Walk on Earth a Stranger

About half way through Walk on Earth a Stranger, I realized I was having a hard time with the story. It is solidly written but I found I wasn't interested in the characters or even the story. For the most part, it was very contradictory (people did one thing one day - and then something completely different the next) and I began to feel like author Carson had researched a lot on the subject and then put in every anecdote or tidbit she could find. As such, it became a loosely assembled collection of 'happenings' that were of significant historical interest but not necessary relevant to our characters or for character buildings. There was just too much and yet not enough and so this didn't hold my interest as much as I had hoped.

Story: Leah can sense gold - whether in the ground or in someone's pocke twatch. It's a skill her mother has cautioned her to hide carefully; especially since her gold mining parents have earned the nickname 'lucky' due to their past gold finds. When her Uncle comes to town and her parents are murdered, it's clear he knows her secret and wants it for himself. So she decides to pull up stakes and head for California from the East. She'll disguise herself as a boy and follow the footsteps of best friend Jefferson - who headed out earlier in order to escape an abusive father. This is the story of that journey as Leah runs from her Uncle's machinations.

I was frustrated in the beginning by the contradictions. E.g., Jefferson leaves and she says she won't go with him despite the death of her parents - and then does it anyway the next day. That type of situation happened again and again throughout the book. It made a rather thinly described character even more inscrutable and honestly frustrating.

But mostly, for me at least, was the overly familiar aspects of the story. So many scenes I can remember reading about in elementary and junior high school history classes (perhaps because I went to school in California that the subject came up often). So I'd already known which scenes happened where historically - from offering measles/chicken pox infected blankets to Indians (who had no resistance) to the danger of bison stampedes. There wasn't a lot new for me and so the book felt very cobbled together - as if someone wrote notes about actual events and the figured out a way to have a character experience it instead. It hurt the pace of the story and certainly the diversity of events didn't help build/develop characters.

At 400+ pages, this is surprisingly long. I wish I liked Leah/Lee more (or even love interest Jefferson) so that I wanted to follow them. Honestly, some of the side characters ended up being a lot more interesting by the end. But this is by no means a terrible book and those with no knowledge of the California Gold Rush will likely find the historical aspects fascinating. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Reader thoughts:
This was an imaginative idea. Lee (Leah) has the ability to sense gold dust and gold nuggets. Then the CA gold rush happens, and she heads west. It was a rough journey, but she went with a friend.

I really appreciated that, although Lee tried to pretend to be a boy, several people (men and women) figured out that she was a girl. This felt much more realistic than a few of the books I've read recently where no one suspected a thing (To Darkness Fled and Princess of Thorns).

Writer thoughts:
The book started with Lee's parents getting murdered. I don't know if this was telegraphed, or if I just read to much YA, but this didn't surprise me at all. It had no effect. I didn't care about them. As a writer, I must know that many readers will expect the parents to die in YA books. How can I turn that expectation on its head, or how can I telegraph a different outcome to their readers?

First, hinting that the character will have to leave (like travel to California), hints that the character will have to have some break between them and their family. Either the MC already wants to leave, or they are kidnapped, or the parents will die, or all three.

Walk on Earth a Stranger is barely fantasy. If anything I'd call it historical fiction with a bit of magical realism thrown in. That didn't stop me from loving it, but if you're looking for a fantasy full of magical adventure, you're looking in the wrong place. If you're interested in a gold rush (or pioneer) adventure with a slight magical element, this is perfect for you!

Pioneer stories have always fascinated me, so the idea of combining a story of the westward expansion in search of gold with the magical ability of a character who can sense gold was incredibly appealing to me. Like I said, the magic is limited in this story---it only comes into play a few times throughout the book, but that doesn't mean that the book is any less exciting. If you know anything about the gold rush, you know that making it to California alive is a feat in itself. Lee has the added danger of an uncle who is hunting her and of someone discovering her gift, which raises the stakes even higher. I was a huge fan of the romance between Lee and her best friend Jefferson, and I was hoping that things would work out between them (though I actually wasn't sure if they would). Jefferson is half Cherokee, and the mistreatment of Indians and slaves is another theme in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!

Narration: Overall, I thought that Erin Mallon was a fantastic narrator for this book. My only complaint was that she didn't use accents for any of the foreigners, so I was confused about their nationalities at first.

I give this book 4/5 stars.

I really enjoyed Rae Carson’s Fire and Thorns trilogy and I felt confident I would enjoy her writing in this book as well. Why did I take so long to pick it up? I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction and this honestly just wasn’t a book I was itching to read. It did start out slow and I will admit I was still skeptical about 20% into the book. However, after I finished it I realized that I really really enjoyed this story! While I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction I was intrigued by the bit of magic with Leah’s gold-sensing abilities. The story ended up being more historical fiction with less magic or fantasy than I expected, but I was actually very okay with that. I hadn’t realized how attached I got to all of the characters until I finished the book and thought about how much I wanted to read the second book. It was really good, and if you are willing to give it a chance, I definitely recommend it! Also, the cover is one of the more beautiful covers I’ve seen lately, so that certainly doesn’t hurt ?

Leah Westfall, or Lee for short, lives in a small town with her parents. She doesn’t have any brothers so she has worked hard to make her parents proud. Leah also has a secret, she can sense gold. In Gold Rush-era America, this is obviously a useful skill. She keeps it quiet because she doesn’t want people to see it as witchcraft or take advantage of her. The origin of this gift is not touched upon, but I do hope we learn more about it in future books.

After a series of tragic events leaves Leah alone, she finds herself making the decision to run away to California. Away from her town and from those who want to hurt and use her. She is also following her best friend Jefferson, who has already left for California but promised to wait for her. She escapes as a boy, partly to fit in and partly to disguise herself from those who will follow her.

While it was a slow start, things started to pick up once Leah joins the wagon train. We get introduced to some of my favorite character in the story! This book wasn’t necessarily action-packed, although it did have its exciting moments. Towards the end of the book, I desperately wanted all of them to reach California unharmed and in one piece. This story is very character driven and while Leah’s development was great, this book also has a lot of great secondary characters including Jefferson, Jasper, Mrs. Joyner, Theresa and more. Leah though, was wonderful. She was strong and determined, but also very human. While she is strong and talented, she would also have moments when I realized that she is just a girl who misses her family and doesn’t want to be alone. There is also the added element of her magic gold-seeking ability, which often causes her to feel more alone because she doesn’t know who to trust. I loved this subtle magical detail of the story and hope we see more of it in the next two books.

Overall, this was a great read and I am pleasantly supposed to say that I am looking forward for the second book. Whether or not you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a great book and as I mentioned above, I grew very attached to the characters. You should definitely give it a chance if you are interested!

I don't really do historical books. They tend to bore me. So I almost passed this one up. Luckily the owner of the blog tours I participated in told me I needed to read it, and I'm so glad she did!

Reading this book was like reading about the real life Oregon Trail game (which I loved when I was in elementary school!). Seriously--illness, and hunger, and oxen, and covered wagons! Life back then was so hard and reading about the trials of going across the country for the gold rush really interested me.

I know that Leah had a secret power of being able to sense gold but I don't feel like it was a huge part of the story. I mean, it was a huge part in the reason she was going across country in the first place, but I don't feel like her power was a major force in the book.

I really enjoyed all of the characters. I loved how strong Leah was yet she still had a bit of girly-ness to her. And all of the side characters on her journey kept me interested as well.

I'm glad to see that this is going to be a trilogy. I'll definitely be picking up the next one. Now excuse me while I go play Oregon Trail.

This was a very interesting and captivating book. Leah has the ability to find gold, she senses it when it is around her. She is young, living in a time when a female cannot own anything or enter into contracts. It is the era of the California Gold Rush! Her parents are murdered and she knows that her uncle murdered them. Her best friend, Jefferson, is leaving for California and asks her to come with him. Teenagers off on a journey across the US! All the trials and heartache that goes along with the adventure. In addition, Leah is dressed and passing as a boy trying to catch up to Jefferson.

I found the book hard to put down. The plot and characters well well developed. The journey was depicted in a very believable way and it gives the reader the feeling that they are part of the migration West to California.

I highly recommend this book. It was a Serial Read on my Nook App where a few chapters are delivered each day of the month until the ending of the book.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This book is going to make so many readers so happy that they took a chance on it. I don't care if you hate historical fiction or if you dislike westerns or if you didn't like Rae Carson's other books - this book is absolutely worth your time. Action, adventure, romance and lessons about loyalty and family make this both a joy to read and a book to ponder. The protagonist, Lee is a smart, determined, and tough girl, and she is also one of the most lonely souls in YA fiction right now. Readers will be drawn to her character, not just because of the empathy her situation evokes, but also for her innate goodness. She wants so much to embrace the people around her, but her secret forces her to keep a part of herself back, and others sense and respond to that distance. That is what makes her plight universal - almost everyone has experienced the isolation and sadness that come with having to keep part of yourself concealed. The cast of secondary characters do initially feel repelled by her standoffish behavior, but as her true nature begins to shine through her disguise, they are drawn to her - You can change your appearance, but you usually can't hide who you really are. I'll admit this book wasn't exactly what I expected, but I am not in the least disappointed. I was expecting more of a quest, and I worried it would be too close to the other western YA that just published, Erin Bowman's Vengance Road (excellent read as well). This book is more about Lee's journey West than a quest for gold or revenge, but it is also her journey towards finding her place in the world. There is plenty of action and conflict, but it was quite contemplative as well. It is well paced to develop the plot, the characters, and the relationships. I didn't savor it because I devour good stuff, but I know it is a book that I will come back to time and again. The resolution does leave room for additional books in the series, and I will certainly be looking for them. Language and situations are appropriate for grades 7+, but adult readers of YA will enjoy it just as much.

