by Linda J. Altman (Author), Cornelius Van Wright (Illustrator), Ying-Hwa Hu (Illustrator)
A fictional story set during the California Gold Rush, in which a girl teams up with her best friend in search of gold to buy her mother's freedom from a slave catcher.
In the 1850s, during the time of the California Gold Rush, Rosabel and Sophie become best friends because they are both outsiders. Rosabel is African American and Sophie is Jewish. Rosabel has freedom papers, but her mother, Miz Violet, is a runaway slave. They have escaped to California, where slavery is against the law. But Miz Violet is not completely safe. The Fugitive Slave Act allows runaway slaves to be captured and returned to their owners.
When a slave catcher shows up and takes Miz Violet away, it is up to Rosabel and Sophie to put their clever minds together and come up with a way to free Miz Violet once and for all.
Using lively language that evokes the West of Gold Rush days, Linda Jacobs Altman has crafted a heartwarming story of love, bravery, and friendship.
Author Biography
Linda Jacobs Altman is the author of Amelia's Road, published by Lee & Low, and named a "Choices" selection by the Cooperative Children's Book Center. Altman, who lives in Clearlake, California, frequently writes for the educational market.
Cornelius Van Wright and his wife Ying-Hwa Hu have illustrated dozens of award-winning books. Their illustrations have been praised by Kirkus Reviews as "bright, detailed and dynamic, vividly depicting ... characters' facial features and personalities." Van Wright, a native New Yorker, lives in New York City.
Ying-Hwa Hu and her husband Cornelius Van Wright have illustrated dozens of award-winning books. Their illustrations have been praised by Kirkus Reviews as "bright, detailed and dynamic, vividly depicting ... characters' facial features and personalities." Hu, who was born in Taiwan, lives in New York City.