About This Book
Reach for this book if your child is struggling to adapt to a major life change, like a move or a family shift, and is expressing their frustration through stubbornness or a refusal to engage with their new environment. It provides a relatable mirror for the feeling that life has been unfairly uprooted and that the grass was much greener at their old home. Set during the California Gold Rush, the story follows Lucy, who is miserable after being dragged from her refined life in Massachusetts to a muddy mining camp. While the historical setting is vivid, the heart of the book is Lucy's internal journey from resentment to belonging. It is a sophisticated but accessible choice for middle-grade readers that validates their anger while gently showing how growth often happens in the places we least expect. Parents will appreciate how it balances historical education with a very modern look at emotional resilience and family dynamics.
