Nine for California

Nine for California 

By: Sonia Levitin 

Illustrated by: Cat Bowman Smith

Grade Levels: 3-5

Genre: Historical Fiction

Have you ever thought about the days before planes and cars? How did people travel far distances? Have you ever heard of the Gold Rush? In this story Nine for California, you will discover the answers to these questions by joining a mother and her five children on their journey west to reconnect with their father.

Sonia Levitin’s Nine for California joins a mother and her five children on their journey from Missouri to California in order to reconnect with their father who left in search of gold. When their father had saved enough money, he sent it to his family in Missouri so that they could make the long trip to California. Joining them on this journey were three other passengers, Mr. Hooper, Cowboy Charlie and Miss Camilla. Amanda, one of the five children, tells us of their journey and the hardships they face on the long, twenty-one day stagecoach ride to California. Mr. Hooper, Cowboy Charlie and Miss Camilla are often annoyed with the children and they have to find ways to overcome their boredom. They also encounter many dangerous scenarios including harsh storms and robbers, but Amanda and the rest of the passengers find ways to overcome these challenges and to safely arrive in California where they reunite with their father and also have a new found respect for each other. 

I enjoyed how this book told the story of how families and people that traveled west to California without just stating facts. Having Amanda tell the story made it more relatable to children because they could relate to the boredom she felt during her long trip. It also gives an insight into what happened on these long journeys west and the dangers that these passengers encountered. From Indians, to robbers, to herds of buffalo these journeys were unpredictable and dangerous. I also enjoyed that the author stated at the beginning of the book that the events in the book were based off of letters that people wrote while they were on these journeys. It helps the children realize that these scenarios really did happen and that it is not just a “made up” part of the story. I think that this book would be helpful when teaching about this period in time. It shows the family life during this period of time and it also shows the journey people had to make. I think that this book would tie nicely into a lesson and would help children visualize this period in time. 

The storyline in this book was easy to follow and understand. There were a few words that I personally had to look up which means that there is new vocabulary, which is always a plus. I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations in this book. They were very detailed and displayed exactly what the text was saying. They added humor to the story, seeing the children acting silly and the other passenger’s expressions. The pictures filled in every open part of the page and surrounded the text, which also made the book very interesting. I think that the illustrations really completed this book and tied in very well with the storyline. I would read this book to my class because I enjoyed reading it myself! 

Nine for California would be suitable for students in grades three through five. Teachers could use this book when teaching about the Gold Rush and westward expansion. It is a great aid to help children to visualize this period in time. Teachers can also use this book to show relationships and how people can be quick to judge, for example the other passengers were annoyed with the children but in the end thought they were a nice family. This book therefore can connect to the Massachusetts ELA framework in key ideas and details (3) craft and structure (6).