North Carolina, The First Golden State

Gr 3–5—In this colorful romp through early North Carolina history, readers learn of the first gold rush in the United States—and it wasn't in California! Conrad Reed unearthed a 17-pound block of gold in 1799, kicking off the first gold rush and the first operational gold mine in the country, the Reed Gold Mine. The vivid illustrations are often splayed out over full spreads that focus on the beautiful North Carolina terrain and show the acts of mining, adding a much-needed boost and clarity to the text. While a good story is told here, it's light on research. There is no documentation of sources used by the author and there are no additional resources listed for readers. However, there is a glossary for many of the mining terms. An "Author's Note" expands on the Reed family history and the Reed Gold Mine's recent designation as a North Carolina historic landmark. While the format may be easier to read than more traditional nonfiction, this telling of local North Carolina events will entertain readers more than inform.