THE KLONDIKE KID

After stowing away on a ship to Alaska, 11-year-old Davey faces the challenges of living in Alaska, searching for his only relative, and climbing the treacherous and dangerous Chilkoot Trail. His friend, Erik Larsen, agrees to take Davey on as an assistant and together they prepare for the long journey into Alaska. The road is rough, but the promise of gold lures many, and Larsen wants to be there to document the Gold Rush. But nothing can prepare Davey and Larsen for the dangers of the road, and when Larsen takes ill, Davey comes near to quitting. Only his stubbornness and the help of a former adversary can save our young hero. With cliffhanger chapter endings, can’t-miss drama and a captivating setting, Hopkinson brings her considerable storytelling and research skills to readers who are just beginning to read longer books. (author’s note, Web sites) (Fiction. 6-9)