Having never read any of Rae Carson's works before but knowing they were all high fantasy YA novels I had no idea what to expect from her latest book, Walk On Earth A Stranger. Set during the nineteenth century American gold rush period it could have read like historical fiction but for one element: the main character, Leah Westfall, is blessed with the ability to divine gold. Not just pan or mine the precious metal, Leah, also known as Lee, can sense even minute particles of gold hidden in the earth or streams. She is even overcome with her "witchy" feeling concerning gold when she is near jewelry or gilded objects. Her talent could make her family extraordinarily rich. But, her parents have always taught her, and lived by, a strong sense of morality and principle. They live simply. Any gold she finds on another person's property is not theirs. And, just like the bag of gold dust hidden under the kitchen floorboards, the Westfall family has kept Lee's talent a secret from everyone; even her best friend, Jefferson.

Then one day, Lee's world is shattered and she is forced to flee. Only days earlier, Jefferson had asked Lee to run away from their home in Georgia to California with him. Scared but determined, Lee decides to her only choice is to escape her home and find Jefferson. But, back then, women couldn't, and didn't, travel alone; not only was their safety at stake, but women were regarded as the property of men. So, Lee cuts off her hair, dresses as a young boy and hits the trail west.

At this point the book focuses on Lee's voyage and the unbelievable hardships the pioneers faced just to get to the other side of the continent. What now takes us only a few days drive time took the pioneers months to travel. And the daily blood, sweat and tears they experienced would result in a mere twelve to twenty miles of trail by nightfall. Hired by a wagon train made up of families, bachelors, and immigrants, Lee continues to hide her identity and her talent. But her story is more than the miles traveled; it is also made of many rites of passages for Lee. She turns out to be a very remarkable and courageous young woman with strong opinions concerning race and women's rights.

Carson's story is compelling as her characters are likeable or understandable and the writing is strong. I felt for the characters when, whether for safety or practical reasons, they were forced to make some hard and very painful decisions while on the road. The descriptions of their days of hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and heat, or their moments of fear were palpable. I even cried while reading a few of the scenes. I also felt joy with the travelers when they would experience moments of music around the nightly campfire, friendship, or just find clean water. And I love how the author would symbolically sprinkle references to gold throughout the story: Lee's eyes, Jefferson's dog's name, buttons on a shirt, the color of a desert sunset. Even Lee's last name, Westfall, has meaning.

It's an outstanding book and a great beginning for a trilogy. It will be interesting to see what the author has in store for these characters in the next book.

Highly recommended.

Imagine you live during the great California gold rush. Now imagine that you had the ability to be able to find gold without even trying, as if by magic.

That would make life much easier back then, don't you think?

Well, you would be wrong.

Leah is just that girl. She is a teen aged girl with the magical gift of being able to locate gold. She doesn't have to try, she gets a tickle in the back of her throat when she gets near some and the feeling gets stronger and stronger the closer she gets to the piece of gold that is calling to her. She doesn't have to guess where the gold is, she knows.

Of course, Leah has to keep this a secret. People would love to be able to have her special gift. It is the great gold rush after all. It would make it a lot easier to strike it rich with a power like Leah's.

The only people that know her secret are her parents. And like good parents, they don't exploit their daughters special talent and they tell her to keep it a secret from everyone, even her best friend in the whole world Jeff.

Then one day, she comes home from school to find her parents murdered and her life has changed entirely. All of a sudden she finds that she has an uncle that has big plans for her (and her gift) and her best friend is heading off to California for gold with or without her.

So she does what any other girl who can find gold magically and is about to be exploited would do, she disguise herself as a boy and heads off West after her best friend and in search of gold.

So, to sum my feelings up about this book in a nutshell...it really made me want to play Oregon Trail.

Walk on Earth a Stranger does a great job of making the reader see what going West during the great gold rush would be like. However, that sadly also means that there are quite a few boring parts and a lot of parts where nothing really happens.

Seriously. Too many places where nothing really all that exciting happens.

But then the things that do happen, and they are written so well they help you forget the boring, dragging bits! There was one point in the book that I had a hard time continuing because I was just so grossed out! I could imagine the situation quite vividly and yeah...Wow.

What I really liked was Leah. I thought she was very well written and I truly enjoyed reading a story about a strong female. And even though she starts out pretty strong, we still get to see her go through her own transformation and growth.

All in all, I found Walk on Earth a Stranger to be a very easy, relatively quick read. Even during the slower parts the pages were just flying by.

My Rating
3.5 stars

This review is based on a finished copy that I won through a giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Find more of my reviews here:
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I recommended that my local library purchase this book quite a while ago. Then, I got a phone call saying the books I put on hold were in. Imagine how surprised I was to learn that this was one of them!

Even though I have been staying pretty busy with my grad school classes and teaching, I made time for this book. Walk on Earth a Stranger chronicles Leah Westfall’s westward journey from Georgia to the California Gold Rush. It isn’t going to be easy to get there, but Lee is determined to make her own future in California far from her scheming uncle.

Lee is strong and doesn’t know the meaning of giving up. She’ll do whatever it takes and whatever has to be done. It is because of her drive to succeed that she disguises herself as a boy to make the trip to California.

Jefferson is Lee’s best friend, but he left town without her. He said he would wait awhile in Independence for her in case she should decide to follow. Lee doesn’t know how long he’ll wait for her but she knows she will need to find him. She needs to be able to trust at least one person.

I really liked this story of a girl in 1849 who refuses to let others decide the path for her life. She is independent and stubborn. She has an end goal in mind and she will do anything, fight any fight, to get there.

In all, Walk on Earth a Stranger was a great book and I can’t wait to read Like a River Glorious.

This review first appeared at Orandi et Legendi.

Walk the Earth a Stranger is a captivating work of historical fiction with a touch of magic. This story held my interest for several reasons.

The time period The gold rush was such an interesting time in American history. I liked learning more about the hardships these people endured as they sought their fortunes. Their pain and loss really touched me, and made me ponder how much easier we have it now. It also motivated me to google some stuff, and I learned a few new and interesting things.

Leah One thing I love about Rae Carson is that she does heroines well. Leah is every bit the amazing woman you expect in a Carson book and more. She is strong and resilient, but also vulnerable, and she has needs. She wants to be loved and wanted, just like everyone else, and that makes her so normal. At the same time, she is so self sacrificing. She consistently put others before herself, showing that beautiful heart of her's time and time again.

The "family" element There is nothing like a painful experience to bring a group together, and this group suffered together for months, over and over again. By the end, Leah had a new family, and that ending really touched my heart. I must also state, that this group is full of some very interesting characters. They were multifaceted and well well developed. And man, oh, man, when little Andy has that talk with Mr. Hoffmann, tears sprung from my eyes.

The writing Rae Carson is a wonderful writer. She beautifully told me this story, and projected the imagery and emotion perfectly.

"Not bad for a girl," says Jonas Waters. "It's not bad for anyone," Jefferson snaps.

A great read. I enjoyed my cross country journey and cannot wait to see what is in store for this bunch now that they are in California.

*I received this book as an eARC from GreenWillow Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

Rae Carson is one of my favorite current authors. She writes beautifully and her characters are always fully fledged people. I love that she includes diversity. She is a master at putting words in the right order to convey emotion in the perfect way. So obviously, I loved this book.

This book is a historical fantasy, but the magic aspect of it though dire to the plot only comes into play a few times. The meat of the novel is an adventure story of moving across a whole country to unknown lands. I'm not very familiar with this time period. Most of my knowledge of the era comes from Oregon Trail and a small museum I visited in a California gold mine.

There are so many interesting characters that Lee meets in her journeys. I found myself attached to so many of them and absolutely despising others. Carson's writing definitely brings strong emotions out in me.

I loved the way minorities are portrayed. Everything is period-appropriate, but to be interpreted by a reader from the 21st century. Gender is a big topic. Race also comes into play.

I give this book a 5/5 and HIGHLY recommend you read it! Rae Carson is one of the strongest and most under-appreciated voices in YA now. This is the first in a new trilogy, but it is a complete story. I am so glad there's going to be more!

Rae Carson's Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy hit all my YA fantasy buttons (not a token romance, main character evolves, main character is a non-Mary Sue heroine, world is somewhat interesting beyond just normal pseudo-medieval Western Europe setting).

And now, Carson does for the American Pioneering West what she did for her more traditional fantasy: She takes a non-Mary Sue heroine, gives her a connection to the magical, then forces the heroine to basically suppress her magical side and slog it out through mud, villainous men, herds of stampeding buffalo, nefarious Uncles, and sickness/wounds to stay true to herself and create a viable future.

I just finished Lee's story and already I hunger for the next installment. A very good sign. But first things first. Lee Westfall lives in a small, Georgia town with her loving parents. Okay, so her father is a bit sick so she has to basically do a whole bunch of chores like hunting and farming that usually fall on men, but she's happy with her life, loved by her parents, and has a half-Cherokee best friend named Jefferson who gets her.

Then a terrible thing happens, and suddenly Lee is forced out of her comfortable life, onto the California trail with basically nothing but her wits, determinedness, caring, and secret ability to "sense" gold to keep her going.

The bits about trail life (like putting milk in a bottle and the jarring action of the wagons churning it into butter by evening) rang true to me. Lee has a lot of non-stop adventures, and even though this is a travel story with some large parts summarized, I didn't care. The rest is so compelling, whether it's dealing with anti-Indian sentiment, Lee realizing she's been unfair to people trying to be her friends, or whatever, this book kept me going.

There's a brief kiss on the cheek, some veiled references to child bearing, a truly awful scene where Lee holds down a man while a trail doctor cuts off a gangrenous leg, but nothing the younger YA crowd would really find that startling. Excellent series. Off to stalk the author's website to find out when the next one comes out.

Disappointment. Incredulity. Disbelief. Frustration. Shock. Anger. This was pretty much my range of feelings when i finished this novel. Im not sure if there is supposed to be another one or if this is a series. Honestly, I don’t think i would care if it was. Let me be clear and say that I DON’T hate this story. I thought it was original and had beautiful detail. I thought that it was a pretty realistic idea of the gold rush on a more personal level - i’m not a historian, okay, but the story just feels right and personal. I liked the concept of it all. I liked the idea just not the execution.

I felt, while it was beautifully detailed, that this story just draaaaaaaaggged. It was so so slow. Yea i get that everything is done by horseback and its not modern conveniences so the story isn’t going to zip around at the speed of light but hear me when i say that there was SO MUCH build up to get to California and then the story just ends. Ta-da! We’re here and done. I would love to say it was a cliffhanger but it really wasn't. I hope that this is part of a series and there is resolution for those who did enjoy this.

