Sailing for Gold

The Klondike Kid #1

by Deborah Hopkinson, Bill Farnsworth (Illustrator)

Eleven-year-old Davey Hill's dream of running away from the Seattle boarding house he has been living in since his mother's death is thwarted when his secret cache of money is stolen, so in plan B, he decides to find his uncle who he believes is in Alaska, prospecting for gold. Simultaneous.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure

64 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

I write nonfiction and historical fiction, picture books, and Golden Books. I speak at school, libraries, and conferences. I also love to garden and offer manuscript critiques. (Deborahhopkinson@yahoo.com)

NEW books in 2024 include DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illus by Jen Hill, ON A SUMMER NIGHT, illus by Kenard Pak, TRIM HELPS OUT and TRIM SAILS the STORM, illus by Kristy Caldwell, EVIDENCE! illustrated by Nik Henderson, and a nonfiction work called THEY SAVED THE STALLIONS. I'm delighted to say that Trim Helps Out, Trim Sails the Storm, On a Summer Night and Evidence! are all Junior Library Guild selections.

I live and work in Oregon and travel all over to speak to young readers and writers.

Reviews

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. Imaginative! It makes you feel as if you are in Seattle getting ready to go search for gold.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read.

[Ms. Argueta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Carolina Argueta
April 23, 2016
ETEC 545 Realistic Adventure

Hopkinson, Deborah. The Klondike Kid Book One: Sailing for Gold. New York: Aladdin, 2004

Little 10 year old Davey Hill is living in a Seattle Boarding House with mean Mrs. Tinker and nice Mrs. Cook. He’s an orphan and working in the streets of Seattle to make enough money to go and find his uncle, his only living relative. He struggles to get by every day, in spite of Mrs. Cooks generosity, saving every penny, only to have it stolen. He then has to come up with a much bolder plan and must do whatever it takes to find his uncle who he thinks is in the Klondike, where gold has been discovered.
Even though this book is a beginning reading chapter book, it would be a good starting point for our M.S. ELLs because it has charcoal renditions of illustrations between the pages which explain the events being narrated. Also, this story is divided into easy to understand chapters that are written simply but not simplistically. It does a good job at depicting the time period of 1897 and at developing Davey’s character. I enjoyed reading about a kid that must make his way all on his own by carrying people’s luggage and hustling for pennies in a bustling port of Seattle Washington. He knows this is the only way he'll be able to determine his own destiny. Can’t wait to read the subsequent two books, where Davey’s adventure will continue to unfold.
Grades 3-7
Theme: Fight for your dreams/industriousness pays off in the end.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read this book a couple of years ago for my 3rd grades since we studied this in our Social Studies unit and they really liked it. I read again this year and while it wasn't as such a big hit the kids did like it. This seems pretty accurate and the pictures and language are not boring but exciting for kids to listen to. The idea that the boy lived by himself in a boarding school and worked was a topic for discussion in both grade levels. We talked alot about the vocabulary and why things were taking place since kids were asking questions about it particularly in 2nd because the didn't have much background knowledge about this time period. I would diffinitely use this as only a read aloud in 2nd and 3rd grade and allow your higher readers read it after the read aloud. It is also an A.R. test which our library has! I have not read the second or third book yet.

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a excellent series for readers who are just at the chapter book level. Following Davey, a ten year old in Seattle right before the big Klondike Gold Rush hits, the author does a excellent job of putting the reader in Davey's life and times. A nice addition of illustrations gives the reader a added bonus. A very interesting story, filled with interesting characters, young readers will enjoy reading how Davey plans on escaping to the wonders of Alaska and GOLD!

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 2-4 72pgs


1897, Seatle, WA. 11 year old orphan Davey works for room and board at boarding house, but he has big dreams. Every chance he gets, he does extra jobs to earn money for a ticket to Alaska. He's sure to find adventure and hopefully maybe his uncle and some gold of his own. When gold is discovered in Klondike, Seattle goes crazy with gold fever, Davey wonders if now's his chance to start his adventure.

Good story. Bk one of a trilogy

[Mrs. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Klondike Kid Book One: Sailing for Gold is the first of three books in the series that follow Davey to Alaska in 1897 in search of his father and fortune. This is a great beginning read for both boys and girls though it might appeal to boys since it has a strong young mail character in Davy. Nice chapters and 63 pages make up this Ready-to-Read Chapter book.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is solid historical fiction for early chapter book readers (2nd-3rd grade). One problem is that the book ends on an uncertain note - it's the first book in a continuing series, and not episodic like Magic Tree House. It's also not action-packed like the I Survived series. But for kids who have the stamina and patience, it's a fine choice at the same reading level.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly excellent short chapter book about the Klondike Gold Rush, set in Seattle in 1897. The surprising part isn't the excellent history, or the writing (well done for early readers), but the fact that Hopkinson can create a simple, engaging, exciting, historically based book in this format. She does, it's great.

[Ratforce]

The 1897 Klondike gold rush is the setting for this exciting historical adventure called Sailing for Gold, The Klondike Kid Trilogy #1.

[isha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly it's kind of slow, wish there was more involved and not just an "exposition" book, good vocabulary.