In 1851 twelve-year-old Sarah is a free Black, happy living with her parents, grandparents, and brother on their own farm in Iowa. Her father has been bitten by the gold bug and wants to take the trail west to California, and after some argument it is decided that their grandparents will stay on the farm, but the rest of the family will go. The journey will be difficult and dangerous, but if they survive extreme weather, difficult terrain, illness, and the racism of others in the group, there may be a better life waiting for them at the end of the trail.
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