Jack London and the Klondike Gold Rush

January 9, 2017
Lourie (The Polar Bear Scientists) delivers a vivid account of Jack London’s arduous trek, along with thousands of other Stampeders, to the heart of Canada’s Yukon Territory in 1897 in search of gold. London returned not with wealth but with the raw material for his best-known writings, which earned him both fortune and fame. Lourie intersperses his narrative with background on London’s boyhood, personality, and literary aspirations, and he quotes amply from the work of London and his contemporaries to convey the backbreaking rigors, awe-inspiring landscape, grime, isolation, dangers, and friendships of the journey. London’s mental and physical strength, sociability, and optimism seem at times almost superhuman: that winter, until felled by scurvy, he spent four hours a day collecting the wood needed to burn a fire to thaw eight inches of ground to dig for gold on his claim. Lourie’s captivating tale of the grueling experiences behind London’s crystalline prose testifies to his endurance. Minor’s windswept spot illustrations augment archival and modern photos and other supplemental material. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Susan Ramer, Don Congdon Associates.

December 1, 2016
Jack London went to the Klondike at the age of 21 to find gold but instead found inspiration for stories and novels that made him one of the richest and most famous authors of his time. In this thoroughly riveting real-life-adventure story, Lourie recounts in visceral detail the frequently treacherous, relentlessly grueling 500-mile traverse along the ruthless Chilkoot Trail and Whitehorse Rapids to the Klondike gold mines. Lourie explains how London's experiences in the Klondike became the seeds for some of his best-known, most highly regarded works, such as The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and "To Build a Fire." Minor's atmospheric sketches are pleasingly decorative, but it is the abundant use of archival photos that offers an insightful perspective of the times and the ordeals experienced. Though obviously deeply researched, this biography is not completely factual. Lourie admits to taking "a few liberties." "To tell my tale," he explains in an author's note, "I have Jack do a few things he may or may not have done." The unfortunate absence of chapter notes makes it difficult to discern which episodes are imagined. Extensive backmatter includes information on First Nations peoples of the area and additional facts about London's journey. A gripping and harrowing true adventure story and a penetrating look into the formative experiences of a writer, one of the first to become a worldwide celebrity. (photos, timeline, glossary, bibliography, index) (Biography. 8-12)

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February 1, 2017

Gr 4-8-For generations, tales of gold rush days and Alaskan or Arctic exploits have been popular, and no one told them better than Jack London. Attempting to live up to that spirit is Lourie's title about London's trip to the Klondike in search of gold just before the end of the 19th century. This book focuses primarily on the hardships and adventures London faced, fleshing out details with historical background on the gold rush and the miners, otherwise known as "stampeders." There are quick forays into London's life as a boy and as a writer. The text is occasionally stilted but effectively balances fact, lesson, and suspense. An epilogue offers more historical information about what happened to London, other miners, and the Yukon in general. In the back matter, the author covers additional topics and concepts. For instance, he clearly identifies "wilderness" as a cultural construct of white settlers and not a reflection on the many First Nations people who lived there before white settlers and still live there today. However, Lourie also acknowledges that he has taken a "few liberties" in regard to London's experiences but does not go into specifics. The volume is illustrated with a combination of historical photos, reproductions of historical documents, and Minor's black-and-white drawings. The frequent images and artwork provide visual interest, especially when it comes to depicting the harsh environment and the sheer number of people packed onto the trails.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 15, 2016
Grades 4-8 *Starred Review* Living in an economically depressed America in 1897, 21-year-old Jack London would become one of hundreds of thousands of stampeders who would tryand failto find gold in Canada's Yukon Territory. In visceral descriptions, Lourie recounts the treacherous, backbreaking 500-mile trek up mountains and down rivers, on which London and his fellow cheechakos (a Native term for newcomers who were ignorant of the terrain and culture) risked their lives to reach the gold rush town of Dawson before winter. Once settled, London met more challenges in constant subfreezing temperatures as miners' tempers flared, death took many forms, and hard work was met with disappointment. Yet Lourie tells how the budding writer countered the bleakness with observations of the Arctic land, animals, and people. Although London returned home one year later with only gold dust, Lourie explains how London's real wealth was found in the characters and events that inspired White Fang, The Call of the Wild, and dozens of other books and short stories, making him the first author of the twentieth century to earn a million dollars from writing. Minor lends atmospheric sketches, but the numerous archival photos add a greater perspective of the time. Copious back matter, including information on First Nations of the area, provides more facts about London's journey. Rich in details for social studies and language arts.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)