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City of Gold
Rich in adventure, history, and humor, an odyssey set in the twilight of the Wild West spun by Will Hobbs
Weeks after arriving in Colorado to start a new farm, the Hollowell family is looking at disaster when fifteen-year-old Owen witnesses the theft of their mules. Learning that Hercules and Peaches will likely be sold to the mines, Owen sets out to track the rustler over the mountains. It’s all Ma can do to hold back little brother Till, who’s more than a handful.
The outlaw’s trail leads to Telluride, the turbulent “City of Gold.” Owen gets help from a resourceful girl named Molly and dubious assistance from Till, who shows up on the train from Durango.
Telluride’s notorious marshal finally takes an interest when he identifies the rustler as one of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch. The lawman leads Owen and Till on horseback into the canyon country and all the way to Robbers Roost.
For readers who love adventure and humor, Will Hobbs delivers a stirring tale of two brothers who risk it all to recover their mules and secure their future.
Weeks after arriving in Colorado to start a new farm, the Hollowell family is looking at disaster when fifteen-year-old Owen witnesses the theft of their mules. Learning that Hercules and Peaches will likely be sold to the mines, Owen sets out to track the rustler over the mountains. It’s all Ma can do to hold back little brother Till, who’s more than a handful.
The outlaw’s trail leads to Telluride, the turbulent “City of Gold.” Owen gets help from a resourceful girl named Molly and dubious assistance from Till, who shows up on the train from Durango.
Telluride’s notorious marshal finally takes an interest when he identifies the rustler as one of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch. The lawman leads Owen and Till on horseback into the canyon country and all the way to Robbers Roost.
For readers who love adventure and humor, Will Hobbs delivers a stirring tale of two brothers who risk it all to recover their mules and secure their future.
241 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2020
18 people are currently reading
1561 people want to read
About the author
Will Hobbs
31 books171 followersWILL HOBBS is the author of seventeen novels for upper elementary, middle school and young adult readers, as well as two picture book stories. Seven of his novels, Bearstone, Downriver, The Big Wander, Beardance, Far North, The Maze, and Jason's Gold, were named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. ALA also named Far North and Downriver to their list of the 100 Best Young Adult Books of the Twentieth Centrury. Ghost Canoe received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1998 for Best Young Adult Mystery.
In outdoor stories that appeal to both boys and girls, Hobbs has readers discovering wild places, sharing adventures with people from varied backgrounds, and exploring how to make important choices in their own lives. A graduate of Stanford University and former reading and language arts teacher, Will has been a full-time writer since 1990. He lives with his wife, Jean, in Durango, Colorado.
Will's books have won many other awards, including the California Young Reader Medal, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, the Colorado Book Award, and nominations to state award lists in over thirty states.
In outdoor stories that appeal to both boys and girls, Hobbs has readers discovering wild places, sharing adventures with people from varied backgrounds, and exploring how to make important choices in their own lives. A graduate of Stanford University and former reading and language arts teacher, Will has been a full-time writer since 1990. He lives with his wife, Jean, in Durango, Colorado.
Will's books have won many other awards, including the California Young Reader Medal, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, the Colorado Book Award, and nominations to state award lists in over thirty states.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 1, 2021
When Will Hobbs comes to mind, I think of the 1990s. He wrote novels in the 1980s, the 2000s, and beyond, but many of his signature works—including Downriver (1991), Far North (1996), and Jason's Gold (1999)—came in those ten years right before the turn of the millennium. Published in 2020, City of Gold is rooted in the history of the American Old West, a time when homesteaders faced countless obstacles to remaining financially solvent. It is 1901, and fifteen-year-old Owen Hollowell, his nine-year-old brother Till, and their mother have had a rough year. The boys' father came down with tuberculosis and passed away, and the three remaining Hollowells moved from Lawrence, Kansas to Hermosa, Colorado. Owen's uncle Jacob had a good-sized farm there, and bequeathed it to the family after dying in a mining accident in the town of Telluride. Despite inheriting the farm, the Hollowells are in financial straits, but the worst comes when a rustler sneaks onto the land and steals Hercules and Peaches, the two mules the Hollowells use for farming. Owen rides after the thief but comes home empty-handed; it was better than taking a bullet, which the man seemed prepared to fire. Owen makes plans to stalk the rustler, hoping to intercept him in the city of Telluride before he sells the mules. It cuts Owen to the quick, leaving Ma and Till this way in the midst of crisis, all of them missing Pa so much, but the only way to save their farm is to return home with Hercules and Peaches.
