River of Peril
River of Peril (Goldtown Adventures)
River of Peril
Jem Coulter thinks his family is just on a sightseeing trip to the big city of Sacramento. Then armed bandits hold up the stagecoach for the secret stash they’re carrying: gold for the Union Army fighting the distant Civil War! Suddenly war isn’t so far away; it’s right there on the road to Sacramento, with Jem’s father, the sheriff of Goldtown, fighting against the rebel army’s Knights of the Golden Circle.When the family finally reaches the city, they think they’re safe at last. Setting out to see the sights, Jem, his sister Ellie, and their cousin Nathan make a new friend. But is Henry the pal they think he is? With a father who is a die-hard Confederate, could Henry be in cahoots with the thieves?River of Peril gives readers ages 8 to 12 the fast-moving, exciting adventure they’ve come to expect in this series, as well as a glimpse into the history of post–Gold Rush and Civil War life in 1860s California, with stagecoaches, steamboats, stowaways—and lots of gold!

Book Details

Genre: 

  • Historical Fiction

Age Level: 

  • 8 - 12
Profile Picture

River of Peril is an intriguing story set in 1864. It’s about a twelve year old boy named Jem Coulter. He and his Pa, sister, and a few others are leaving their hometown of Goldtown for Sacramento, California. This should be the trip of a lifetime for Jem, but something isn’t right. Pa won’t say what, but Jem can feel it. Nearing the end of their two-day tiresome journey, highway men attack the coach! They steal a valuable shipment of gold from the coach and run away. Pa should be upset, but he isn’t.

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