Leah Westfall lives with her parents on their farm in Georgia, and is not the average young lady. Due to her father's failing health, she has taken on much of the work of farming and hunting and providing for her family. But Lee also has a secret--she has the ability to sense gold, and the gold she finds has saved her family from destitution more than once. Unfortunately, it's also given her family a "lucky" reputation that has made more than a few people suspicious.

One day Lee comes home to find her father murdered, her family's hidden gold stolen, and her mother telling her to run with her dying breath. Lee is reluctant to leave her family home and everything they've worked for, but it quickly becomes clear that her parents' killer knows about her ability and wants to use her. So Lee follows her best friend Jefferson west to California, where gold has recently been discovered, hoping to find freedom--and gold, of course.

I love this historical novel with a fantasy twist, and the characters in this novel are positively vibrant in Rae Carson's very capable hands. Leah is strong-willed and independent, enlightened and intelligent, but still a product of her own time period. When she's forced to flee, she disguises herself as a boy and works extra hard to avoid suspicion or detection. The lengths she goes to in order to avoid detection are very revealing of the times, and how women were overlooked and viewed as commodities, not people.

Carson has clearly done extensive research to make Lee and Jefferson's journey west vivid and heartbreakingly real, but the story never feels too rigid with extra research or superfluous information. The time period comes across in expressive details and through the perspective and actions of many different characters. Racism and bigotry are very real challenges that the characters face, along with disease, lack of water, exhaustion, and poor health care and treatment of injuries. In some ways, this book feel less like a fantasy novel and more like a very well-written historical fiction novel that just happens to have a fantasy element, but that's okay--the real challenges and injustices of the journey west, and the politics of the group that Lee travels with, are every bit as compelling as Lee's ability to divine gold.

And Carson does lay the groundwork for more action as a result of Lee's ability. She questions where the ability comes from, hints at Lee's obscured family history, and uses Lee's gold-seeking talents to help advance Lee's inner character growth as she learns to trust people with all of her secrets and identifies her own found family.

If I have any complaints, it's that the book ends far too quickly, with Lee and gang arriving in California, a land full of possibility. Luckily for us, this is only the first in a planned trilogy. Unluckily, we might have to wait a while for book two. That's okay, though--Walk on Earth a Stranger is more than worthy of multiple re-reads in the meantime!

One of the most authentic historical fantasies I've ever read, Walk On Earth A Stranger brings a touch of magic to Gold Rush-era America. Leah Westfall has the unique ability to sense gold - and only her immediate family knows she has this ability. But when Leah's family is murdered and her uncle Hiram reveals that he knows her secret, Leah disguises herself as a boy and flees west for California, where gold has just been discovered. The trek will be dangerous, though. One could run into thieves, disease, starvation, or wild animals - and anyone could be hunting for Leah to bring her back to her uncle. Can she and her best friend Jefferson survive the journey while hiding her gold-sensing and her true identity?

In some ways, Walk On Earth A Stranger differs from a typical YA fantasy. The main antagonist (Leah's uncle) is out of the picture for most of the story. Thus, most of the "antagonism" comes from supporting characters and the harsh wilderness Leah travels through. There's also a greater focus on relationships and interpersonal conflicts than action (as in fighting or violence, though a couple injury scenes are a bit graphic); and the only traces of romance is a slow-burning promise for later books. As a result, this story is mostly about survival, trust, and proving one's worth. And if you can look past the expectations you typically have for YA fantasy, you'll discover this tale's true beauty.

Because oh my goodness, Walk On Earth A Stranger is wonderful. The historical details bring mid-19th century Midwestern American to life and ring true to my memories of adventure games like Oregon Trail and Yukon Trail. I absolutely loved Leah, too. She's hard-working, tenacious, and fair-minded; and her narrative voice is flavored with a genuine Southern twang without an overly strong dialect. Rae Carson also writes in a way that allows readers to experience Leah's journey with her. I felt her fears, joys, anguish, and terror, to the point that I almost cried three-quarters of the way through. This really is a beautifully written, thoroughly researched book, and one that stands tall and proud in its uniqueness. Readers who are fans of Oregon / Yukon Trail and Little House on the Prairie or don't mind history with a brush of fantasy shouldn't miss out on this.

First off, I love historical fiction (if that wasn't already obvious by so many of my reading choices). History has always been a favorite subject of mine, and I prefer to read books that are set in a time that is different from the present. But I will be honest: the wild west/19th century American history isn't exactly one of my favorite backdrops, which is actually one of the main reasons why I put this book off for so long. However, it appears I don't know what I'm missing, because Rae Carson has written one of the better, more original books that I've read in quite a while and I loved it.

I genuinely enjoyed Carson's first trilogy, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, which I read back in 2013, so I was already confident in her writing ability, but again, I was unsure about the subject matter. Carson proved her skills by creating an original, finely developed plot and strong group of characters that have resulted in a truly enjoyable story. Her writing style is smooth and effortless; it will quickly draw you in and keep you listening to every word. Although there are subtle hints at romance, she doesn't bang you over the head with it or even make it an overly important plot role.

The story is narrated by Leah Westfall - also known as 'Lee' when she dresses up as a boy to make it to California. We've all seen the 'girl-dresses-up-as-boy' situation before, but fortunately Carson carried this notion out in such a way that it wasn't annoying or overly cliche'd, and she was actually very realistic about the struggles of being a female on a long trip with very little privacy in a time when there was a great deal of emphasis placed on being 'proper.' (For instance, men are not involved in the subject of pregnancies.)

Carson has constructed an in-depth and well-rounded cast of characters, something that appears to be quite a strong suit for her. Each person had their own motivation for travelling to California, as well as unique personalities that truly brought each person to life. Jefferson, Leah's friend from home, is a helpful, strong-headed, and rather aloof boy who is easy to relate to and understand. Besides Jefferson, there is also the entire wagon trail company that we get to meet and interact with that is made up with a variety of friendly and wise characters - as well as some close-minded and arrogant ones. All of these people, however, make for quite an engaging adventure.

I will say that there appears to have been some sort of miscommunication somewhere along the lines of my picking up this book, because I was under the impression that it would involve more gold-digging or use of Leah's gift in a more useful manner. Instead, the entire story basically covered Leah's trip to California. Don't get me wrong, it was still wonderfully told and entertaining, but it juts wasn't what I was led to be believe by the summaries and descriptions of the book, so don't be misled!

I am so glad that there is going to be a sequel! I have so many questions that still need to be answered. For instance, why does Leah even have this gift? Are there other random gifts out here that people have? Is this a somewhat magical world or still completely normal with the addition of Leah's random gift? Will Leah actually use this gift to its fullest extent once she's in California? And there is still so much potential for these characters that if Carson wasn't writing more in this series, I would be quite a bit more disappointed in this story, as this book was definitely more of a setup for the later series and provides a lot of important background.

Overall, I'm giving Walk on Earth a Stranger four stars for its compelling story and complex characters that really give this book life.

Leah Westfall hears the stories about the gold rush in California, but she knows her place is at home with her parents. Even when her best friend, Jefferson, tries to persuade her to come West, she refuses. Leah is tempted, though, because she has a secret. Leah was born with the ability to sense gold. If she headed West, she would be able to find a fortune, but she can't leave because her father's health is ailing. Then tragedy strikes, and everything Leah holds dear is suddenly ripped away. Her uncle takes charge of her, and Leah soon learns the despicable truth about him. Leah is forced to make a daring choice. Disguised as a boy, Leah strikes out on her own and journeys west. Will Leah make it to California and find gold?
What I Liked:
*Wow! Walk This Earth a Stranger was a gripping read. I loved the danger, excitement and the adventure. I am a huge fan of Westerns, and I especially loved the setting and the era. If you are looking for a wonderful, historical adventure this is one you don't want to miss.
*Leah Westfall is a terrific character. She is kind, sympathetic, altruistic and courageous. I loved her fierce determination and her unflappable spirit. Once her whole world crumbles, Leah is forced to disguise herself as a boy and flee West. Her journey is fraught with hardship and difficulties, but she never gives up. You can't help but love her and to cheer for her.
*Along with Leah, there is a strong cast of secondary characters. The cast is quite large, and it was a bit difficult to keep track of them all, but there were a few who stood out. I loved Jefferson, Leah's lifelong best friend. He is also kind and courageous, and I enjoyed the friendship he shared with Leah. Teresa, a young German girl on the trail, surprised me with her sweetness and accepting nature. I was surprised at how she took to Leah, and I liked that she was never unkind or jealous. Free Jim, played a short role, and I wished he had a bigger part, but I still appreciated that he was a freed slave who was trying to overcome prejudice and hatred. He is generous and noble. Finally, the character that surprised me the most, Becky Joyner. At first, I didn't like her one bit. She was pampered, rich and spoiled, not to mention rude. However, as the book progressed, she grew and changed, and by the end, I liked her and I had tremendous admiration for her.
*The story is riveting. I loved that there was rarely a dull moment. Once Leah dons her disguise and starts west, I was hooked. She faces constant danger and hardship from her uncle, thieves, sickness, accidents, heat and food and water shortages. There is hardly a moment to catch your breath during this one as it rarely lets up. This is an excellent historical book that captures the hardship of traveling west. Travelers faced some harsh conditions, and it was an eye opening experience to read about the roles of women on the trail. Can you imagine being pregnant, jostling over the trail, or even walking for miles and miles in the heat, forced to give birth in the back of the wagon, and then be up on your feet ready to walk the next day? It was an eye opening read for sure. I liked exploring themes of prejudice toward Native Americans, immigrants and African Americans, female inequality and religious fanaticism.
*I liked the paranormal touch. Leah was born with the ability to sense gold. Time and time again, her gold witching abilities allow her to get herself and others out of danger. It was a unique touch to the story.
*There is a subtle romance, and even though I wanted more, I appreciated that it was a slow burning romance based on friendship and trust. I can't wait to watch it unfold further.
*I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Erin Mallon. Ms. Mallon does a great job with the narration, and I actually appreciated her male voices. I highly recommend the audiobook.
*This is the first book in a trilogy, and I was pleased and surprised that the book concludes in a good spot. There is no cliffhanger. Yes, the main conflict hanging over Leah's head is still unresolved, but I am sure that will be addressed in the next book.
And The Not So Much:
*I liked the touch of paranormal, but I found myself wishing that there was a bit more on Leah's strange ability. There are hints that her talent might come from maternal side, but that plot line is never developed.
*As I mentioned, I liked Free Jim, the former slave, but I was disappointed that he had such a small role. I wished that he had a larger role so the reader could experience the prejudice and hardships that African Americans faced during this time period.
*There is a story line featuring a run away slave that was left underdeveloped. I wanted more information and detail on this story line.
*Once Leah joins up with the wagon train, the cast grows large. I had a hard time keeping track of everyone, and I wished that certain characters were more developed.