Owen traverses the San Juan Mountains on foot, barely surviving extreme temperatures and altitude to arrive in Telluride. The town is a bustling, mini metropolis that offers plenty of opportunity..including for rustlers. Uncle Jacob was loved and admired in Telluride as a tireless advocate for the labor union, which enabled men at the gold mine to achieve decent working conditions. Many of the miners want to help Owen, for Jacob's sake. Molly Dobson, a teen who works at her mother's bakery, takes a shine to Owen, but her father does not. An anti-union newspaperman, Decker Dobson would just as soon have Owen move on from Telluride immediately. The town marshal, Jim Clark, isn't much more welcoming, but Owen's detective skills are validated when he finds Hercules working right under his nose in Telluride, lifting massive cargo for the Smuggler-Union mining outfit. The mule's handlers claim they purchased Hercules fair and square, but Owen aims to prove he owns the mule, then find Peaches and get back to Hermosa. With Decker Dobson, the Smuggler-Union, and Jim Clark as adversaries, Telluride is a dangerous place to be.
Who can Owen trust? Rumors abound that Jim Clark used to run with Butch Cassidy, Harry Longabaugh (aka the Sundance Kid), and their outlaw gang, but when Owen briefly spots the man who stole Hercules and Peaches, Jim Clark reluctantly gathers a three-person posse, including Owen, to ride through the mountains after the rustler. Jim Clark denies having ever colluded with Butch Cassidy, but knows where his hideouts are, and believes Owen's rustler is headed for Robbers Roost. The posse pursues him into Utah at a leisurely pace, leaving Owen frustrated at the marshal's lack of urgency. Is he in cahoots with the rustler? Could Owen be walking into a trap? If they make it to the Roost in one piece, Owen will find answers. He might even meet Butch and the Sundance Kid, two of the renowned outlaws in American history. Crime and justice in the Old West is a dirty business, but Owen loves Hercules and Peaches, and has no intention of going home without them. Does he have the gumption to take back what's his when confronted by the armed rustler? If Owen passes this test of character, it might signal the start of easier times for his beleaguered family.
I generally enjoy Western juvenile novels, a la Gary Paulsen or Sid Fleischman. Will Hobbs's style is low-key, more methodical than emotional. Integrating so many historical personages into City of Gold had to limit his narrative options, but I appreciate a difficult, research-driven novel. The writing is somewhat dry, less than evocative of the natural Western amphitheater in which almost every scene is set, and a stronger emotional connection to the characters would have helped, but the story's theme is sturdy: we all eventually must find our own way in the world, standing up to bad guys and learning not to be taken advantage of. Far from home and surrounded by unsavories, Owen's quest to take back his mules could cost him his life, but smart decisions may secure the Hollowell family future. Young as he is, it's time to fill his father's shoes, and a successful mission in Telluride will prove he's done so. City of Gold could be more imaginative, thrilling, and heartfelt, but it's a good junior Western, and part of me wants to consider rating it two and a half stars. Will Hobbs knows how to please his audience.
Owen traverses the San Juan Mountains on foot, barely surviving extreme temperatures and altitude to arrive in Telluride. The town is a bustling, mini metropolis that offers plenty of opportunity..including for rustlers. Uncle Jacob was loved and admired in Telluride as a tireless advocate for the labor union, which enabled men at the gold mine to achieve decent working conditions. Many of the miners want to help Owen, for Jacob's sake. Molly Dobson, a teen who works at her mother's bakery, takes a shine to Owen, but her father does not. An anti-union newspaperman, Decker Dobson would just as soon have Owen move on from Telluride immediately. The town marshal, Jim Clark, isn't much more welcoming, but Owen's detective skills are validated when he finds Hercules working right under his nose in Telluride, lifting massive cargo for the Smuggler-Union mining outfit. The mule's handlers claim they purchased Hercules fair and square, but Owen aims to prove he owns the mule, then find Peaches and get back to Hermosa. With Decker Dobson, the Smuggler-Union, and Jim Clark as adversaries, Telluride is a dangerous place to be.
