"Gold in California!" is the story of California's gold rush and eventual statehood, told from the first-person perspective of Austin Garner.Age 10 when his aunt and uncle (with whom he lives) decide to leave their comfortable Ohio home and newspaper business to be part of the gold strike, Austin's story covers seven more years.There are triumphs and losses, family tragedies and challenges, all entwined with the rich period during which California becomes a state. Todhunter Ballard's prose is outstanding, his characters rich and interesting, and his subject matter fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a well-researched piece of historical fiction about the period and the content.