Walk This Earth a Stranger was an excellent historical read that follows one young girl, disguised as a boy, journeying west. I enjoyed the danger and adventure in this one. I couldn't put it down. The audiobook was fantastic. I highly recommend grabbing a copy of this one right away. I loved it!

I borrowed a copy of this book from the library. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

Leah Westfall has the unique ability to sense gold in the lands around her. Living during the Gold Rush era makes that a thousand times better. When Leah Westfall’s parents are killed and their murderer is bent on using Leah’s ability’s for himself, she disguises herself as a boy named Lee and sets on the trail to California. Along the way, she encounters unlikely friends, dangerous enemies, and the start of a romance.

Ack, this book has my feelings all over the place. It left me feeling, giddy, sad, angry, and most of all, expectant. Because I seriously can’t wait for the sequel, I want need it now.

I’ve never read Rae Carson’s Fire and Thorn trilogy but I’ve heard so many amazing things about it, so the moment I saw her latest book and the fact that it was going to be historical fiction with a girl who could sense gold, I knew I had to read it and I’m definitely glad I picked it up.

The characters in this book are PERFECT. They made me laugh, sniffle, and feel annoyed (the bad ones). They were all so wonderfully done that it’s impossible for me to pick a favorite. They were all so realistic. And being as they’re on an awful life-stealing trail, some of them die and even the distant characters’ deaths are sad – that’s how well-written they were.

Leah Westfall is a character who I loved from the start – she’s fierce, independent, smart, and helpful. She does so many things and doesn’t complain, no matter how harsh the conditions are for her.

Rae Carson manages to capture the world perfectly — the wagons, the oxen, the gold, and of course, the awful diseases. The details were down to the tiniest of things, the good kind of the details, not the annoying kind, and they were really nice.

I loved how the romance wasn’t really there and everything happened gradually without Leah losing her head over the guy and getting annoying and dwelling on him forever. It was slow and it was nice. (But, jsyk it still hasn’t really started even by the end of the book).

So, everything about this book is perfect, right? Why’d I give it 4 stars? Plot-wise, I felt WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER was pointless, almost like Rae Carson could fit the whole Gold Seer trilogy into one book instead of stretching it out. Yes, it was nice reading about Leah’s journey, but why drag it out when you could fit the journey in a section of the book and finish the rest of story in one book?

Despite that minor problem, I loved everything else about this book and I have a feeling you will too.

Originally posted on IceyBooks

I had heard some really good things about WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER and naturally, I was super excited to see fantasy elements in a historical fiction aspect. I always love discovering new books where genres collide and I was so excited to see magical elements in American history instead of a more high fantasy feel. When I received the audiobook for review from HarperTeen, I couldn’t resist starting right away!

WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER is essentially the Oregon Trail but in book form and with more backstory for each character. Leah Westfall embarks upon a journey to California after a traumatic incident at home in Georgia leaves her with virtually nothing left to stay for. The book definitely took on that Oregon Trail-feel for me with important points like Independence, MO and several things you might have encountered in the game while “on the road”. That’s not really the point or inspiration of the book but that really was a big feel of it for me since I’ve read very little about Pioneer times!

The hard thing for me throughout the book is that is really didn’t feel too much different than the Oregon Trail for me. There was the Gold Rush aspect which was interesting but aside from travelling from Georgia to California to go find the gold, there wasn’t too much happening (yet) with the Gold Rush. I didn’t realize at the time that this is actually the first in a series so the book actually closed off one leg of this adventure but even knowing that now, it still feels like not too much happened here. Personally, I have trouble with “journey” stories. As much as the journey itself is an adventure, it’s not enough to really hold my interest. A journey itself really isn’t enough plot for me so I just felt like there really wasn’t much going on aside from traveling.

Another big issue I had with WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER is that it was so heavily marketed as a historical fiction/fantasy blend but there really wasn’t much magic in the book at all. Leah’s abilities are introduced and lightly explored but aside from that (and being a motivator for her to leave for California), I didn’t really feel like the magic was involved much in the book at all. Again, I suppose a thing that will be explored in the rest of the series but since it didn’t grab me in the first book, it leaves me wondering if I even want to continue with the series.

The journey to California seemed to be such a big part of the book that I felt like I was just missing so much from plot, characters, and other points of action. I easily finished the audio and mostly enjoyed the book but it seemed to drag for a while when all the characters were doing was travelling and there was little to no magic to really bring that fantasy element around. WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER may just not have been the book for me and I’ll probably think on this a while before I decide if I want to continue the series or not.

I completely loved Rae Carson’s first fantasy series, Fire & Thorns, and was ecstatic when I heard she had a new series out. If you think you don’t read YA, I have two words for you to explain why you need to try Walk on Earth a Stranger – OREGON TRAIL.

Yes, that Oregon Trail. Leah Westfall has a secret ability. She can feel gold in the earth. No one but her parents know, and her family certainly doesn’t live like they are collecting gold by magic. Then poor Leah faces a terrible family tragedy in Georgia and decides the best place to go is to California. Leah becomes Lee and starts the long journey to the West. Just like the game! We have oxen and wagons and sadly have dysentery and other misfortunes. But most importantly, we have Lee. She’s a great character! She’s brave and she’s strong, even though she’s had horrible losses and she is afraid and alone. She isn’t waiting to be rescued – Lee is always ready to help rescue someone else. Carson made me feel like I was right there on the journey as Lee makes new friends and definitely some enemies. It wasn’t just Lee though! I felt really strongly (both good and bad) about her traveling companions as well. I will say that Jefferson needs to man up a bit if he is going to hold up to Hector from Fire and Thorns (swoon!). I was so anxious to see who would make it through each day of the journey or not.

The research Carson did on the period completely shines through. I did see commentary when the book came out about how Carson handles the racial issues at the times – Lee is white but her best friend Jefferson is half Cherokee to start. There is also interaction with Indian tribes along the Trail which made me really emotional to read. I was glad that Carson confronted the issues and forced Lee to think about what her comrades were doing. I hope to see more discussion come from the next book. For more – with spoilers – check out Debbie Reese’s discussion chapter by chapter.

For being a book about a magical girl, there is definitely not a lot of magic in Walk on Earth a Stranger. This reads almost like straight historical fiction -almost. I hope the next book goes further into what Lee can do – maybe even a why? Is she the only person with magic? Especially with her particular magic?! This is an adventure I will be following closely and I’m thankful to be following it via kindle and not a wagon train!

4 stars!

Thank you Greenwillow Books and Edelweiss for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I was growing up, I became slightly obsessed with a game called The Oregon Trail... It was a Western survival game with tough choices about health, animals, supplies, and mapping out routes. This book brings that game to life (well life in the book world that is).

Leah/Lee is a on the journey of a lifetime. She loses everything she knows and decides to flee to the West with her best friend soon to be love interest. In order to escape without being noticed she has to don men's clothing and act as a lad. She works for her passage and eventually finds what she is looking for. It's a unique story with emotional turmoil and charming twists. I found myself intrigued and fascinated by the western frontier. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and when I finished, I instantly went to purchase the next book.

It was a historical fiction with fantasy elements, a tough heroine, and a slow burn romance. It captured the essence of a time period and was able to bring aw upon the gold panning days. I fell in love and think readers of all ages will too. It's a total MUST READ!

Western scenery, wagons and gold are the top themes in this new trilogy coming from one of my favorite authors!

The year is 1849 and America lives through the "gold fever" a period in which many migrated towards California searching for gold and a new life. Lee lives with her parents in Georgia and has a secret; she can sense gold and her power is so strong she can even feel it under the mountains and deep in the earth.

Her best friend is Jeff who is half Native American and he is also considered as a person with "defencincies" through the novel despite him being a good person. After Lee's parents are found dead, she will not only become a boy but also she will journey towards California in order to escape her parents' murderer and keep her abilities a secret.

The book is mostly about the journey through the harsh enviroment of the American territory, through forests and rivers, mountains and deserts. Many times I opened a map in order to see the route for myself and I assure you that this is an adventure. Not only Lee has to travel as a boy, act like one and stay safe but she also meets with many people, most of them either travelers or greedy pursuers.

On the other hand, having in mind that this is the 19th century, Lee's status as a woman is always considered as fragile and delicate, yet she wokrs harder than anyone. Also, the women who are shown into the book, despite having a different position than the men, they are strong in their own ways. From how they act with their families, to childbirth and taking serious desicions.

Lee's character was one of the strongest I saw in the book. Through her POV and eyes we see a detailed world building which really felt like a perfectly made movie, and her moments with Jeff were sweet but slow. The romance here I hope will escalate in the second book, as along as something doesn't happen to any of them (if you have read Rae's first trilogy you'll know what I mean).

In the book also you may come to see how everyone treats Native Americans as "lowly, savages animals". Jeff is also treated disrespectfully because of his heritage and there are some bad scenes in the book, in which the men of the wagons treat the Native Americans badly. The term which is used in the book, which also has to match the time period, is "Indian", so please don't get angry. I know that Rae has done her research and she is actually very accurate in the words she uses.

This book has quite a lot of promise and I am defenitely reading the next one too!

Walk on Earth a Stranger renewed my love of historical fiction—in particular, historical fantasies.

