Graphic novels often appeal to students who do not normally like to read traditional books. This will be exception! With a semi-crazed picture of John Sutter looking at gold on the cover, speech bubbles, and excellent drawings, students will gravitate towards this "graphic history" book. However, while reading this book, students will also consume a well-written nonfiction book full of historical information about the Gold Rush and how it changed California. Direct quotations from primary sources are used and at the end of the book, Doeden has included an extra information page, a glossary, an index, a bibliography, and a resource page for internet sites. Frenz's and Barnett's drawings capture the human emotions such as greed, anguish, dismay, and jubilation which must certainly have been present during this turbulent period. ( )