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Children of the Rush
“Couldn’t put it down!” WhatBookNext.com “Terrific! Gritty, thrilling, and beautiful. I loved this, and you will too!” Weng Wai Chan, author of A Lizard's Tale, winner of the New Zealand Book Award Children of the Rush is the winner of a Notable Book Award from the Storylines Trust and a currently finalist of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults (winner announced August 10, 2023) . Book One It’s 1861, and gold fever is sweeping the world. Otherwise sensible adults have gone mad and will do anything to get their hands on the precious metal. But two children have been caught up in the rush. Michael and Atarangi couldn’t be more different, but they share one each has a remarkable and magical talent. Circumstances conspire to bring the children together in the remote and inhospitable goldfields, and they’re thrust into a world where lawlessness, greed, and cruelty reign. When the children find out that a cut-throat gang stalks the goldfields, preying upon the innocent, they have a choice to turn a blind eye, or fight back? “Rich characters and nail-biting action, with a sprinkling of fantasy. There's gold in this here book!” Tom E. Moffatt, award-winning author of books and jokes for kids
"A thrilling read that I couldn't put down!"
Read New Zealand "Terrific!” Joan Mackenzie, head book buyer, Whitcoulls
"A captivating and fast-paced novel that middle-grade readers will be spellbound by."
NZ Booklovers
"A thrilling read that I couldn't put down!"
Read New Zealand "Terrific!” Joan Mackenzie, head book buyer, Whitcoulls
"A captivating and fast-paced novel that middle-grade readers will be spellbound by."
NZ Booklovers
204 pages, Paperback
Published November 9, 2022
16 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 14, 2023
Cover aside, this is an excellent middle school/intermediate historical novel. I was instantly engaged by the special abilities of the main characters. The difficulties of being a gold miner were well written and captured the atmosphere and attitudes of the time period without reading like an encyclopaedia. There were some really despicable villains and I definitely became invested in the outcome. Thoroughly recommend for NZ intermediate libraries.
February 24, 2023
A fast-paced historical adventure, set during the gold rush in New Zealand. Told alternately by Michael, a young Pakeha boy, and Atarangi, a Maori girl. Both have suffered loss, and both have special gifts which they discover as their friendship grows.
Atarangi and Michael are exposed to hardship, greed and thuggery in the goldfields, but are determined to help their respective parents, and rid the mining town of a cruel gang that is causing havoc.
A great read, suitable for Year 5 and up. Would be an excellent read-aloud too.
Atarangi and Michael are exposed to hardship, greed and thuggery in the goldfields, but are determined to help their respective parents, and rid the mining town of a cruel gang that is causing havoc.
A great read, suitable for Year 5 and up. Would be an excellent read-aloud too.
November 17, 2023
Once I got over the cover (which it turns out, you shouldn't judge a book by!), this was actually a fast paced, enjoyable read.
2 main characters, one Maori, one Pakeha. One boy, one girl. Lots of splashes of Te Reo throughout. Well described historical setting ... not quite "The luminaries", but along the same lines! A bit of quirkiness thrown in (each child has a unique 'gift'), and all in all, I say ka pai!
2 main characters, one Maori, one Pakeha. One boy, one girl. Lots of splashes of Te Reo throughout. Well described historical setting ... not quite "The luminaries", but along the same lines! A bit of quirkiness thrown in (each child has a unique 'gift'), and all in all, I say ka pai!
January 29, 2023
A great story of historical NZ. This is a young readers book so a quick read but was a test read for the library and I think will make a great lunch time read for the older children.
April 27, 2023
I really enjoyed James Russell's Dragon Defender series and have been looking forward to getting my hands on this new book. It's set in Central Otago, where I'm from and more specifically in Gabriel's Gully a place where I hung out with friends a lot when I was a kid. I've been back many times over the years and it holds a special place in my heart.
This is the story of two children, both of whom have difficult family situations, Atarangi a young girl whose father has died and whose mother is employed as a cook for an hotel that feeds miners in Gabriel's Gully. Atarangi is kind hearted and despite her own awful circumstances feels deep empathy for others and provides for those who are worse off than she. Atarangi has an amazing gift, she can sense the gold beneath the ground. Michael, also in tragic family circumstances is doing his best to nurse his dad back to health on the goldfields with very limited resources and no luck. Michael too has a special gift, he can see the aura of the people around him, he understands how people are feeling by the glow around them and this enables him to have an emotional intelligence well beyond his years. These two kids, will form a bond, solve a crime, become friends and provide a great gift to their lonely parents.
It is a great read-aloud book. It is full of little details which help the story along. The baddies get their comeuppance and the reader becomes really invested in the characters. This clearly states book 1 on the cover so I'm expecting a book 2, I'm talking about this book in schools I'm visiting in Otago at the moment and I know that teachers are loving it. A teacher told me the other day that she had read it to her class and the whole lot of them, and the teacher, were crying together during the story. How's that for a recommendation?
