Review – 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! Fans of RIVER OF PERIL will want to read Badge of Honor, Tunnel of Gold and Canyon of Danger first. This book is sure to appeal to the adventure loving tween boy or girl on your list.   This fourth book in the Goldtown Adventures series, is just as action-packed and exciting as the first three. A stage coach robbery, saving a French boy from wharf rats, and then ... well, the pages keep turning to find out what happens next! I couldn't put this book down. Recommended for boys and girls ages 8-12.