From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up–Willie Dwinelle has a score to settle with Ezra Nevin. Ezra not only compromised Willie's friend Elizabeth, but also left her unwed to go in search of gold. Always wanting to do what's right, Willie and his friend Ben leave Pennsylvania and set off for California in search of gold, and for Ezra. Their adventure begins in the Panama jungle, which they must walk across to reach the boat destined for San Francisco. There, they confront disease, thievery, bribery, and death. Halfway through the journey, Ben abandons Willie to pursue promises of wealth with a family of actors and romance with their beautiful daughter. Uncertain of their honesty and committed to his quest, "Reverend Willie" carries on to the hills of California in the company of new friends. Finally, he catches up with Ezra but instead of confronting him about Elizabeth, he is forced to face down Ezra's killer. Cadnum has an uncanny ability to formulate character descriptions through creative analogies and well-thought-out first-person perspectives. This novel is fast paced, and although it is peppered with numerous people and places, the narration is easy to follow. Additionally, the well-realized settings, which range from remote wildernesses to sprawling cities, create colorful backdrops for Willie's adventure. An enticing read.
–Kimberly Monaghan, formerly at Vernon Area Public Library, IL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Gr. 7-12. Cadnum's latest foray into historical fiction offers readers a gripping adventure set during the 1849 California gold rush. The story opens in the steamy, danger-filled jungles of the Isthmus of Panama. Eighteen-year-old William Dwinelle and Ben Pomeroy, his friend and traveling companion, are the odd men out among the party of fortune seekers traveling through the risky, little-used jungle route. William's quest is not gold; instead, he hopes to find the man who abandoned his friend Elizabeth. Surviving bandits, a cholera epidemic, and a harrowing ocean voyage to San Francisco, William encounters greed, murder, and revenge in gold rush-era California. Cadnum's painstaking attention to historical detail brings the setting vividly to life and skillfully captures both the obvious and obscure nuances of life in the era. Complementing the historical insight is an expertly crafted, fast-paced, engrossing adventure story full of fascinating characters. This is historical fiction that boys in particular will find irresistible.
Ed SullivanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
