Dame Shirley and the Gold Rush cover

Dame Shirley and the Gold Rush

Author: Rawls, Jim

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
Book Level 5.2
Points 1.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Nonfiction
Word Count 6365
Points per Word 0.000157

Description

Relates how a series of letters written by a women known as Dame Shirley and published in a San Francisco magazine in 1854 and 1855, were instrumental in relating the true story of the California gold rush.

Quick Summary

Imagine holding actual letters written by a brave woman living through the California gold rush, discovering the wildest true stories that history books never told. Kids will love flipping through Dame Shirley's vivid, no-holds-barred letters that reveal the chaotic, messy, and sometimes hilarious reality of gold rush life, from greedy prospectors to surprising friendships. If your kid loves the "Magic Tree House" series or "I Survived" books, they'll be hooked on this real-life adventure told through personal mail. Perfect for kids in grades 4-6 who want history that feels alive, personal, and surprisingly funny.