(3) 4-6 Almost-twelve-year-old Edgar, sensitive and insecure, and his troubled mother, Stephanie, who's just gone through a breakup, are house-sitting in the Yukon. There Edgar bonds with a dog named Benjamin, while friendship and family drama swirl around him--leading to a near tragedy. An engaging read, with well-developed characters, a strong sense of place, and a fast-flowing narrative.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Wendell Minor. This is a well-researched account of Jack London's 1897–98 adventures during the Klondike Gold Rush, after which he returned to California with little gold but a wealth of writing material. In notes, Lourie admits he's "taken a few liberties" in crafting the compelling wildnerness narrative, which is enhanced by archival photographs and Minor's evocative illustrations. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 After hearing about gold in the Klondike, eleven-year-old Jasper and his older brother, Melvin, run away from their drunken father in 1897 Washington State. They search for a mysterious stake of land worth millions, available to whoever can solve the riddles to find it. The rough and wild reality of the Alaskan wilderness is brought to vivid life in this entertaining and heartfelt tale.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Secret Journeys of Jack London series. Illustrated by Greg Ruth. Seventeen-year-old Jack London heads to the Yukon Territory in search of riches and adventure. He encounters friends, foes, and supernatural forces that complicate his journey, all the while battling nature, humankind, and self to return home a new man. It's not deep, but adventure seekers will enjoy the tale's frozen North action. Occasional full-page black-and-white illustrations help set the scenes.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(4) 4-6 After their mother dies, Billy and Edna Rose set out on the gold rush trail in search of their father. Heavy on adventure and light on the hardships of traveling on foot through the wilderness and digging bottomless holes looking for gold, the story unfolds like a Horatio Alger tale where good, hard-working people always come out on top.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(3) 4-6 When word of the Klondike gold rush reaches San Francisco, recently orphaned fourteen-year-old James decides to seek his fortune. Partnering with an orphaned girl (who's passing herself off as a boy), the two endure the harsh journey through the frozen Northern Territories. Vividly detailed passages help propel the story and bring the adventure to life.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) K-3 A girl speaks to the folkloric character Raven, asking him to take her into the sky, underwater, to the elders' fire, and then home to bed. Blaikie beckons readers into the northern world of the Yukon Territory using batik art enhanced with pen and ink. Stilted in places, the text is not as enchanting as the illustrations.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Whole Story series. Illustrated by Philippe Munch. London's classic novel, which follows a half-wolf dog from the wild to domesticity, is presented in an unabridged format, with supplemental facts, commentary, reproductions, and photographs crowding the margins. Although the auxiliary information may be helpful for students seeking background on the novel and its subject matter, it is also distracting and draws attention away from the story.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Scribner Illustrated Classics series. Illustrated by Wendell Minor. London's classic novel about Buck, a beloved pet who becomes the fierce leader of an Alaskan sled-dog team, is newly illustrated with fourteen full-color paintings. Although romanticized, the illustrations suit the dramatic survival story and contribute to the tale's strong sense of place.

Reviewer: Anne St. John