Both this and Avi’s “Iron Thunder” are touted as “An I witness title”.  I visited the Hyperion Books for Children website hoping to learn if this series included more authors than Avi, but no information was available.  A call to an editor there has thus far not been returned.  “Hard Gold” does include a letter to readers from Avi which describes the series as “exciting stories about fictional young people during real events in history.  I Witness stories will make you feel as if you are right in the middle of the action.  The illustrations will show what things really looked like.”   A fair assessment!

 “Hard Gold” does include quite a mix of illustrations, many culled from historical publications.  As a long time student of history, they weren’t particularly useful to me since I was already familiar with the subject at hand, but I’m sure they will add a lot to the narrative for young readers.  This is a visual generation after all!  Additionally, the novel is an excellent example of historical fiction as it includes a glossary, bibliography, author’s note, and credits for the illustrations. 

This novel was much faster paced than “Iron Thunder” with plot details that will hold appeal to the young reader.  Written in diary format, the short entries will be beneficial to challenged readers.  Most of the vocabulary is accessible to a challenged reader, with the exception of Mr. Bunderly’s pontifications:  “Therefore, I shall put forward sufficient enterprise by which to mend my broken fortunes.  I do believe, young man, that without endeavor there can be no progress – material or spiritual.”  Avi gives nod to it in the text “Mr. Bunderly really did talk like that – planting words all around his thoughts, rather than weeding them.” 

There is enough of Avi’s excellent writing, however, to keep the interest of more advanced readers including Avi’s wonderful incorporation of period dialogue:  “…I’ve seen you about town with a man who bore a remarkable resemblance to being your father.  I suspect you are no more an orphan than I.  Indeed, I believe you are running away and therefore a brazen liar.’

Young readers will identify with the loyal and good hearted, independent and determined Early.  And they will appreciate the colorful Lizzy and the growing relationship between the two.  The quest to find Uncle Jesse in the gold fields of the future state of Colorado will keep the reader’s interest as the journey rewards them with nuggets of historical information worth their weight in gold.

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