Goldstone

Goldstone #1

by Julie Lawson

Mama's "old country" ways were a source of frustration and embarrassment to twelve-year-old Karin, who wanted to be a "modern" Canadian girl. How could she know the harsh words between them would be the last words they ever spoke? With shocking swiftness Mama is gone, and Karin longs to be with her again. And when Mama's precious goldstone pendant is found, can Karin interpret the dreams that come to her every time she sleeps with it around her neck? Does the stone really forecast the future? When it warns Karin of the deadly avalanche that threatens her father and his railway crew, will she be able to prevent another disaster? This poignant and suspenseful tale is based on real events in Rogers Pass, British Columbia, at the turn of the century.

170 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Julie Lawson is the award-winning author of many books for young people. Her novels include White Jade Tiger (winner of the Sheila A. Egoff Book Literature Prize and nominated for both the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award and the Silver Birch Award), Destination Gold, and The Ghost of Avalanche Mountain. Among her acclaimed picture books are The Dragon’s Pearl, Emma and the Silk Train, Bear on the Train, and Whatever You Do, Don’t Go Near That Canoe! Her most recent novel, Ghosts of the Titanic, was released in Spring 2011.

Some of the events written about in A Ribbon of Shining Steel were based on the real-life experiences of Julie’s own grandfather, John Anderson, who was among the many immigrants needed to keep the CPR running smoothly.

Julie lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Reviews

[Nioniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this trilogy years ago, and was most put out when my dad skimmed through one of them (I was on my third reread) and said I wasn't allowed to read anything by Julie Lawson anymore (which changed after a while, cause my mom wanted me to read White Jade Tiger... which wasn't actully that good, but you know. Phase and all that. Let's move on). Now I understand why I was banned from the Goldstone books... they were weird... scarily weird. With ghosts. Ew. OK, that was just in the third book. But anyway. Ewww.