Starred Review ALA Booklist (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Starred Review Living in an economically depressed America in 1897, 21-year-old Jack London would become one of hundreds of thousands of stampeders who would try d fail find gold in Canada's Yukon Territory. In visceral descriptions, Lourie recounts the treacherous, backbreaking 500-mile trek up mountains and down rivers, on which London and his fellow cheechakos (a Native term for newcomers who were ignorant of the terrain and culture) risked their lives to reach the gold rush town of Dawson before winter. Once settled, London met more challenges in constant subfreezing temperatures as miners' tempers flared, death took many forms, and hard work was met with disappointment. Yet Lourie tells how the budding writer countered the bleakness with observations of the Arctic land, animals, and people. Although London returned home one year later with only gold dust, Lourie explains how London's real wealth was found in the characters and events that inspired White Fang, The Call of the Wild, and dozens of other books and short stories, making him the first author of the twentieth century to earn a million dollars from writing. Minor lends atmospheric sketches, but the numerous archival photos add a greater perspective of the time. Copious back matter, including information on First Nations of the area, provides more facts about London's journey. Rich in details for social studies and language arts.

Horn Book

This is a well-researched account of Jack London's 189798 adventures during the Klondike Gold Rush, after which he returned to California with little gold but a wealth of writing material. In notes, Lourie admits he's "taken a few liberties" in crafting the compelling wildnerness narrative, which is enhanced by archival photographs and Minor's evocative illustrations. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Kirkus Reviews

Jack London went to the Klondike at the age of 21 to find gold but instead found inspiration for stories and novels that made him one of the richest and most famous authors of his time. In this thoroughly riveting real-life-adventure story, Lourie recounts in visceral detail the frequently treacherous, relentlessly grueling 500-mile traverse along the ruthless Chilkoot Trail and Whitehorse Rapids to the Klondike gold mines. Lourie explains how London's experiences in the Klondike became the seeds for some of his best-known, most highly regarded works, such as The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and "To Build a Fire." Minor's atmospheric sketches are pleasingly decorative, but it is the abundant use of archival photos that offers an insightful perspective of the times and the ordeals experienced. Though obviously deeply researched, this biography is not completely factual. Lourie admits to taking "a few liberties." "To tell my tale," he explains in an author's note, "I have Jack do a few things he may or may not have done." The unfortunate absence of chapter notes makes it difficult to discern which episodes are imagined. Extensive backmatter includes information on First Nations peoples of the area and additional facts about London's journey. A gripping and harrowing true adventure story and a penetrating look into the formative experiences of a writer, one of the first to become a worldwide celebrity. (photos, timeline, glossary, bibliography, index) (Biography. 8-12)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Lourie (The Polar Bear Scientists) delivers a vivid account of Jack London-s arduous trek, along with thousands of other Stampeders, to the heart of Canada-s Yukon Territory in 1897 in search of gold. London returned not with wealth but with the raw material for his best-known writings, which earned him both fortune and fame. Lourie intersperses his narrative with background on London-s boyhood, personality, and literary aspirations, and he quotes amply from the work of London and his contemporaries to convey the backbreaking rigors, awe-inspiring landscape, grime, isolation, dangers, and friendships of the journey. London-s mental and physical strength, sociability, and optimism seem at times almost superhuman: that winter, until felled by scurvy, he spent four hours a day collecting the wood needed to burn a fire to thaw eight inches of ground to dig for gold on his claim. Lourie-s captivating tale of the grueling experiences behind London-s crystalline prose testifies to his endurance. Minor-s windswept spot illustrations augment archival and modern photos and other supplemental material. Ages 8-12. Author-s agent: Susan Ramer, Don Congdon Associates. (Mar.)

Voice of Youth Advocates

This book's title is apt because it concerns itself with the notable American author, Jack London, not primarily as a literary figure, but as a man of action who exemplified the spirit of the intrepid adventurers who trekked to Canada's remote Yukon territory during the Gold Rush of 1897-1899. The narrative, suitable for middle school through high school readership, is propelled by London's frantic race to cross the infamous Chilkoot Trail and brave the treacherous Whitehorse Rapids to reach the Klondike gold fields with his partners before the full onset of winter made travel impossible. Flashbacks to London's early years and references to the literary career that will follow are artfully interwoven into the dramatic tale. Like the majority of prospectors who hazarded the dangerous, backbreaking journey in hopes of striking it rich, London found little gold in the Klondike. Lucky to have survived a bout of scurvy (due to poor diet), London returned to his home in California the following summer. Uniquely, he had discovered another kind of gold in the trove of Klondike experiences that would set him on the path to becoming the world-famous author of The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and many memorable short stories set in the frozen North.The helpful appendices include glossaries of Gold Rush terms and of notable Klondike places, an essay on how prospectors made and filed claims, and a timeline of London's life, followed by a bibliography and index. The text is well illustrated with a map, images of historical documents, many black-and-white photos, and some original artwork. This fantastic work is great for a history research project as well as language arts assignments.Walter Hogan.