Mystery at Chilkoot Pass (American Girl History Mysteries)
Grade 4-6-Hetty McKinley, 12, travels to the Yukon with her widower  father, uncle, and friends to find their fortune at the height  of the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush. Along the difficult and arduous  trail through the snowy Chilkoot Pass, family members' mementos  begin to disappear. Who could it be and why would someone be  stealing items that only hold sentimental value? The hardship of  the trip, the relationships that develop, and the lessons  learned change Hetty, her friend Alma, and the other travelers  as they make their way to Dawson City. Steiner has woven  historical details into her scenes and characters. Many of the  episodes reflect some of the writings of Jack London; in fact,  the writer himself makes a cameo appearance. Hetty is by far the  strongest figure in this story of struggle, intrigue, suspense,  and adventure. An informative appendix complete with photos and  a map of the Klondike Gold Rush gives readers a clearer idea of  the trials and triumphs depicted here. This is a worthy addition  to the series; interested readers can move on to Jack London's  Call of the Wild for a classic description of this era.Rita  Soltan, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MICopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.