Best friends Rosabel and Sophia are outsiders in gold rush California. Rosabel has freedom papers, but shes the daughter of a runaway slave; Sophia belongs to the only Jewish family in town. When a slave catcher seizes Rosabels mother, Miz Violet, the two resourceful girls pan for gold, finally discover it in a cave, and use their claim to buy the freedom of Miz Violet and four other slaves. The informal tone and colloquial language establish a distinctive storytellers voice. Cultural and historical facts are smoothly integrated into the story, but the focus is squarely on the friendship. Dappled watercolor illustrations provide interesting period details. Dramatic postures and vivid facial expressions reflect and embellish the narrative but occasionally have a contemporary look. Children will identify with the spunky, resourceful girls and enjoy the expeditious resolution. With multicultural and historical themes, this original legend will enhance social studies curricula, especially in California.

In gold rush California, Rosabel and her Jewish friend Sophie decide to free Rosabel's mother--a fugitive slave who's been caught--by panning for gold. The girls discover enough gold to free Rosabel's mother and others being held by the slave catcher. Watercolor illustrations provide movement and energy, but the implausible events and the awkwardly included information on Sophie's religion detract from the book.

Gr 1-4-Altman uses a folksy, third-person voice to describe a fictional episode set in California during the Gold Rush. The story concerns the friendship between outsiders Rosabel, an African American, and Sophie, a Jewish girl. The tale turns on the fact that Rosabel has her "freedom papers," but her mother does not. When the woman is captured under the Fugitive Slave Act, the girls hatch a plan to free her. Conveniently, they find gold in a nearby cave that is worth enough to buy freedom for Rosabel's mother and the five other prisoners on the slave wagon. The ending stretches credibility a bit, but the book is competently painted and has curricular possibilities for a topic not typically treated in picture books. The watercolors are rendered in a muted palette; the main characters appear in sharper focus and slightly brighter colors. Consider where period picture books are popular.-Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.