For some readers, the first third of the novel was slow. For me, these pages were the best part of this novel. The first pages reintroduced me to Rae Carson's beautifully descriptive writing while immersing me in Lee's world. Few authors can give you a strong sense of the protagonist's characters in the span of a few pages. The hunting scene not only introduces us to Lee's personality and her abilities, it gives us insight into her lifestyle and the world she lives in. While I would have loved to see more of her life with her family (love the strong, positive family relationship here), events do progress quickly from here on out—in a way that made me feel so much for Lee and her loss.

Lee is a fierce young woman. So much has been taken from her, but she doesn't back down from any challenge. In fact, she not only has a strong will, she can work as well or even better than most men, and she has the resourcefulness and wits to do what it takes to survive. And she is confronted by so very much. She must deal with strongly rooted prejudice: against her gender, against her best friend for being half Cherokee, against African Americans. She must face death and partings. She must face the hardships and dangers of crossing America with little to her name. She must face her fears of trusting others. Not to mention her newfound feelings for her best friend (though romance plays a very small role in this novel—she has much bigger issues to worry about). I like how Lee's powers don't entirely give her an edge over the others while on the trail. She may be able to sense gold, but it doesn't help her much with all the challenges that she must face. There is more historical than fantasy in this novel, and I love it the way it is.

All these challenges create many opportunities for action scene after action scene. Lee is a very brave young woman. While I do wish that she would rely more on others, it was pretty satisfying to see her tackle everything head on and prove that a woman doesn't need a man to protect her. Heck, the other women may not all do "men's work," but they prove fierce in spirit as well. Becky, Lucie, Mary, and Theresa are all women on the trail as well. Each of them show courage in the face of harsh trials. And Rae Carson does not hold back in showing us the dangers of the trail. There is violence, prejudice, cruelty, illness, suffering, and death.

I do wish that the story wasn't as fast paced as it was. I understand that Lee's journey west is a long one, but I really would have liked to see more development of the other characters and her relationship with them as they bond over the course of the journey. In particular, Jefferson was often left out of the picture. I'm usually the one complaining that there's too much romance in a story, but I really would have liked to see more of Lee's conflict over him and how their relationship moves forward over the course of their journey. For example, I wouldn't have known that she was avoiding Theresa out of jealousy if Jefferson hadn't brought it up one time. I would have liked to see more of Lee's non-interactions with Theresa to get the picture before Jefferson brought it up.

All that said, there was one scene that really bugged me as it seemed randomly inserted: someone invites her to travel West with him, but she decides to join the Joyners and never does talk to that guy again. I wonder if he'll play a larger role later on. Otherwise, that was a pretty random scene.

Overall, Walk on Earth a Stranger is a brilliant if not entirely historically accurate work. I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment in the series!

MY THOUGHTS
I've had such luck with books lately! This book has been yet another anticipated read that met, maybe even exceeded my high expectations!

Lee has always been able to detect gold, enough gold to keep her family safe. She's kept it a secret, but someone knows and will do anything for the gold, and to have control of her. To escape, Lee decides to flee to California and meet her best friend along the way. But it's not easy, not at all, and she certainly can't travel as a girl.

The entire premise of this book is just so interesting! It's about a girl who can detect gold, during the Gold Rush Era. This was all done really well, and the plot did revolve around Lee's ability, but the setting actually felt more important. That sounds bad, but I actually loved it. This book includes Lee's journey to California, that's the majority of the book. While in some other books, I find traveling a bit boring, this was actually very interesting! Lee has to go through a lot to get to California, so there's not a dull moment, and the historical element was incredible! It really did feel like I was in that period!

I didn't realize this while going into this book, but it has one of my favorite tropes: a girl dressing as a boy. Major props in general for having my favorite trope, but it also was done in a very satisfactory way. Meaning: She was a boy for the majority of the book. Anyway Lee is a great MC. She's obviously strong and resourceful, she's able to go through so much and make it. Jeff is her best friend and he's also an amazing character! Actually, all the characters in this book are so well-developed, even the horrible ones!

Lastly, there isn't really a romance in this book. This is a shame because I was shipping things, but I expect romance in the next book. Maybe just a little bit?

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I loved this book! It was as amazing as I expected! The plot was unique, the historical elements were fantastic, and all of the characters were incredible well-developed! I admit I am very curious what will happen next in this series!

Book #105 Read in 2015
Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

This is the first book in a YA trilogy by the author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. Set during the California Gold Rush, this book has a touch of fantasy in which the main character, Leah, can "sense" where to find gold. She is asked to head to California by her good friend Jefferson, who is heading there to try his luck and get away from his abusive father. This book has action, interesting history, great characters, romance and humor. Over 400 pages, it was a quick read because I did not want to put it down. I would recommend this book to high school students (both boys and girls) and adults. I will continue this series. I received this book from the store Vine in exchange for a honest review.

http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com

Walk on Earth a Stranger renewed my love of historical fiction—in particular, historical fantasies.

For some readers, the first third of the novel was slow. For me, these pages were the best part of this novel. The first pages reintroduced me to Rae Carson's beautifully descriptive writing while immersing me in Lee's world. Few authors can give you a strong sense of the protagonist's characters in the span of a few pages. The hunting scene not only introduces us to Lee's personality and her abilities, it gives us insight into her lifestyle and the world she lives in. While I would have loved to see more of her life with her family (love the strong, positive family relationship here), events do progress quickly from here on out—in a way that made me feel so much for Lee and her loss.

Lee is a fierce young woman. So much has been taken from her, but she doesn't back down from any challenge. In fact, she not only has a strong will, she can work as well or even better than most men, and she has the resourcefulness and wits to do what it takes to survive. And she is confronted by so very much. She must deal with strongly rooted prejudice: against her gender, against her best friend for being half Cherokee, against African Americans. She must face death and partings. She must face the hardships and dangers of crossing America with little to her name. She must face her fears of trusting others. Not to mention her newfound feelings for her best friend (though romance plays a very small role in this novel—she has much bigger issues to worry about). I like how Lee's powers don't entirely give her an edge over the others while on the trail. She may be able to sense gold, but it doesn't help her much with all the challenges that she must face. There is more historical than fantasy in this novel, and I love it the way it is.

All these challenges create many opportunities for action scene after action scene. Lee is a very brave young woman. While I do wish that she would rely more on others, it was pretty satisfying to see her tackle everything head on and prove that a woman doesn't need a man to protect her. Heck, the other women may not all do "men's work," but they prove fierce in spirit as well. Becky, Lucie, Mary, and Theresa are all women on the trail as well. Each of them show courage in the face of harsh trials. And Rae Carson does not hold back in showing us the dangers of the trail. There is violence, prejudice, cruelty, illness, suffering, and death.

I do wish that the story wasn't as fast paced as it was. I understand that Lee's journey west is a long one, but I really would have liked to see more development of the other characters and her relationship with them as they bond over the course of the journey. In particular, Jefferson was often left out of the picture. I'm usually the one complaining that there's too much romance in a story, but I really would have liked to see more of Lee's conflict over him and how their relationship moves forward over the course of their journey. For example, I wouldn't have known that she was avoiding Theresa out of jealousy if Jefferson hadn't brought it up one time. I would have liked to see more of Lee's non-interactions with Theresa to get the picture before Jefferson brought it up.

All that said, there was one scene that really bugged me as it seemed randomly inserted: someone invites her to travel West with him, but she decides to join the Joyners and never does talk to that guy again. I wonder if he'll play a larger role later on. Otherwise, that was a pretty random scene.

Overall, Walk on Earth a Stranger is a brilliant if not entirely historically accurate work. I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment in the series!

MY THOUGHTS
I've had such luck with books lately! This book has been yet another anticipated read that met, maybe even exceeded my high expectations!

Lee has always been able to detect gold, enough gold to keep her family safe. She's kept it a secret, but someone knows and will do anything for the gold, and to have control of her. To escape, Lee decides to flee to California and meet her best friend along the way. But it's not easy, not at all, and she certainly can't travel as a girl.

The entire premise of this book is just so interesting! It's about a girl who can detect gold, during the Gold Rush Era. This was all done really well, and the plot did revolve around Lee's ability, but the setting actually felt more important. That sounds bad, but I actually loved it. This book includes Lee's journey to California, that's the majority of the book. While in some other books, I find traveling a bit boring, this was actually very interesting! Lee has to go through a lot to get to California, so there's not a dull moment, and the historical element was incredible! It really did feel like I was in that period!

I didn't realize this while going into this book, but it has one of my favorite tropes: a girl dressing as a boy. Major props in general for having my favorite trope, but it also was done in a very satisfactory way. Meaning: She was a boy for the majority of the book. Anyway Lee is a great MC. She's obviously strong and resourceful, she's able to go through so much and make it. Jeff is her best friend and he's also an amazing character! Actually, all the characters in this book are so well-developed, even the horrible ones!

Lastly, there isn't really a romance in this book. This is a shame because I was shipping things, but I expect romance in the next book. Maybe just a little bit?

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I loved this book! It was as amazing as I expected! The plot was unique, the historical elements were fantastic, and all of the characters were incredible well-developed! I admit I am very curious what will happen next in this series!

Book #105 Read in 2015
Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

This is the first book in a YA trilogy by the author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. Set during the California Gold Rush, this book has a touch of fantasy in which the main character, Leah, can "sense" where to find gold. She is asked to head to California by her good friend Jefferson, who is heading there to try his luck and get away from his abusive father. This book has action, interesting history, great characters, romance and humor. Over 400 pages, it was a quick read because I did not want to put it down. I would recommend this book to high school students (both boys and girls) and adults. I will continue this series. I received this book from the store Vine in exchange for a honest review.

http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com

Original Review Link: http://asdreamsaremade.com/2015/09/book-tuesday-arc-walk-on-earth-a-stranger/#more-2836

So I’ve loved Rae Carson since I first read The Girl of Fire and Thorns (which, if you haven’t read, you should totally go do that. Now.) Once I heard she was doing another series, I had to get my hands on it. Obviously.

