Editorial Review

This graphic-rich introduction to the 1849 California gold rush walks readers through the basics, from the discovery of the first nuggets to the mass migration of hopeful prospectors to the sudden appearance of boomtowns to San Francisco’s transformation into a teeming metropolis. Simple, declarative sentences explain the significance of the discovery, where people came from, and why they were so desperate to strike it rich. Diagrams show how miners panned and mined for gold, and period photos and maps add visual appeal. Front matter offers suggestions for parents and teachers, and back matter includes a time line, glossary, and directions for accessing the publisher’s “Fact Surfer,” an online list of age-appropriate websites. Like other books in the Turning Points in U.S. History series (6 titles), this solid contribution offers engaging curriculum support.
— Kathleen McBroom