In 1858, twelve-year-old Sallie Fox and her family leave Iowa in a wagon train, dreaming of California. They follow the Santa Fe Trail to New Mexico. Then they strike out due west across the bleak desert. Suddenly, Indians attack the pioneers, driving off their cattle and oxen. One hundred people--many sick and injured--are now stranded in the searing summer heat, five hundred miles away from anyone who can help them Yet, through grit, determination, and luck, Sallie and the others survive to reach California, though not without paying a heavy price. This lightly fictionalized account of a...

In 1853, San Francisco newsboy Ready Gates lives up to his nickname. He's ready for anything--whether it's shouting the latest headlines from a street corner, sneaking onto a river boat to avoid paying the fare, or tracking down a missing gold miner. But when he crosses the bay to watch a balloon ascension, his adventures suddenly take an unexpected turn. Based on a true story, this book paints a colorful picture of daily life in San Francisco five years after the discovery of gold in California. It's drawn from newspapers, letters, diaries and many other historical documents.