Rhyolite: The True Story of a Ghost Town

by Diane Siebert, David Frampton (Illustrator)

Featuring bold woodcut illustrations, a mesmerizing picture book tells the tale of a real-life town in Nevada called Rhyolite, the site of the legendary 1904 gold strike, that was once a bustling and happy place until dreams and hopes were shattered.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, History, Picture Books

31 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 2003

About the author

Diane Siebert is the author of Mojave, a 1988 Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice, a 1988 Notable Children’s Trade Book in Social Studies, and a 1989 Teachers Choice, and Heartland , a 1989 Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice, a 1989 Notable Children’s Trade Book in Social Studies, and a 1990 Notable Children’s Book in the Language Arts. Ms. Siebert lives at Crooked River Ranch, Oregon.

Reviews

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful children's book, beautifully written and illustrated (accurate too), about my second-favorite ghost town.

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the illustrations in this book were really cool but the story didn’t grab me. My child wasn’t too interested in it either.

[Falan Miller]

This book was set back in 1904 when gold was first being discovered. People came from all around to get a piece of the unending gold. However the gold soon ran out and the town that had only been their for 6 years quickly became deserted. Rhyolite was left to the coyotes and the desert. Many people believe this town to be haunted.

I liked this book because of the rhyming scheme. It make me want to keep reading! I enjoyed how it told a historical story in a way that interest the reader. I liked how it wasn't just a lot of facts.

This book could be used to teach children not to be greedy. The people in this story moved to this town in the middle of the desert with the mind set of becoming extremely rich with gold. However the people didn't even stay long because the town ran out of gold.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole story is a poem about a town that turned into a ghost town. It is historical and true, which makes it interesting. The town of Rhyolite was one of the largest cities in Nevada and crashed suddenly when investors stopped putting their money in the mining operations there so now it is a ghost town. There are also very nice woodcut illustrations.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

terrific read aloud book w/gorgeous woodcut illos.
true story of a town's birth and death told in poetry.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

poetry book about boom town to ghost town. colorful pictures

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible woodcuts - love the western sunset colors.

[Kim Piddington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mix of non-fiction subject matter and poetry/rhyming text. Pictures are eyecatching too.

[Sarah]

Set in Nevada