Seeds of Hope: The Gold Rush Diary of Susanna Fairchild, California Territory 1849 (Dear America Series) - Hardcover

Gregory, Kristiana

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0590511572 ISBN 13: 9780590511575

Publisher: Scholastic Inc., 2001

Synopsis

Susanna Fairchild and her family journey to Oregon from New York to start a new life, but while on the boat, disaster strikes when Susanna's mother is lost at sea, and soon after, her father decides to join the groups of men on a quest to discover gold in California.

About this title

About the Author:

Kristiana Gregory has published more than 30 children's books with Scholastic, Harcourt and Holiday House, and has now ventured into self-publishing with her memoir "Longhand: The Rise and Fall and Rise of My Career a Children's Book Author." She grew up in Manhattan Beach, California, two blocks from the beach and she always loved to make up stories. Her first rejection letter at age eleven was for a poem she wrote in class when she was supposed to be doing a math assignment. She's had a myriad of odd jobs: telephone operator, lifeguard, camp counselor, reporter, book reviewer & columnist for the LA Times. Kristiana and her husband live in Idaho with their golden retriever, Poppy. Their two adult sons visit often. In her spare time she loves to swim, hike, watch clouds, do yoga, read & hang out with friends. For all her titles, please visit her website: www.kristianagregory.com

From School Library Journal:

Grade 5-8-Fourteen-year-old Susanna Fairchild and her family embark on a journey that they hope will bring them good fortune. Boarding a ship sailing from New York to the West, the Fairchilds set out for Oregon where they plan to start a new life. Tragedy strikes when Susanna's mother is lost at sea, and they must continue on without her. Hearing stories of enormous wealth, Susanna's physician father decides to join the hordes of men rushing to California to mine for gold. The trials and tribulations encountered by the many men who risked their lives for the chance to become rich are wonderfully envisioned by the author. The uncharted West with its many hazards is descriptively brought to life through the diary writings of Susanna, who proves to be up to the task of surviving the rugged lifestyle her father has chosen for them. A strong female voice takes readers on an adventure filled with sorrow for the loss of her mother, love for her father and sister, and a determination to make a home amid the wilderness. Secondary characters are nicely interspersed throughout the story. Historical notes, drawings, a recipe for "Miner's Griddle Cakes," and a map of the gold-mining region provide a fitting conclusion to an interesting story.
Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0590511572
• ISBN 13: 9780590511575
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 184