Lee has a secret ability that she can’t tell a living soul about–she can sense gold and find it if it’s near her. An ability that most people would die–or kill—for. She uses her ability to help keep her family’s homestead afloat. When a man comes who wants to control this ability and rips everything she loves away from her, Lee knows the only way to stop him is to escape out west with the rest of the hopefuls to California where they say you can just pick up gold right where you’re standing. She disguises herself as a boy and makes her way out west. She never anticipates the hardships she would face or the trials, but she keeps telling herself that it will all be worth it when she reaches California—right?

I’m usually not one to enjoy Westerns, or stories to do with this time period in American History. I made an exception because it’s Rae Carson and I’m so glad I did! This was an interesting twist on a period in history that is often just spoke about in passing. “Oh right. The Gold Rush.” You can tell that the author put in her due diligence in her research and it definitely shows. The trials that these characters go through along the trail out west seems horrific and barbaric; then you realize that real people actually went through this and just wonder in awe at the tenacity and spirit that they must have had to keep going. I can tell you right now I would have never been one to travel out west.

Nope.

Lee is a fantastic character. She’s resilient, capable, and resourceful; the world around her forces her to be. In fact many of the other characters were just as fantastic, especially when we get to the trail. I loved watching them grow and evolve as they’re faced with one harrowing challenge after another. I don’t want to give much away because reasons, but one of my favorite characters in the whole book was Mrs. Joyner. Her journey, quite literally and emotionally, was fascinating and inspiring to see develop. You have to give her props. I loved Therese, Major Craven and the rest of the other families. Jefferson was ok for me. He made a nice match for Lee, but he was a bit blah for me in this book. I have a feeling he’ll really develop in the following installments. Lee’s uncle was downright CREEPY. He creeped me the creep out.

The plot moved well and the pacing was good. My one disappointment however, given the description, I would have thought Lee’s ability would play a larger part in the story. We didn’t really see it much. I just would have liked to have seen a bit more of it. I have a feeling though, we’ll be seeing plenty in the following books. The ending left you with a bit of a “What?!” kind of reaction. You just didn’t expect what happened to happen to soon.
Overall, this was a great start to a new trilogy. Very unique, original, and one that focuses on a part of history that many YA books tend to ignore. I’m really looking forward to the next book, and can’t wait to see what happens to Lee and the other characters!

Lee Westfall is unlike the other girls at her school. Instead of a delicate face and sweet disposition, Lee is strong and tough. Instead of spending her days cleaning the house and cooking food, Lee is busy hunting animals and mucking out the horses’ stalls. Other girls notice and tease her for her strong jaw and calloused hands, but they do not know the other element that makes Lee different from the rest of them: Lee can sense gold. Due to Lee’s ability, her family has a house, food and clothing. But still, Lee feels compelled to do more for her family, especially with her father sick.

When the Gold Rush breaks out in California, Lee longs to go make use of her power, but with her father’s illness, a long journey is out of the question. However, when Lee’s family, home and freedom are suddenly taken away from her, there is nothing that can hold her back. Determined to make it to California and put her power to good use, Lee must avoid a man who would stop at nothing to get a hold of her unique ability.

WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER by Rae Carson is an exciting, adventurous novel centered on a young girl trying to find her place in a world where she is an outcast.Between the setting, plot line and characters, this novel will take the reader back to the times of highway robbers and wide open fields in a way that will make them yearn for the Wild West. Carson captures the essence of the time period perfectly, and depicts life in the South in an adventurous yet realistic way. She also shows the injustices that occurred during the Gold Rush, and readers will appreciate the fact that she doesn’t omit any unpleasant details.

The plotline of WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER can be slightly predictable, but overall fits the setting perfectly, as do the characters --- Lee has fitting dialogue and mannerisms and her friend Jefferson aids her development throughout the novel. Overall, readers will find themselves fully immersed in the world of WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER, as it perfectly captures the spirit of adventure that thrived during this time period.

Reviewed by Kate F.

It’s 1849 and the California Gold Rush has just begun. Families and individuals everywhere are packing up and heading west in hopes of finding fortune. For Leah “Lee” Westfall, leaving her family homestead in Georgia is unthinkable. But when a tragedy leaves her orphaned and in the hands of the potential perpetrator, she has no choice but to flee. Disguised as a boy, Lee embarks on a dangerous journey across the nation, holding close another secret, her ability to sense gold. Not knowing who to trust, every step Lee takes has the potential to overthrow her plans, returning her to a life that promises nothing but misery.

Rae Carson’s Walk on Earth a Stranger chronicles the journey to California many took during 1849, one filled with hardship, but a steady hope that something greater lies at the end. Carson’s storytelling is wonderfully detailed, the setting so well-written, as a reader you feel every step these characters take. The pacing of this novel can at times seem slow, but I’m not sure if that’s a fair criticism considering how historically accurate she writes Lee’s journey. Traveling largely by wagon, it takes roughly half a year for Lee and company to complete the long trek. Along the way they run into various obstacles and have to make heartbreaking sacrifices in order to survive. Carson also touches on gender role issues and racism. Though men are seen as the head of the family, it is the women in the company who endure and prove their worth beyond measure. Jefferson, Lee’s best friend since childhood, has endured ridicule his whole life, being half Cherokee and Irish. We see how this heritage has affected his point of view amongst a people who see the Native Americans as nothing more than savages.

A journey like this tries a person, revealing their true character and in this novel, Lee proves herself to be incredibly hard-working and far stronger than she realizes. Even though her entire world has been turned upside down, she still manages to press on. While her secret keeps her from forming close relationships, she eventual learns that taking the risk of opening up yields a more rewarding outcome. I was a little disappointed to see Lee’s “gold sense” used so sparingly in this novel, but her new location will provide plenty of opportunity to use this gift in the coming books. Lee is not the only one to grow on her journey. I was so glad to see certain characters who start off as callous and unsympathetic bloom into someone you can root for and I’m hoping these characters remain in Lee’s life.

This first installment in the Gold Seer trilogy is more likely to appeal to fan of historical fiction rather than fantasy, but regardless, I think anyone can appreciate Rae Carson as an incredibly gifted storyteller.

WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER combines historical fiction with fantasy. Leah Westfall is a pretty normal young girl living in Georgia in 1849 with her mother and her father on their homestead. Except, Leah can sense gold both in the ground and in finished form. Her talent is hidden by her parents for fear that she would be exploited. Because he father is ill, Lee does the farm work, takes care of the animals, and does the hunting needed to feed her family. Naturally, this makes her an object of ridicule by the other girly girls who go to school with her. Her only friends are a young man named Jefferson, who is half Native American and who is being raised by his drunken and abusive father, and her palomino horse Peony.

When her parents are murdered by her smarmy Uncle Hiram, Lee decides to disguise herself as a boy and go off to California since the gold rush has just begun. Jefferson left a few days earlier and promised to wait for her in Independence if she decides to come. Thus begins her harrowing journey from Georgia overland to California.

Along her journey she meets evil people, including the three men who rob her on her first day away from home, and good people, including the men on the flatboat who offer her a job and get her closer to Independence. Once in Independence, she has to find her friend Jefferson and a wagon train to join for the long trip to California.

The detail about the hardships of the trip overland - inadequate food, water, medicine - are well documented. Lee's wagon train includes a wide variety of people from immigrant families from Canada and Germany, to three college boys who are "confirmed bachelors," to a bunch of hard-bitten Missouri men, to a preacher and his pregnant wife, to a sheep farmer with ten wagons. Lee and Jefferson end up working for the Joyners who are a gentleman, his wife and two small children. They insist an hauling all their furniture with them including the dining room table that they set every night with a red-checked tablecloth.

In the wagon train, we get a microcosm of life at the time with its prejudices against Native American and Black Americans, with its religious intolerance, with its rigid roles for the sexes. Lee is not going to be owned by a man and wonders why she is treated like she is stupid when she is dressed as a woman.

This was the great beginning to a series. I can't wait to find out what comes next for Lee and company now that they have reached California.

original review @[...]

I wanted to read this book because the plot was different and new for me. The plot takes place in the mid 19th century where our main character Leah( or Lee) has the ability to sense gold in the world around her( pretty cool right!!!). The book starts with Leah putting her excellent hunting skills to use to hunt a deer and in the process gets a gold rush when she senses gold in the surrounding areas. She has kept her family safe but after her parents are murdered she flees her home to California as she believes her Uncle(guardian) is the one responsible for her parent’s death and he wants to take advantage of Leah’s powers for himself.

She disguises as a boy and she leaves her home with her beloved horse,Peony. She decides to follow her best friend, Jefferson(who doesn’t know her secret). She hopes to find Jefferson at the independence as he said that he would wait for her there. On her way there, Leah faces a lot of problems but she finally meets Jefferson. The book shows her journey to California, meeting new people, hiding her secret, battling her feeling for Jefferson and not be found by her Uncle.

I loved Leah’s character, she is a total bad-ass heroine( added to my list). Loved that the author has portrayed her as a strong female character. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty. Leah is brave, strong, level-headed and determined. This book shows us that women are not to be taken advantage of. We get to see how Leah faces all the problem in a level-minded way. Liked how Leah didn’t just accept Jefferson’s proposal immediately but takes the time to figure out their relationship. The only time Leah lets fear into her mind is at the mention of her Uncle or the possibility of him finding her.

The minus for me was that there wasn’t an element of surprise or twists in this book. I felt the book would have been better if there was a major cliffhanger at the end. I didn’t find any sparks in the slow romance between Jefferson and Leah. More than half the book covers her journey to California. It was more like a journey book.

I really loved the way the author has described the different issues such as sexism, homosexuality, discrimination… in the book without it being over the top. The first book in this series gives a good start to the sequels.

OVERALL

You need to read the book for the amazing journey of Leah Westfall. It’s a story of survival and adventure with a gorgeous cover and it’s a RAE CARSON BOOK!!!! What more do you want?…

"Walk On Earth A Stranger" is a thrilling adventure that begins in Dahlongea in 1849 where Leah (Lee) Westfall's power to sense gold in the world around her triggers the tragic death of her parents, and her desperation to flee their murderer. Dressed as a boy, armed with her father's shotgun and with money from the sale of two horses she starts on a dangerous journey, following her best friend Jefferson to Independence to find a wagon train headed for the gold fields of California.

Set in the heady days of California's gold-rush men, women and children face the hazardous perils of a rough overland journey across the mountains and wilderness of America hoping to strike it rich. When tragedy strikes leaving her homeless, Lee fearing that her parents' murderer wants to control her power strikes out with other adventurers headed for the gold fields. With every mile the author builds tension and suspense as Lee faces a raging river, sickness, a stampede and the unpredictability of her boss and his wife. In this fast-paced, action-packed plot with twist and turns that keep the reader mesmerized, the intensity continually escalates as Lee and her friend Jefferson not only face obstacles along the way but are confronted with snobbery, and prejudice. Only with the odd dash of humour and Lee's longing for more than friendship from Jefferson is the gravity of their struggle diluted.

In all of Rae Carson's novels the plot is enriched with complex, realistic and unforgettable characters like Leah Westfall a.k.a. Lee McCauley a bold, spirited, and resourceful sixteen year old with a magical instinct for gold. Jefferson McCauley Kingfisher, plagued with a drunk father is Lee's quiet, organized and loyal best friend who she fears has fallen in love with responsible and pretty Therese Hoffman. These main characters and others add energy, depth and excitement to this riveting drama.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Walk On Earth A Stranger" and look forward to reading the next installment in this fascinating and entertaining trilogy with its realistic historical backdrop.

Set in the mid nineteenth century during the California gold-rush, Walk on Earth a Stranger is a captivating and often touching read. After her parents' brutal murder, Leah Westfall is forced to leave her hometown of Dahlonega, Georgia, to escape her uncle, Hiram. Hoping to meet up with her longtime friend, Jefferson McCauly, she heads west with thousands of gold seekers and pioneers with only her horse, Peony, for company.

A true page-turner, Walk on Earth a Stranger is definitely among my favorite five books for this year. This book gripped me from the very first page where it is revealed that the main character, Lee, has an unusual supernatural gift. From there on I simply immersed myself in the adventures of Leah, her horse, and her best friend, Jefferson.

The characters in this book are realistic, endearing and definitely the kind of people one wants to continue reading about. Leah is tough and gutsy, yet, deep down she is still the lady her mother wanted her to be.

Jefferson is a bit more of an enigma. With his Native American heritage, he is often bitter about other people's attitudes regarding his ethnicity. He and Leah make a wonderful team when they are working for the Joiner family. Together, and knowing each other's ways, they perform several rescues during the hard journey to California.

What struck me was the staggering amount of research the author must have put into this book. Vivid descriptions of life in a travelling wagon train put me right there with the families as they journeyed across prairie, desert and mountains. Romance is only hinted at throughout most of this story.

For a stimulating, gripping and deeply touching read, I recommend Walk on Earth a Stranger as an absolute must-read. (Ellen Fritz)

Historical fiction isn’t always my favorite. I have a few time periods that I do enjoy reading about, but they’re not numerous. When I read the description of Walk on Earth a Stranger I was torn. On the one hand, I liked how different the description was from what I normally read, but on the other hand, I read what I normally read because I have a pretty good sense of what I’ll enjoy and what I won’t. Reading a book about the California Gold Rush wasn’t something I was sure I would enjoy. Yet, others have raved about Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns series which has been on my TBR list for a few years. So I took this as a good opportunity to get my feet wet and finally read something by Rae Carson. But as happens sometimes, after I requested Walk on Earth a Stranger I started to second guess myself and think that I’m just not in the mood for something like this. The release date was approaching so I knew that I really needed to start it sooner rather than later and here we are.

Lee Westfall has to work hard even as a girl. Her father is sick and this requires her to take on a lot of the household responsibilities. She has to feed chickens, muck stalls, and even hunt to provide for her family. Lee’s never been your typical girl. She’s never had that luxury. Her unique ability to sense gold has kept her family from starving, but it’s a secret that their family guards dearly. They can’t just keep taking gold in and getting paid for it because people will start to get suspicious. Aside from that, it seems like Georgia is running out of gold to find. It’s true that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,” and when someone finds out Lee’s secret, she’s forced to flee her home. Her best friend, Jefferson, also ran away a few days before Lee is forced to and so she plans to meet up with him in Independence and follow the gold to California along with the many, many others who set out to travel east in search of gold.

For a large portion of her journey, Lee travels alone. The only companion she has is her horse from home. She encounters many dangers, but life on the road is made a little simpler by her choice to travel dressed as a boy. She’s able to trade services and work in exchange for food and lodging from time to time. The solitary nature of the first portion of the book could make for some slower parts, but I felt like the story progresses at a nice even pace, and I was driven by a desire to know if she would ever catch up with Jefferson or if Jefferson would have left Independence before Lee makes it there.

Lee eventually does make it to Independence and joins up with a wagon train heading to California. She signs on under contract as hired help and must therefore continue her disguise throughout the journey. Despite pretending to be male, Lee does make several friends within their traveling party. Yet she still has a secret bigger than her gender to hide. The wagon train journey takes approximately 50% of the book and Lee’s solitary journey to Independence approximately 50%. The journey was interesting and they have a ragtag group of traveling companions. There’s the family that Lee signs up to work for. The husband is headstrong but not always wise. The wife submissive and religious, often coming across as arrogant. There’s a group of men that we don’t know too much about but seem to be a bit wild. We’ve got a war veteran, some college dropouts, a German family, a preacher and his pregnant wife, a half Caucasian half Native America, a girl pretending to be a boy, several children, horses, oxen, sheep, and a couple of dogs. I had a few minor issues with this chosen group of characters. It seems that most of these characters fit into a stereotype of some sort that seemed more fitting (to me) for today’s culture than the culture of 1848/1849 thus taking away slightly from the authentic feel of the story and time period.

Walk on Earth a Stranger wasn’t big in the romance area. There’s a hint of potential for a relationship to grow and blossom into more, but the book was definitely not about this. If you’re looking for a romance/kissing book, this is definitely not the one. However, I do see where this aspect could grow and be a bigger piece of the remaining two books in the trilogy. We’ll see. For my own reading preferences, I hope so.

Favorite quotes:
-Everything’s harder when you do it alone.

-Strange how you don’t notice things until they’re taken away.

-“…But a man can’t wait forever and stay a man.”

-Turns out, the great, wide world doesn’t look anything like a flat, little map.

-Pretending is exhausting. I know it better than anyone. But I hope I never go so far as to pretend to myself…

-“No man should be a slave, but no man should be a thief either.”

Walk on Earth a Stranger was better than I expected it to be. I enjoyed Lee’s story and how her journey helped her learn so much about herself. The setting and time period was also more enjoyable than I expected, but I was slightly annoyed with some of the more modern stereotyped characters. I read Walk on Earth a Stranger in a little over 24 hours, although I can see where this might be a book that others could get bogged down with and take a good bit longer to read. I hope to see some romance really develop over the next book. But overall, I think Walk on Earth a Stranger deserves 4 Stars. Have you read Walk on Earth a Stranger? What did you think? Let me know!

A better title for this book would have been "Oregon Trail: The computer game you loved in book form". It has all the components...the wagon train (though to be fair they're going to California, not Oregon) the oxen dying/the disease/the hunting/fording the rivers...but the game is much quicker paced. While the author tries to make this a 'real life' situation, many of the events while they may have actually happened seem unbelievable. too many tragedies happen to this wagon train...I can buy a couple of them happening but not all of them.

Also, the main character is able to sense gold but this talent plays little to no role in this book (other than sparking the main problem in the beginning). This is Leah's most unique trait and it's wasted (though maybe it will play a bigger role in later books). But the worst part was that many of these characters have no personality. I struggled to remember who half of them were. The only one I ended up really caring about was Mrs. Joyner because her arc is so complete. As for Leah and her 'love'...bah. That relationship isn't established and Jefferson is very one dimensional.

All that said, it was a very quick read and I was interested to see what happened to the wagon train. But I'm glad I got this from the library and didn't spend any money. And I'm not sure I'll continue with the series.

I love historical fiction, and really enjoyed Rae's writing in Girl of Fire and Thorns so i knew that I would be picking this book up. When I saw it at the library last time I went, I snatched it up so fast and bumped it to the top of my TBR, and I am so glad that I did!

I fell in love with Leah Westfall's story immediately, and the story kept a fast pace for the first few chapters, building up the journey. I absolutely love Rae's writing style -you are in this world, not just merely reading about it. Lee and Jefferson are real people, friends, and Leah's heartbreak at her parents murder is so raw and real that I felt the emotions too.

At the end of the book, Rae explains that she took real historical events, places, and people but did change a few things to fit her story. After reading that, it made me trult appreciate the characters even more, and it was a realistic glimpse into our country in the mid-1800s. It is so easy to forget what life and our country were like just 165ish years ago, and what the country was built on.

Rae has a magical way with words that draw you in and don't let go of your heart and emotions. I truly have a hangover from this book, it was just wonderfully written. Even tho the book is 430ish pages, the entire book takes place on the trail to California. Even though nothing is really happening, as in they are traveling for rhe entirety of the book, still there is SO MUCH that happens. There are robberies, murders, betrayal, bullying, stereotyping, gender roles, magic and just so much more in this book that even if you don't tend to read historical fiction, there will be something that pulls you in and keeps you wrapped up page after page.

I do not tend to pick up books where girls pose as boys, but this one was just was written so well and was so believable. I really loved the magical aspect of the story too, and the focus on keeping secrets and how it can bring together and push apart. 

I enjoyed where the book left off, even though it was a bit anti-climatic, it leaves room for sooooo much to happen in the last 2 books of this trilogy, that I cannot wait to see where Rae takes us next as we follow Lee, Jeff, and the rest of the wagon trail gang.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a wonderfully written story about love, trust, and a sprinkle of magic that can show someone who feels lost that maybe they've found the exact right place where they belong.

Walk On Earth A Stranger was a really interesting story. I loved the concept, but I found a big chunk of the book to be really boring. This book felt more like prequel than the first book in a series. I am, however, excited about book 2 and where the story is going to go from here.

I really enjoyed the character of Lee. She is smart and brave. She is on the run to California to join the gold rush, with her magical ability to sense gold. The ability her uncle wants to use and control. She is able to detect right away that her uncle only has the worst of intentions and decides to run away and hopefully catch up with Jefferson, her best friend, who left days before.

