorns. One is named Sparkle. I sleep with her every night. Did you always want to be a writer? Have you ever seen a real unicorn? I am in 1st grade. I love to read. When I grow up I want to be a animal trainer and I want to train unicorns if I can find one.

LOVE , (writer's name)


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YA readers are writing a lot, too. Most say something like this one:

I have been waiting for the third book in Skin Hunger trilogy forever. Ok not forever but it feels like it. When is it coming out? How long will you make me wait? I love these books and am really needing to know what happens to Sadima and Hahp!!!!!


I know, me, too. Please read below.
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If it is later than 6:30am PST, I am probably writing, even if I am on an airplane. I might be working on a faerie book or writing about unicorns for grade school kids, or I could be lost in something dark, detailed, and strange for YA/adult readers. The third book in the Resurrection of Magic Trilogy is dragging me through the woods. I am working on it every day, and am Skying instead of traveling to schools and libraries until I get it DONE. It's taking wild amazing turns and I love it.

If I am not working...I might be answering readers who contact me through my website: http://www.kathleenduey.com Thanks to everyone who gets in touch with me on Facebook, my blog, http://kathleenduey.blogspot.com/, Twitter, and all the other ways to reach me. I can't keep up anymore, but I try to answer questions and I send out signed bookplates when I can. It means so much to know that you like my books.

I appear at schools, bookstores, and teach at writers' conferences nationwide and internationally. There is a schedule on my website and I try to keep it current.
And more and more... I Skype. It's a wonderful way to meet readers in classrooms and at libraries, I love to drop in on book clubs and critique groups, then get back to work!

Book news: The Unicorn's Secret books are getting lovely new covers by Sandara Tang, an amazing artist based in Singapore. The fan mail astounds me.
Sandara is the cover artist for the new kid's series The Faerie's Promise, too. Excerpts from all my books are on http://www.kathleenduey.com

YA NOVEL ONLINE/IN PROGRESS: RUSSET fans: http://russet-one-wing.blogspot.com/
I am accumulating entries and will tag you all when there is more to read. Give me your contact info and I will add you to the alert list. kathleenduey at earthlink dot net

The third book of my YA/adult trilogy is in the works now. I don't have a release date yet because I still writing like MAD. But it will be ASAP, I promise. The story is taking amazing turns and dragging me through the woods the way the first two did. Thanks!!!! to the thousands of people asking when it will come out.

You have no idea how happy that makes me.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting book by great author!, November 23, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Anisett Lundberg: American Diaries #3: California 1851 (Paperback)

Anisett's father died travelling to California. Now Anisett, her brother, and her mother struggle to make ends meet. Anisett finds a chunk of gold in the stream behind the cabin. When someone finds out about the gold and sets out to find it, Anisett must save her family.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, October 9, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Anisett Lundberg: American Diaries #3: California 1851 (Paperback)

This book, was good. It told of Anisett Lundberg and her life in the Gold Rush era (1848-around 1853) of California. Her father died so her mother watches over her and her little brother. They make a living selling food to the men panning for gold. But Anisett keeps seeing a strange blond-haired man. What is he up too? When the Lundbergs are in trouble Anisett must save the day!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A girl's adventures in the California gold rush., August 4, 2000

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anisett Lundberg: American Diaries #3: California 1851 (Paperback)

Twelve-year-old Anisett's father died on the long journey by wagon train west to California. Now her mother provides for Anisett and her little brother by selling food to the miners. When Anisett finds a chunk of gold in the stream behind their little cabin, she knows this discovery could end the hardship of her family's life. When a desperate, gold-hungry miner learns of Anisett's discovery, he takes Anisett and her family hostage and threatens to kill them if they don't reveal where they found the gold. Anisett put her family in danger - now she has to save them. This was an exciting historical novel that I highly reccomend.