Who can Owen trust? Rumors abound that Jim Clark used to run with Butch Cassidy, Harry Longabaugh (aka the Sundance Kid), and their outlaw gang, but when Owen briefly spots the man who stole Hercules and Peaches, Jim Clark reluctantly gathers a three-person posse, including Owen, to ride through the mountains after the rustler. Jim Clark denies having ever colluded with Butch Cassidy, but knows where his hideouts are, and believes Owen's rustler is headed for Robbers Roost. The posse pursues him into Utah at a leisurely pace, leaving Owen frustrated at the marshal's lack of urgency. Is he in cahoots with the rustler? Could Owen be walking into a trap? If they make it to the Roost in one piece, Owen will find answers. He might even meet Butch and the Sundance Kid, two of the renowned outlaws in American history. Crime and justice in the Old West is a dirty business, but Owen loves Hercules and Peaches, and has no intention of going home without them. Does he have the gumption to take back what's his when confronted by the armed rustler? If Owen passes this test of character, it might signal the start of easier times for his beleaguered family.
I generally enjoy Western juvenile novels, a la Gary Paulsen or Sid Fleischman. Will Hobbs's style is low-key, more methodical than emotional. Integrating so many historical personages into City of Gold had to limit his narrative options, but I appreciate a difficult, research-driven novel. The writing is somewhat dry, less than evocative of the natural Western amphitheater in which almost every scene is set, and a stronger emotional connection to the characters would have helped, but the story's theme is sturdy: we all eventually must find our own way in the world, standing up to bad guys and learning not to be taken advantage of. Far from home and surrounded by unsavories, Owen's quest to take back his mules could cost him his life, but smart decisions may secure the Hollowell family future. Young as he is, it's time to fill his father's shoes, and a successful mission in Telluride will prove he's done so. City of Gold could be more imaginative, thrilling, and heartfelt, but it's a good junior Western, and part of me wants to consider rating it two and a half stars. Will Hobbs knows how to please his audience.
June 21, 2020
City of Gold by Will Hobbs, 256 pages. Harper Collins, 2020. $16.99
Language: PG (1 swear, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
15yo Owen heard the whinnies of the two family mules, but he was not roused from sleep until after the mules’ whinnies had changed to squeals. This was the beginning of what would become a long journey for Owen to try to retrieve the mules which had been taken from the barn. His family had recently moved from Kansas to a farm in Colorado, and their whole family livelihood depended on the mules. The search would take Owen to mining towns and the “City of Gold”; and it would take him to Robbers Roost and its connections with Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. His tenacious, nine-year-old brother, Till, does not want to be left behind!
Owen’s story is continually moving. It provides connections for the past and the future of the characters that you won’t want to miss. It is an adventure, as well as a source of historical facts and fiction. It does have mostly inadvertent references to tobacco, alcohol, and guns; and, thus, the buying advisory of “Middle School” is indicated. The minimally few direct references have been well-managed. I, personally, wanted to continue reading this book. The nonfiction information has left me wanting to learn more.
ReneeCW
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
Language: PG (1 swear, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
15yo Owen heard the whinnies of the two family mules, but he was not roused from sleep until after the mules’ whinnies had changed to squeals. This was the beginning of what would become a long journey for Owen to try to retrieve the mules which had been taken from the barn. His family had recently moved from Kansas to a farm in Colorado, and their whole family livelihood depended on the mules. The search would take Owen to mining towns and the “City of Gold”; and it would take him to Robbers Roost and its connections with Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. His tenacious, nine-year-old brother, Till, does not want to be left behind!
