Bonanza Girl

by Patricia Beatty

A widow and her two children head for gold rush territory in Idaho, hoping to find jobs and a new life

Genres: Historical Fiction, School, Read For School, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Historical

Paperback

Published January 1, 1993

About the author

Patricia Beatty (1922 - 1991) was an American author of award-winning children's and young adult historical fiction novels.

She was born in Portland, Oregon, and was a longtime resident of southern California. After graduating from college, she taught high school English and history, and later held various positions as a science and technical librarian, and also as a children's librarian. She taught Writing Fiction for Children at several branches of the University of California.

She wrote over 50 novels, and co-write 10 of them with her husband, John L. Beatty.

Beatty died in Riverside, California in 1991.

Reviews

[Jenna Marie ~Scheming Scribbler~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very meh. It was a school book, and to be honest, I wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been. I'm not upset about reading it, though. There was very little plot, but the writing flowed nicely, and the characters were cute. It is definitely meant for a younger audience, and I could see having enjoyed it a bit more when I was younger. I liked the take on the gold mine life for girls, but I wasn't a huge fan of the mom. She always seemed so upset by their life not being glamorous, like it was in the city. A solid three stars; no regrets for a quick read, but not anything exciting!

[Dawn Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an out-of-print title resurrected by Sonlight. A fun gold-rush story that reminded me of "By The Great Horn Spoon," but on the Oregon-to-Idaho trail of the 1880s, rather than California of the 49ers. On the 8th grade list, but fine for 6th grade, IMO.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mama is widowed, with two children and no job prospects. She decides to start a school out in the gold fields but is shortly and firmly disabused of all her city slicker notions. The story is narrated by Ann Katherine, who is a nicely written young teen. Her younger brother is the bane of her existence, naturally. The Wild West flavor is pungent and gamy and it feels very real. I wonder if Beatty wasn't a closet Betsy-Tacy fan, as the hired girl has an extraordinary hat and is Swedish, stout and single. Coincidence? Maybe.

A little iffy in its treatment of Native Americans, though no doubt historically accurate. Also some interesting (historically accurate) bits about the Chinese not being welcome in the gold fields of Idaho. The essential wrongness of the treatment of the Chinese is stressed quite strongly. Not so much with the treatment of the Natives, sadly.

[Sarah TheAromaofBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this story, a widow and her children move to a mining town in Idaho. Once there, Mother realizes that there aren’t any other children, so her plans to teach school are not really a viable possibility. Luckily, she had been befriended along the way by a strong young Swedish woman, who sets herself up as the family protector, and persuades Mother to set up something the town really needs: a decent restaurant.

While the story is fine, it was a bit slow, and quite a bit pointless. Although they have an enemy who keeps trying to make trouble, there really isn’t any kind of ultimate goal for the book. Everyone meanders along, searching for gold, packing mules, cooking pancakes, picking berries, and nothing really happens. The end, involving an avalanche, also seems a bit implausible. Short story, I ended up packing this book off on Paperback Swap.

[Thea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. It's an enjoyable kind of book. I can't stop reading it! My teacher is interested on finding out on what happens next. Favorite character, mischievous Jemmy. Patricia Beatty, make a series of Ann Katie and her adventures!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb and I are supposed to start reading this book tomorrow and I've been looking forward to it for a long time.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one that not only taught us something about the time period, but made us laugh as I read it out loud to the kids. Really enjoyed it!

[Mallory Alling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great classic, easy read, it really gives a great description on what life was really like for the families in the gold rush.

[Cat *living for the One who breaths life into me* · Rating 1 out of 5]

(SPOILERS) (if you haven't read the book then dont read the reviews)

well, i LOVE historical fiction, dont get me wrong. infact historical fiction is one of my fav genres..............but this book was just............school.

what can i say? it was somewhat entertiaing and definatly NOT the worst book i have ever read but i read it and then it is like, what was the point of this book? plot, plot, plot. where was it? oh, yeah. maybe ten percent of the book.

and dont get my started.

this book is a Mary Sue. the characters go from being almost dirt poor to decently rich to FILTHY rich. now, i wanted them to get the money, but the entire point of a heroic quest stroy line is that it keeps the reader hooked. the reader is supposed to not know what is going to happen next and how can that be if things just get better and better. . . (but hey, this book was written by am amtuer in the fifties, i believe is what it said, so i can't really judge, if this crud was hot then whatever) but how can i be hooked if things just keep getting better for the characters? simple, BORED ME TO DEATH.

