Award-winning author Julie Lawson’s 20th book documents the emotional growth of three young people against the dramatic backdrop of the Klondike gold rush. Sixteen-year-old Ned Turner’s adventure begins in Victoria in 1897, when he boards a steamer to the goldfields, hoping to eliminate his late father’s debts. Catherine, also 16, frantically travels north, escaping the brutal gambler who won her in a card game. Thirteen-year-old Sarah, Ned’s sister, searches for the beloved brother she misses as well as for her own sense of self.

“Befriended” by Montana Jim Daley, Ned quickly realizes his own vulnerability in the face of awful conditions and the unscrupulous actions of seasoned stampeders like Montana. Ned eventually crosses paths with Catherine, whose internal resilience helps her to bear the journey’s hardships but prevents her from forming the human relationships she subconsciously craves. When Sarah makes her own trek several months later, she resolves not only to find her brother, but to connect with the withdrawn Catherine who reluctantly joins Sarah’s party en route.

Weaving together maps, archival photographs, historical fact, and well-paced fiction, Lawson accurately depicts the physical hardship, the deplorable treatment of animals, and the human greed rife during the gold rush. Her main characters face reality with a believable combination of fear, fallibility, and strength. Lawson’s uncomplicated text makes this chapter of Canadian history accessible, but also conveys emotion and insight. As well as engaging young adult readers in the personal trials of the three lead characters, this book will leave them with a healthy respect for those who accepted the Klondike’s challenge.