Owen’s story is continually moving. It provides connections for the past and the future of the characters that you won’t want to miss. It is an adventure, as well as a source of historical facts and fiction. It does have mostly inadvertent references to tobacco, alcohol, and guns; and, thus, the buying advisory of “Middle School” is indicated. The minimally few direct references have been well-managed. I, personally, wanted to continue reading this book. The nonfiction information has left me wanting to learn more.
ReneeCW
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
October 3, 2024
Damn that was good—a class conscious western about a Quaker kid who goes looking for his stolen mules in turn of the century colorado. Ends up meeting butch and Sundance.
Not sure who this is for: middle schoolers or their dads?
Not sure who this is for: middle schoolers or their dads?
November 11, 2020
Not really for me. I had a difficult time staying focused on the story.
December 14, 2023
Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a regular American in the turn of the 19th century? Well, City of Gold by Will Hobbes is the perfect book for you. It really gives an easy story to follow but is also a very good read. There are also many plot twists. The story starts off with a boy named Owen who is living with his mother, his brother named till and their two mules. One night Owen wakes up to the sound of his mules braying; he looks out the window to see an outlaw taking the family mules. Owen tracks this outlaw all the way to Telluride where he makes friends with a girl by the name of Molly and a miner named Merlin. Molly helps him get in contact with the town's sheriff Owen Till and the sheriff whose name is clark. They convince the town sheriff to help track the outlaw because they find out that he is the famous outlaw Harvey Logan . They track Logan all the way to outlaw perch.
I would definitely recommend reading City of Gold by Will Hobbes. it is a very interesting story, and it really gives you a glance into life in the late 19th and early 20th century. Another reason you should read the book is that it has a very complete and satisfying ending, such as them finding the gold and giving half of it to merlin and keeping the other half. Another example is that they end up finding out that the sheriff they are traveling with killed Owen's grandfather which is a very big plot twist. All in all, bbbI would give this story a 4 out of five stars because the story was not longer.
I would definitely recommend reading City of Gold by Will Hobbes. it is a very interesting story, and it really gives you a glance into life in the late 19th and early 20th century. Another reason you should read the book is that it has a very complete and satisfying ending, such as them finding the gold and giving half of it to merlin and keeping the other half. Another example is that they end up finding out that the sheriff they are traveling with killed Owen's grandfather which is a very big plot twist. All in all, bbbI would give this story a 4 out of five stars because the story was not longer.
July 11, 2025
Released back in 2020, City of Gold is an adventure novel set in the fall of 1900, near the end of the pioneer era. Owen Hollowell is slowly adapting to his new life in Colorado. But when he realized that somebody still his family's precious pair of mules, he's determined to find them and bring them home. His younger brother, Till, tags along & the brothers to the City of Gold to find the thief before they encounter more dangerous outlaws.
I finally got a chance to read City if Gold and it doesn't disappoint. The details and feel of the book do bring into my mind what the pioneer life must've been like, as the book is heavily detailed in many historical facts. The author does admit to take some liberties with a few characters, but I felt they were believable. Additionally, the lead protagonists do not resort to violence, despite a couple of threats from the big guys, save one small scene, but actively use their wits to rescue their mules and courage to face against adults who think so little of them. Admittedly, when it got to the climax I was a bit letdown how it wasn't a western showdown but it emphasized the leads' pacifism and staying true to their morals. A little time capsule of 1900 Colorado is what City of Gold is and well worth the trip.
I finally got a chance to read City if Gold and it doesn't disappoint. The details and feel of the book do bring into my mind what the pioneer life must've been like, as the book is heavily detailed in many historical facts. The author does admit to take some liberties with a few characters, but I felt they were believable. Additionally, the lead protagonists do not resort to violence, despite a couple of threats from the big guys, save one small scene, but actively use their wits to rescue their mules and courage to face against adults who think so little of them. Admittedly, when it got to the climax I was a bit letdown how it wasn't a western showdown but it emphasized the leads' pacifism and staying true to their morals. A little time capsule of 1900 Colorado is what City of Gold is and well worth the trip.
