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frostap's review against another edition
5.0
Harvey says give this one all the stars. We had a good time reading it together.
tmika's review against another edition
4.0
My class read this in 4th grade and it was great to re-learn about California Gold Rush history as I read it again this time.
greaydean's review against another edition
3.0
Not a bad book. A bit rollicking and quick paced. A decent read all around.
Just not enough depth to warrant classic treatment.
Just not enough depth to warrant classic treatment.
eriynali's review against another edition
4.0
read as an adult, and probably would have enjoyed more as a child, but found this highly entertaining and extremely enjoyable anyways.
jcarsrud's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a fun read aloud about the gold rush with two lovely characters.
justicepirate's review against another edition
4.0
That an amazingly fun children's story about the gold rush! This book has adventures at sea and in the California diggings! It was really wonderful, and our whole family enjoyed it as I read it.
Jack's aunt cares for him and his two sisters, but she is starting to become poor. Jack decides to run off, but the family's longtime butler Praiseworthy has decided to accompany him on the trip, as he feels responsible for him. They set along on a ship to go around from Boston to San Francisco, which takes up a chunk of the story, but is well worth reading. It helps set up the story nicely and introduces various characters that may come up again later in the story as well. Once they enter the San Francisco Bay, a picture is created of what life would have been like during that time. It was educational and really well done. The whole story was very fun, with some humor along the way.
Jack's aunt cares for him and his two sisters, but she is starting to become poor. Jack decides to run off, but the family's longtime butler Praiseworthy has decided to accompany him on the trip, as he feels responsible for him. They set along on a ship to go around from Boston to San Francisco, which takes up a chunk of the story, but is well worth reading. It helps set up the story nicely and introduces various characters that may come up again later in the story as well. Once they enter the San Francisco Bay, a picture is created of what life would have been like during that time. It was educational and really well done. The whole story was very fun, with some humor along the way.
autumnlpalmer1976's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was a school read book and my son really enjoyed this book even though he didn't think so at first.
papidoc's review against another edition
4.0
Aunt Arabella’s nephew, Jack, leaves home, headed to the California gold fields to find his fortune and help his aunt get out of debt and save her home. Followed by the intrepid (and often hilarious) household butler, Praiseworthy, they cut an adventurous swath through the colorful personalities and events of the time. Each chapter is a different episode in their adventures, and can almost be read as a series of individual stories with linked characters, though it is better to read them sequentially.
One of my favorites actually involves the voyage from Boston to San Francisco, in which Praiseworthy helps save a shipment of withering grapevines with a bunch of rotten potatoes. I actually checked it out, and it would have worked. The scene that has Praiseworthy mining gold from miners’ hair is also notable, and has some basis in factual history.
It is an unobjectionable book, with nothing in it that would give a parent pause, and much to recommend it to young (and older) readers. The stories are entertaining, the dialogue often witty and even hilarious, and the adventures just gripping enough to keep even a young reader on the edge of his or her seat.
This was a book that I read several times as a young teenager, and wouldn’t mind reading to my grandchildren if I could find a copy of it somewhere. It was even made into a Disney movie starring Roddy McDowell and a few other famous actors. I recommend both.
One of my favorites actually involves the voyage from Boston to San Francisco, in which Praiseworthy helps save a shipment of withering grapevines with a bunch of rotten potatoes. I actually checked it out, and it would have worked. The scene that has Praiseworthy mining gold from miners’ hair is also notable, and has some basis in factual history.
It is an unobjectionable book, with nothing in it that would give a parent pause, and much to recommend it to young (and older) readers. The stories are entertaining, the dialogue often witty and even hilarious, and the adventures just gripping enough to keep even a young reader on the edge of his or her seat.
This was a book that I read several times as a young teenager, and wouldn’t mind reading to my grandchildren if I could find a copy of it somewhere. It was even made into a Disney movie starring Roddy McDowell and a few other famous actors. I recommend both.
librator's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite books as a kid, and still just as good as I remember it.