Swept up in the Gold Rush of 1897, young Jack London headed north to strike it rich in the Klondike and discovered something more precious than gold-the seeds of the stories that would flower into his classic novels The Call of the Wild and White Fang, and timeless short stories such as "To Build A Fire." The narrative follows London as he treks up the ruthless Chilkoot Trail, survives an avalanche, braves the lethal Whitehorse Rapids, and conquers many more dangers of the Yukon along his quest for gold. Punctuated by stunning black-and-white art by Wendell Minor plus illustrative photographic material, here is the compelling story of how one writer drew upon a rugged life of adventure in the Klondike to create literary classics.
A Christy Ottaviano Book
Author Biography
Peter Lourie has written many award-winning nonfiction books for young readers. A true adventurer, he has traveled all over the world to research his subjects-from the cloud forest of Ecuador in search of Inca treasure to the jungles of Rondonia, Brazil. He is the author most recently of three books about the Arctic: The Polar Bear Scientists, Whaling Season, and Arctic Thaw. peterlourie.com
Wendell Minor is the illustrator of many award-winning picture books for children, including Robert Burleigh's Abraham Lincoln Comes Home, If You Spend a Day with Thoreau at Walden Pond, and Edward Hopper Paints His World. He lives in Washington, Connecticut. minorart.com
