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The Ghosts Of Luckless Gulch (2008)

by Anne Isaacs(Favorite Author)

3.38 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1416902015 (ISBN13: 9781416902010)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

review 1: This was a rather strange and lengthy story. The heroine of this tall tale is Estrella Rivera, who can run as fast as a shooting star. I liked her, and would have enjoyed the story more if she had just had many unusual talents and abilities. It was the addition of the bizarre creatures, the Kickle Snifter, Sidehill Wowser, and Rubberado puppy, that spoiled it for me. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the unusual story, with the ghost miners and the town frozen in time, as well as the tall tale explanations for some of California's physical features. I liked the illustrations too, especially the eerie ghosts. Kids will probably like it, even if it isn't my favorite of Isaacs' books..
review 2: Anne Isaacs, author of Swamp Angel, has created another fanciful tall t... moreale about another great heroine, Estrella Rivera, who runs so fast that she burns the air around her, leaving behind a glowing trail of flame. In this tale set during the California gold rush, Estrella must rescue her three pets from the ghosts of Luckless Gulch. Her dog, Comet, is a Rubberado puppy who can bounce so high he fairly flies and eats rocks. Her two other pets are a Sidehill Wowser who looks like a short furry horse whose downhill legs are twice as long as its uphill legs, and a Kickle Snifter who is small as a lamb but strong as an elephant. Estrella scares the ghosts underground where the tunnels they dig cause the California mountains to rise up and the Whitewood trees to rise so close to the sun that they get sunburned and are now the Redwoods. In fact you can still feel earthquakes in California wherever those ghosts are digging. The charming illustrations include hilarious details that children will love to discover. Perfect for units on tall tales, this story would also be a great way to introduce the history of the California gold rush. less

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