Gold Rush Fever: A Story of the Klondike, 1898 [Paperback]

Barbara Greenwood (Author), Heather Collins (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

The year is 1898. Over the last decade, North America has been ground down by a depression. Wages are low, jobs are scarce and people are getting desperate. Although Aunt Rachel isn't happy about 13-year-old Tim and his older brother, Roy, heading off to the Klondike Gold Rush, the possibility of striking it rich is hard to resist. Tim and Roy begin their trek to the Yukon filled with excitement. Little do they suspect the harsh realities they'll have to face: blinding snowstorms, raging rapids, backbreaking work and bitter disappointment. In this unique book, each chapter is followed with factual information, illustrations and photographs of the people and places of the time. In addition, easy-to-do activities help bring the historical period to life.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A melange built around the experiences of 13-year-old Tim, who sets off to seek his fortune with his older brother and his dog. This very average piece of historical fiction is sometimes told in narrative and sometimes related in entries from Tim's diary. As the adventure moves along, the book hits on many coming-of-age issues, and has a subtheme of gambling, which was rife in the Klondike. Curtly interjected into the story are historical and technical points of interest, short biographical sketches of some real-life characters (dance-hall girls, Mounted Police, etc.), and activities such as Klondike solitaire. These pieces of information are valuable and relevant, but because they are designed in an unclear format, they are intrusive if readers attempt to follow the story line, and all are without footnotes. About half a dozen archival photos do what the copious and romantically dull drawings do not: give a sense of how harsh, dirty, exciting, and difficult gold mining was at that time and place. The weakest parts of the book are only skin deep, and, with patience, readers may find it somewhat useful as an additional resource.
Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. Through a comfortable combination of fiction and nonfiction, this book presents the life of a young miner during the Klondike gold rush between 1897 and 1899. Thirteen-year-old Tim accompanies his older brother on a difficult trek from Seattle to the Yukon, where they set up as miners. After enduring difficulties such as frostbite, hard labor, hard luck, and cabin fever, they make their fortunes and head for home. Told in the third person from Tim's point of view, the episodic story is involving as fiction and informative about the experiences of Klondike miners. Between sections of the story are pages discussing everything from the supplies needed for the trip to gambling in the town of Dawson to methods of mining and panning for gold. In addition to period photographs, excellent shaded pencil drawings appear throughout the book. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Kids Can Press (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550748505
• ISBN-13: 978-1550748505
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,365,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Children's Books > History > Canada

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Gives a Good Overview of the Gold Rush, May 16, 2010

By 

Nicola Manning (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gold Rush Fever: A Story of the Klondike, 1898 (Paperback)

Reason for Reading: Read aloud to my 9yo as part of our history curriculum.

As others from this series of like books from Greenwood and Collins an historical fiction tale is interspersed with non-fiction sections that expound upon information presented within the fictional story. While other books contained crafts in the non-fiction sections this book can't really be said to have crafts, there are a couple of experiments, a card game, a recipe and recommended reading instead.

Another difference is that rather than being about a family as in the Pioneer books and the Underground Railroad book, this book features in on two orphaned brothers: one almost a man, the other 13 years old, Tim. Tim narrates the story and tells of how he and his brother head on out for the great stampede north to Dawson City where they aim to make their fortune. Greenwood has presented a very realistic tale of all the hardships experienced along the way, though she does stay away from any of the grizzly details. She tells of the trials of the Chilkoot Pass, the river, the lawlessness before reaching Canada where the Mounties ruled with an iron fist and the backbreaking, often hopeless working a claim. The characters in this book seem to have more than the average share of good luck but still it comes out an entertaining and informational book on the topic. Particularly nice in this book, over the others, is the inclusion of real photographs which adds even more reality to the story. A good beginning book on the topic with plenty of information to get a good overview of the Gold Rush. Not my favourite of the series though.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gold Rush Fever, April 30, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Gold Rush Fever: A Story of the Klondike, 1898 (Hardcover)

This is about two boys named Tim and Roy living with their aunt Ravhel. All of a sudden they discover that there is a gold rush going on in the Yukon. When they got there, they had to climb and climb until they reached the golden stairs. Then they had two choices, White Pass or the Chilkoot Pass. They took the Chilkoot Pass because it was longer but it was safer. Then they reached Lake Lindeman. They had to form a group and build a boat at to get to Lake Bennett. They reached Lake Bennett in one peice then they found the town Dawson. They tried searching for gold but had no luck. They got a claim. They struck it rich, they only had enough to get home and have a little left for their aunt Rachel to see. So they went home happy and content as can be. Read this book it will take you back to the time of the gold rushes.
Review by: Frances

5.0 out of 5 stars Great History, February 8, 2011

By 

BekahKnits (Utah USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gold Rush Fever: A Story of the Klondike, 1898 (Hardcover)

This book is thick and has a great story line like Pioneer Sampler by the same author. The educational value is great, but not as detailed as The Pioneer Sampler. Pioneer Sampler has more specifics as far as preserving food and the daily survival of Pioneers. This book takes you into the time period and the excitement of the gold rush, the hopes and dreams, but also the harsh reality of living the sour-dough lifestyle. There are instructions for making a sour-dough starter and biscuits. The focus is really more on the story though. the drawings are well done and there are a few authentic photos too. I am very pleased with this book. We are reading it and are going to watch White Fang to go with the theme.