August 2, 2020
The Hollowell family has moved to Colorado to start over after their dad died. Owen wakes up one night to his mules whinnies and discovers they have been stolen. He tracks them and finds them, but the man who stole them threatens to shoot him so her returns home. As he tells his mom what happened they come up with a plan and he sets off to find where the man takes them. He arrives in a mining town and finds his mules, Hercules and Peaches, but can't seem to get them back. Then his younger brother Till shows up and they convince the sheriff to go after the mule rustler.
This is not my favorite historical book, but it did give a lot of history and information about the west and the mining era. The author also included a note at the end with lots of history and his research from writing the book. Would be good for older elementary and up.
This is not my favorite historical book, but it did give a lot of history and information about the west and the mining era. The author also included a note at the end with lots of history and his research from writing the book. Would be good for older elementary and up.
March 29, 2021
The family's mules are missing! Owen Hollowell & his little brother, Till, set out on a dangerous journey to track down & bring home the mules they need for plowing....if not, the ruin of the family farm. Their journey takes them through mountain passes, deserts, gold mines, and railroad towns. With the help of a town marshal, they track their mules to none other than Butch Cassidy's gang. Set in Colorado, this book reminds me of a western for middle-grade boys, but girls will enjoy it, too. I did! I learned a lot about the geography of Colorado in this book.
September 16, 2020
Although the pace of this thoroughly researched, western adventure is slow at times, with more expository writing than some kids will have patience for, there's plenty of suspenseful moments, colorful characters (including Butch Cassidy!), and settings that enliven the story. Lots of history is included at the end. If photographs of the real characters, places, and maps had been included, I would have rated this absorbing read 5 stars.
August 22, 2020
I love Will Hobbs! It was so neat to see all the places I've been and places I grew up around--Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, Green River, and Grand Junction, where I live--in a book! Hobbs really did his research, only tweaking a couple of things. Most of the characters were real people. I loved getting to see the outlaws! I really enjoyed this.
September 30, 2020
Local author brought the gold mining days of 1980's to life in this juvenile book. I enjoyed traveling the local trails and envisioning the lively mining days. Adding Butch Cassidy and Sundance was a bit over the top, but enjoyed traveling to the Roost. Definitely a feel good young person's book, but fun.
December 27, 2020
This takes place in the autumn of 1900 in Colorado. The story involves theft, travel, gold, and bank robbers. Family is a big part of the story. The first half of the book is slow. Not much happens until the bank robbers come into the story. The story ends with a series of time jumps to show how things worked out for the characters.
March 12, 2021
This story was ok, but the pace felt pretty slow. Instead of taking the reader into the action, it felt like I was listening to the narrator Owen telling this from his rocking chair, years after the events transpired. Most of my students prefer very engaging historical fiction that makes them feel like they are in the midst of the action. It's nice to have on the shelf for kids seeking a western.
July 11, 2020
I really liked Till and the outlaws. The book says grades 5 and up so I'm a little old for the age range but I still thought the book over-explained things at times, which was just a little repetitive. I was still able to enjoy it despite that though. I received this book as an arc.
July 11, 2021
This historical fiction middle school novel caught me by surprise. The audiobook was engaging and I caught myself rooting for the brothers to get their mules back. I liked the author’s note explaining the truth behind the fiction.
February 2, 2021
Enjoyed reading...good old western adventure c:
February 26, 2021
A western adventure story complete with stolen mules, outlaws, and two young brothers trying to keep their family from destitution.
March 29, 2021
It was an amazing weastern themed book with a couple turns and some good action parts.
March 18, 2022
Love it!
February 23, 2026
Great historical fiction set in Colorado and Utah, 1900.
December 9, 2020
Fifteen-year-old Owen Hollowell follows a rustler that stole his family’s two mules, mules that are desperately needed if their farm is to be viable. His dad died of consumption, a family illness. His mom sold their home in Kansas to move to the drier, healthier air of southwestern Colorado. Owen catches up to the rustler who runs him off with his guns.