This is the story of two children, both of whom have difficult family situations, Atarangi a young girl whose father has died and whose mother is employed as a cook for an hotel that feeds miners in Gabriel's Gully. Atarangi is kind hearted and despite her own awful circumstances feels deep empathy for others and provides for those who are worse off than she. Atarangi has an amazing gift, she can sense the gold beneath the ground. Michael, also in tragic family circumstances is doing his best to nurse his dad back to health on the goldfields with very limited resources and no luck. Michael too has a special gift, he can see the aura of the people around him, he understands how people are feeling by the glow around them and this enables him to have an emotional intelligence well beyond his years. These two kids, will form a bond, solve a crime, become friends and provide a great gift to their lonely parents.
It is a great read-aloud book. It is full of little details which help the story along. The baddies get their comeuppance and the reader becomes really invested in the characters. This clearly states book 1 on the cover so I'm expecting a book 2, I'm talking about this book in schools I'm visiting in Otago at the moment and I know that teachers are loving it. A teacher told me the other day that she had read it to her class and the whole lot of them, and the teacher, were crying together during the story. How's that for a recommendation?
January 1, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this new historical chapter book by James Russell, which is a complete change in direction for him after his Dragon Defenders series.
The story alternates between Atarangi, a young Maori girl working with her mum on the Otago Gold Fields, and Michael a boy who is working those goldfields with his dad.
The story rocks along at a cracking pace as Atarangi discovers that she can see where the gold is lying under the ground and she uses this to help Michael and his dad, as well as to try and catch some good, old-fashioned baddies who are up to nefarious deeds.
I enjoyed the te reo which was interspersed throughout the story, and while the more minor characters were a little stereotypical, the two main characters were well-developed and interesting.
This will be a great read from about Year 5 and up, and could make a good readaloud.
My only criticism is the typo on P79.
The story alternates between Atarangi, a young Maori girl working with her mum on the Otago Gold Fields, and Michael a boy who is working those goldfields with his dad.
The story rocks along at a cracking pace as Atarangi discovers that she can see where the gold is lying under the ground and she uses this to help Michael and his dad, as well as to try and catch some good, old-fashioned baddies who are up to nefarious deeds.
I enjoyed the te reo which was interspersed throughout the story, and while the more minor characters were a little stereotypical, the two main characters were well-developed and interesting.
This will be a great read from about Year 5 and up, and could make a good readaloud.
My only criticism is the typo on P79.
April 22, 2023
Historical fiction set in 1861 during the gold rush fever of Otago New Zealand. A cracking adventure story, told in James Russell’s sparse style. The tough circumstances and dangers of the miners lives are well laid out. The story alternates between the two voices of grieving children, pakeha (white New Zealander) Michael, whose father is a miner and Māori girl Atarangi, who has become trapped with her mother cooking for the local hotel and it’s unscrupulous owners. Together these plucky youngsters observe shady dealings and conspire to take down a gang of vicious gold thrives. They are empathetic likeable characters who have an interesting connection through their unusual magical powers of ‘sight’. Some Māori phrases and customs included in the story. Set up for a sequel. Ideal for upper primary or an intermediate quicker read.
October 29, 2024
This middle-grades historical fiction is set in the Otago goldfields of the late 1800s. Chapters alternate between the 2 main characters, Michael and Atarangi. Both have lost a parent and life is a struggle but they have strong moral compasses and show compassion for others, joining forces to bring a gang of gold thieves to justice. The cover doesn't do this book justice - it is a great read and good to know there are 2 more books in the series.
August 25, 2025
A captivating and historically rich look into New Zealand’s past, set during the Gold Rush era and accented with a variety of Māori customs and terminology. Author James Russell, known for his dragon-centered adventure novels for kids, proves to be in his element with history as with fantasy. Russell masterfully crafts a mesmerizing tale about two gifted kids who can see and even feel the presence of gold beneath their feet as well as the treasures within each other.
February 21, 2023
Really enjoyed this historical fiction with a good element of fantasy about it. Gold mining is a great topic to get into for the target age of kids, I think our year 4/5s will enjoy this.
March 15, 2023
Ā cracking good adventure set in the goldfields of 1860's New Zealand. This would be a great book to read aloud to a senior primary class.
May 21, 2023
A wonderful take on a slice of NZ history with many different perspectives woven cleverly through the experiences of the different characters.
May 23, 2023
A good New Zealand historical junior read for our school library with themes of social injustice and friendship.
September 16, 2023
Really enjoyed this tirp back to gold rush Otago; a great story, well paced and well written
March 4, 2025
Great story. I found the friendship between Michael and Atarangi wonderful.
March 7, 2025
A good glimpse into history of the gold fields from a child’s perspective.
Book flows well and you can identify with each of the key characters.
Book flows well and you can identify with each of the key characters.
February 1, 2023
A fantastic read set in the Otago gold rush. You meet Michael and Atarangi and as their stories unfold they merge together in the mining town of Gabriel's Gully. Their 2 families are trying to survive in this rough gold town. great descriptions of what the mining life would have been like with a great mystery woven through that unfolds to an action packed unable to book down conclusion.
October 27, 2024
reread
July 21, 2025
Literacy Quiz - 2024.
Well worth a read. Would make a great shared novel for Y4-6. Lots of history and cool themes to unpack (and a little bit of magic ✨)
2025 - class novel study book choice
Well worth a read. Would make a great shared novel for Y4-6. Lots of history and cool themes to unpack (and a little bit of magic ✨)
2025 - class novel study book choice
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews