River Girl

In 1918 Claire Welch's father received a letter telling him he'd inherited a home near Happy Camp in the Klamath River Valley. He decided to move his family north from the San Francisco Bay Area to live in that house. Only young Claire objected, but she had no choice. She had to leave her dear friend, Emily, behind. This book takes the family north from Antioch to Eureka, California, then into the hills and mountains of the far-northern wilderness. While living next to the Klamath River Claire is extremely lonely and desperate to find a friend. She meets a kind Chinese doctor, a woman living in a small cabin nearby, and prospectors looking for gold. She hunts for a rookery and a wild man, and finds friendship in the oddest places. Written for children and teens ages 8 and up, and enjoyed by adults as well. http://www.rivergirlclaire.com