After Owen, his Mom and 9-year-old brother Till, regroup, Owen sets out again with some provisions and possible destinations in mining country where mules are particularly valuable for hauling ore. He makes it to Telluride, locates one mule, Hercules, and sets off with Till who joined him and a particularly shady U.S. Marshall Jim Clark. They track Peaches and the outlaw to Robbers Roost, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Owen makes friends and meets friends of his murdered(?) uncle, a gambler and labor organizer. There is plenty of adventure, a sense of life on the frontier of mining and outlaws, and the hard scrabble existence of Owen’s family. Hobbs built the story around the travels and verified facts about the infamous outlaws and the Marshall. The author’s note outlines the factual pieces of the novel. Owen’s story would stand up well even if it were totally fictional, but the real-life characters are an intriguing addition. Recommended for well-developed characters and a good story.
Readalikes:
M.G. Velasco – Cardslinger; Linda Aksomitis – Longhorns and Outlaws; Eric Pierpoint – The Last Ride of Caleb O’Toole; Deborah Kent – Riding the Pony Express; Kathy Balmes – Thunder on the Sierra; Sid Hite – Stick and Whittle; Stephen A. Bly – Daring Rescue at Sonora Pass; Carroll Thomas – Blue Creek Farm.
Pace: Fast-paced
Characters: Likeable; Brave; Dependable
Storyline: Character-driven
Writing style: Descriptive; Richly detailed; Well-crafted dialogue
Tone: Strong sense of place; Suspenseful
Frame: Southwest Colorado; 1900
Theme: Inspired by real characters; Life on the frontier; Growing up early
After Owen, his Mom and 9-year-old brother Till, regroup, Owen sets out again with some provisions and possible destinations in mining country where mules are particularly valuable for hauling ore. He makes it to Telluride, locates one mule, Hercules, and sets off with Till who joined him and a particularly shady U.S. Marshall Jim Clark. They track Peaches and the outlaw to Robbers Roost, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Owen makes friends and meets friends of his murdered(?) uncle, a gambler and labor organizer. There is plenty of adventure, a sense of life on the frontier of mining and outlaws, and the hard scrabble existence of Owen’s family. Hobbs built the story around the travels and verified facts about the infamous outlaws and the Marshall. The author’s note outlines the factual pieces of the novel. Owen’s story would stand up well even if it were totally fictional, but the real-life characters are an intriguing addition. Recommended for well-developed characters and a good story.
Readalikes:
M.G. Velasco – Cardslinger; Linda Aksomitis – Longhorns and Outlaws; Eric Pierpoint – The Last Ride of Caleb O’Toole; Deborah Kent – Riding the Pony Express; Kathy Balmes – Thunder on the Sierra; Sid Hite – Stick and Whittle; Stephen A. Bly – Daring Rescue at Sonora Pass; Carroll Thomas – Blue Creek Farm.
Pace: Fast-paced
Characters: Likeable; Brave; Dependable
Storyline: Character-driven
Writing style: Descriptive; Richly detailed; Well-crafted dialogue
Tone: Strong sense of place; Suspenseful
Frame: Southwest Colorado; 1900
Theme: Inspired by real characters; Life on the frontier; Growing up early
February 21, 2023
Great historical novel
It is apparent that Will Hobbs has a love for the Southwest. He does such a wonderful job describing the towering Rocky Mountains and the red Mesas that meet each other in Utah. This story about the mining of gold and an encounter with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidd. Hobbs captures a unique time period, one that is on the cusp of new inventions and new learning -- like paleontology, while still enamored with stories of the Wild West.
It is apparent that Will Hobbs has a love for the Southwest. He does such a wonderful job describing the towering Rocky Mountains and the red Mesas that meet each other in Utah. This story about the mining of gold and an encounter with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidd. Hobbs captures a unique time period, one that is on the cusp of new inventions and new learning -- like paleontology, while still enamored with stories of the Wild West.
April 26, 2021
An action/western-like novel for middle grade readers
A well-paced action adventure set in Colorado during the time of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Still, some spots were a little draggy, and I could have done without the tidying-up final chapter, as it seemed wonky and unnecessary.
A well-paced action adventure set in Colorado during the time of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Still, some spots were a little draggy, and I could have done without the tidying-up final chapter, as it seemed wonky and unnecessary.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews