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Away to the Goldfields Pat Derby Farrar, Straus, and Giroux © 2004 |
Sixteen year-old Molly Malarky has
taken on the challenge of finding her father. He has gone out to the
goldfields in California to strike it rich and has sent a letter to Molly's
brother, Malachi. However, he leaves out that Molly should come, too, knowing
that her brother, with his gambling addiction and lack of education, won't
make it very far. After Molly convinces her brother that he needs her, they
set off on their journey. With the help of a widow, a young doctor, and a rich
family, Molly endures a once in a lifetime experience.
Along the way
she becomes a cleaning helper, a caretaker of two young girls, and a chef to
help her to find her father. After making the long journey, with the young
doctor who has helped them get where they were trying to go, Molly decides
that there is no point in finding her father and starts a new life of her own.
I enjoyed
reading this book, it has adventure, drama, and some suspense, which together
makes this book creative. I would recommend this book for girls ages 11- 15.
One thing that I thought should have been added was more of what Molly did
after moving to California and what happened to her brother and father. I
would even encourage a sequel, which I would most definitely buy.
~ Kendahl Kreps, grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School