School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-6-While the idea of a nonfiction "Choose Your Own Adventure" book sounds intriguing, the end result is a dry combination of brief historical facts with uneven fictionalized dialogue. Because this book can't decide whether it wants to be fiction or nonfiction, a certain spark is lost, and with it all the excitement of the topic. The format is attractive-historical photographs and drawings are generously spread throughout pages that are tinged yellow to look like aged parchment-but Rhoda Blumberg's The Great American Gold Rush (S & S, 1989) is far more informative and exciting.-Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.