Pam Zhang had a dream of two young siblings on the run accompanied by images of silver coins, dry heat, and a quest. Her dream finally became this dramatic, thoughtful novel.

Lucy and Sam are 12- and 11-year-olds, born in America, whose parents are Chinese immigrants attracted by the Gold Rush, living in extremely harsh physical conditions and surrounded by aggressive racial hatred. They become orphans when their father dies and they wander across the barren landscape with their father’s body slung over a stolen horse, fighting for survival, searching for a suitable burial place. Family superstitions of the necessity of silver dollars in burial rites, and myths of buffaloes and tigers go with them.

As the story unfolds through flashbacks, the reader understands their courage as they try to work out their relationships to each other and to this land. They are so different in personality and ambition. They battle each other because of their differing memories and the tension of where home is.

Crossing the hills of golden grasses and heading towards the coast, they search for a home. After many dramatic twists, and a huge sacrifice, they eventually make decisions where true value lies. Is it the gold in the hills? Is it in claiming the land?

It’s the story of many lives – searching for a place to call home and finding where true value is. Zhang’s repeated sensual, poetic imagery and the action-packed narrative vividly re-imagines the history of that era through the struggle, hope, and courage of Lucy, Sam, and their parents.

Inspirational.

Reviewed by Judith Grace