there was NO negative ideal. just positive. BORING. who wants to read about things in a book that ONLY go right.

i wonder how this even got published. thank God i wont have to read another second on reading this, the only thing that kept me going was that it was a book i HAD to read for school.

i know, i know. it looks like it was written for a third grader. not a highschooler. :( ugh, this is a sad excuse for writing. but i disgress.

and DONT even get me started on the villian scene. totally prediatible and anticlimatic. NOTHING went wrong, NO characters died. everything was JUST and FAIR.

meh :(

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Patricia Beatty historical fiction for girls, from her feel-good/humorous period. Families stick together and (mostly) work together, chance met acquaintances (mostly) help the family to survive.

A nice light read, if somewhat dated by the light tone. There is a native american in the story, who doesn't speak English. He's about the same as anyone else to my eyes, but I'm not an expert in Native American culture. Beatty does have a subplot about hate and fear of Chinese immigrants being used as part of a plot against the family by an enemy, so +1 there... But this is more of a respect-other-cultures than a modern take on multicultural culture.

Best part: large, fat Helga Storkerson, who hires on as their hired girl (over their objections) saves the day more than once. My heroine!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fun and relaxing and easy to read, but I absolutely dislike the cover! And no, that's not why I've only given it 2 stars (!), but still....I didn't like the cover, and the book wasn't great. Like most of the books I mark as "currently reading", this book was for school, and again it's not the kind of book I usually go for. Still, it was relaxing and fun and sweet, and their lifestyle does actually sound quite appealing to me: all that food they talked about make me so hungry, lol, and I do like that kind of setting (the saloons, men with guns, but I would have liked romance for Ann Katherine).
But it was sweet :)

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bonanza Girl is a story about a girl named Ann Catherine Scott who travels with her mother and brother in search for a new life. Ann Catherine's mother is a widow and is determined to start a school in the Wild West, but has little success because there is no school to teach at. Her mother then decides to open up a restaurant.
The story basically covers the trials and challenges that Ann Catherine and her family face, but ends up having a happily ever after when her mother gets married.

[Mellanie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story about a widow who moves her family to a mining town with the intention of starting a school. With no children or families to support a school, she goes into the restaurant business instead. There really wasn't much conflict in the story because every problem was easily surmounted, but it was an interesting period piece.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book! Now, it’s not something that I’d want to read over and over again, but if you’re looking for a quick read when you’re bored, this book is great. It’s very interesting and a pretty realistic depiction of times in the western expansion and a girl finding herself stuck in the middle of it. I recommend this book for school projects or, just for a fun quick read.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a page turner. I was hooked! There were times when not much was going on with the plot, but Ms. Beatty still kept me interested. Long review short, I highly enjoyed it and would recommend it to all.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

A far-fetched plot, one dimensional characters, and awkwardly inserted exposition make for a bit of a dull read. If you are interested in gold rush stories, I recommend The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman.

21/60 tbr box.

[Angela Squires · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story with a more enjoyable setting, Bonanza Girl gives a glimpse of what life was like in an 1880’s Idaho boom-town. Strong female characters lend inspiration to the idea that with wisdom and a will to work, fortune is yours for the making.

[Lynne Haltenhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I read this in 5 days for the Sonlight homeschool curriculum. We enjoyed learning about mining history of the 1880's this way. It was a lighthearted story, with some excitement scattered throughout.

[Lamisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Go west, young woman!

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. I love stories about restaurants in Idaho in the 1850s.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an EXTREMELY good book, and really gave the spirit of western boom towns.

[Skye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story.

[Carol Shrader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another school read for my kids...it was lovely...

[Laine]

ok

[Monicamarlo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent three hour read with some merit if you're interested in western gold and silver rush history.

[Quincy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story. It depicts life in the 1800's in mining towns out west. This is about a women and her children who make a living by opening a restaurant in a mining town.

[Natalie VZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapter 11 is the best chapter!!!!!

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish I could give three and three quarters stars... Very sweet read that is slow in parts. But a good story about life during the Gold Rush.

[Brandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of my sophomore sunlight curriculum books, did not leave an impression.

[Hillvan]

920L