At a glance
Seeds of Hope: The Gold Rush Diary of Susanna Fairchild
Children's Historical Fiction
Seeds of Hope: The Gold Rush Diary of Susanna Fairchild
Book 22 of the Dear America series
186 pages · First published 2001
In 1849, fourteen-year-old Susanna Fairchild and her family are sailing from New York toward Oregon, where her physician father hopes to establish a new practice. When tragedy claims her mother's life at sea, Susanna and her older sister Clara must face an uncertain future, made even more difficult when their father abandons his plans and joins the California Gold Rush. Living in a rough mining camp, the sisters encounter prejudice, greed, violence, and dangerous conditions while struggling to make a home amid their father's increasing obsession with finding gold. Through grief, unexpected friendships, and the challenges of growing up on the frontier, Susanna begins to discover that courage, kindness, and family are worth far more than riches. Told through a fictional diary, this moving entry in the Dear America series is ideal for readers who enjoy immersive American history, coming-of-age stories, and adventures that reveal both the hardships and hopes of the past.
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Jump to the pours ↓River Fog Sarsaparilla + Prospector Porter
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Death of a parent by drowning and prolonged grief; Murders, shootings, and vigilante hangings, including the execution of an innocent teenager; Graphic injuries, a mining explosion, and surgical amputation; Racism, ethnic slurs, and violence against immigrants; Animal cruelty and a graphic bear attack; Alcohol and tobacco use, including medicinal laudanum (opium); Brief fortune-telling used in a murder accusation; Mild romantic content, including kissing
Alcohol-Free Pour
River Fog Sarsaparilla
Old-fashioned sarsaparilla with a hint of vanilla and lime captures the spirit of the American frontier, making a refreshing companion to Susanna's adventures along California's gold-rich rivers.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Fill a tall glass with ice. Add syrup and citrus, top with root beer or sarsaparilla, and stir gently.
- Garnish: Citrus wedge.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
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Highball glass ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Prospector Porter
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
A rich, toasty porter offers a welcome respite after a long day in the goldfields, complementing Susanna's rugged mining-camp adventures and her discovery that life's greatest treasures aren't made of gold.
What you'll need
- 12 oz Porter
Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.
How to mix it
- Pour into a clean pint glass and serve at the appropriate cool serving temperature.
- Garnish: None.
- Glassware: Pint glass.
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