Lee’s journey west was the part of this book I found boring. For long periods of time she was just traveling and even the flashes of action during her journey didn’t really excite me at all. It started to pick up right around the time she found Jefferson and I really enjoyed the story from then on. I did find it really interesting that she managed to make this long journey while hiding her ability and pretending to be a boy.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I enjoyed Rae Carson’s writing style. I have not read any of her other books, but I am looking forward to reading them and reading the next book in this series. The story moved a little slowly, but this is a pretty good book and I would definitely recommend it.

*E-Arc provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I loved this author's first YA series, FIRE AND THORNS, but was hesitant to get into this series. I just didn't think Westerns were my thing. How glad I am I gave it a try! As expected, the writing was beautiful, and while not as plot driven as the first series, the characters were compelling and made me want to keep reading.

As others have mentioned, the book sometimes reads more like a travelogue than a novel, but to me it didn't feel slow and I enjoyed taking the journey with the main characters. Comparisons to the old computer game "Oregon Trail" are also accurate, although for me that was a good thing.

If you enjoyed reading the FIRE AND THORNS series, I would really recommend giving this series a try, even though the setting is so different. Basically everything I loved about the author's writing is on display this book. Definitely glad I picked it up.

Summary: Protagonist Leah Westfall finds herself running away from her home in Georgia and on the trail to California during the Gold Rush era. Disguised as a boy and armed with her ability to sense gold in the earth, Leah sets forth on a long and arduous journey to make a new home in California, all the while struggling to survive while being hunted by her enemy.

Rae Carson delivers a satisfactory first book in the Gold Seer trilogy; the novel features a strong, no-nonsense female lead, as well as a rich and descriptive setting. Characters throughout the novel are fairly well developed and add flavor to the novel with their unique personalities. Carson intersperses the plotline with plenty of action so that readers remain engaged with the story.

While the novel is quite good, it isn't perfect; there were a couple of things I had issues with when reading. First off, the writing style and the language was a bit stilted. I understand that the story is set during a particular place and time when colloquial English was slightly different from modern language. However, the author's phrasing and use of words seemed a little awkward at times. The plotline, while quite interesting, got bogged down by a lot of side scenarios that did not seem to contribute to the overall story. As such, I found the pace of the book dragging in some places. The small bit of romance incorporated in the story seemed a little confusing and forced as well. While there seems to be evidence of a budding relationship, the establishment of said relationship is vague and sudden. There are hints of a weak love triangle, but it never gets fleshed out. I found that the relationship in this book paled in comparison to the relationships that were in the author's Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy. The ending of this novel was also anti-climatic and far from a stirring cliffhanger leading to the next novel, and thus fell short of my expectations.

While this book is a promising start to the series, I can't help but compare it to Rae Carson's other trilogy- the Girl of Fire and Thorns. I feel that the GoFT trilogy was so strong and had such perfect storytelling elements, that it currently overshadows the Gold Seer trilogy. However, I fervently hope that the next two books in this series will build and surpass Walk on Earth a Stranger, because this book has a lot of potential.

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)

“The gold sense sparks in the back of my throat, sharp and hard. It creeps down my throat and into my chest, where it diffuses into a steady buzz, like dancing locusts.”

This was a YA fantasy story, about a girl who could detect gold.

I felt quite sorry for Leah, the things she went through with her parents and her uncle was awful, and what she was then forced to do was also pretty shocking.

The storyline in this was about Leah leaving her home to find gold (there were other reasons but I don’t want to drop spoilers), but I felt like Leah’s ability to feel gold was almost forgotten in favour of other things that were going on during her journey, which wasn’t what I was expecting. The pace was also a little on the slow side for me, and I did lose interest a bit.
There was a little hint at romance in this, but not a lot really.

The ending to this was okay, but there was plenty of room left open for another book or more.

6 out of 10

Very different than what Rae Carlson's done before - it's her take on the California Gold Rush with a little bit of magic thrown in. I really enjoyed it and although the first book reads like one long trek/travelogue - it's supposed to. It's giving you a feel for what it was really like crossing the entire United States on foot.

It was well researched and well written and I was entertained by it and wanted to keep reading. I immediately dove into Book 2, which I also enjoyed and am anxiously awaiting the third book to see how it all turns out.

Author Richelle Mead should take notes. This is how you combine the Old West and gold hunting with a fantasy element.

While reading Walk on Earth a Stranger, I found myself in like with the book. I thought it was better than okay, but there was just something missing that would make me adore it. It's weird, this book had strong writing, the characters were okay (could've been slightly more complex, but what can you do?), so I just can't exactly pinpoint why I didn't love it. One thing that I didn't like was that it took a bit too long for me to get engaged in it. I think it was after page 100 that I stopped groaning about how Walk on Earth a Stranger wasn't going anywhere. That's a bit too long for me. However, I think that my main problem with the book was the fact that prior to read this, I had read Vengeance Road. And all I could think about while reading Walk on Earth a Stranger was how better Vengeance Road was. More western, more personality, more engagement. If I hadn't read Vengeance Road prior to reading this one, I might've liked it more. Anyway, three stars.

I thought this YA novel was interesting and liked it, but I didn't love it. It primarily is a historical Gold Rush-era novel, with a little bit of fantasy/magic. Leah, the main character, has the ability to sense gold. She and her parents keep this ability a secret but things happen that make her leave her home.

The fantasy portion of this book is a big part of what drives the plot, but a very small part of the book itself. The biggest part of the book is a journey story -- both the physical journey Leah sets out on and the emotional journey she goes through on the way. She is a likeable character but a lot of the other characters were either stereotypes or just in the background without a lot of dimension. The hazards and details of the journey were probably the most interesting part of the book.

Even though I didn't love this book, I would definitely read the next book in the trilogy to see what happens next.

I had the pleasure of listening to this audio and loved it. I really enjoyed the story and the main character Leah or Lee. Leah is able to witch up gold and when her parents are murdered by her uncle, he wants to use her ability to make him rich. She decides to runaway and head west for the gold rush in California. She finds out that you need to trust a few people and you can make your own family. I loved how developed the characters are. You feel really connected to each one of them. You want them to fail and succeed. It is quite the experience. I liked the way the setting was described and I felt transplanted back to the 1800's. Now the narrator was fantastic. She is one of the best narrators I have ever heard. I look forward to reading or listening to the rest of the series when it becomes available

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
Book One of The Gold Seer Trilogy
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: September 22, 2015
Rating: 3 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.

Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research.

What I Liked:

I absolutely ADORED Rae Carson's Fire & Thorns series. I'd read The Girl of Fire and Thorns before blogging (mid-2012), but read The Crown of Embers and The Bitter Kingdom as they were published. Such an agonizing wait for The Bitter Kingdom! I loved that the series got better with each book. I'm really hoping that the same will apply for this series.

Leah Westfall can sense gold, which is a handy ability during the Gold Rush. No one knows about her ability excerpt her parents - and her uncle who murders her parents and tells Lee they will be heading West, him and her. Lee runs away, journeying to the West on her own. On the way, she joins a family - the Joyners - and a friend who also ran away - Jefferson - and it's not long before Lee feels like she has a place in the group that she's traveling with. But Lee has more secrets than one - she can sense gold, but she's also masquerading as a boy.

Rae Carson has certainly created a unique and rich story, scene, and cast of characters. I haven't read many Westerns, or books set in nineteenth-century United States, in YA. I actually just read Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman, and it follows the EXACT PLOT (except Kate can't sense gold). Parents are killed (parent, in Kate's case), girl goes out on her own, gold is a huge factor in the story. I LOVED Vengeance Road, but I didn't quite love this one.

Still, I was very interested in this story, from start to finish. Despite this book being slightly longer than most YA books (which doesn't bother me!), the story moves at a decent pace. I have a dislike about the pacing actually, but it's a little different (see below). I wasn't bored, even though the plot wasn't terribly fast.

I liked Lee from the start. She is an only child, with no brother, so she does all of the labor that a boy would normally do, including mucking the stables and whatnot. She also pans for gold, since she has the gold sense. Lee takes care of her family, so when her parents are murdered, Lee knows that she can't let her uncle treat her like property. Lee is strong (and not just physically) and brave, brave enough to start her journey to California (from Georgia) by herself.

Jefferson is her friend from Georgia, who leaves for the West before she does, just after her parents are murdered. The pair don't meet up until Lee reaches Independence (Missouri, I believe) with the Joyners. Jefferson is half-white, half-Native-American, and is used to people treating him terribly. He keeps Lee's secret about being a girl from everyone, but he doesn't know about her gold sense.

Overall, I thought the story was interesting, maybe not engaging though (see below). I expect a lot more from the next books, which should be the case, given what I know about the Fire & Thorns series.

What I Did Not Like:

My biggest issue with this book is that I felt it was going nowhere. Lee is on a journey to the West, okay. But is that it? It really seemed like that was it. We REALLY get to know the people in the group she's traveling with (the Joyners, but also a few other family, and Major Craven, some college boys, and more). But there is no additional layer to the book. You'd think Lee's gold sense would come back to haunt her at some point, or Uncle Hiram would find her and kidnap her and force her to find gold. I don't know what I was expecting, but I think I expected MORE. This book was so one-dimensional, one-layered.

Not to say that it was boring? But it moved in one direction, and that direction wasn't really anywhere. Going to the West. The end. Is the book about making friends along the way? Golly gee, I really don't think that's what I wanted to read, or expected to read. Given that her last series was a high fantasy one, I think I expected this book to have shenanigans going on.

So I'd say the pacing was slow. Interesting, not terribly boring, but slow.

Also, let's talk about anachronisms. Some of the speech and dialogue in this book were definitely anachronistic. I wish I had bookmarked where I saw these lines, but I didn't want to dog-ear my book! But I distinctly remember thinking, that sentence is way too modern, at least a few times. Not a huge deal, but not a good thing, necessarily.

The ending felt so anticlimactic. I think this goes along the lines of what I was saying earlier, about the story being flat, but the ending felt like nothing really changed? Sure, there were plenty of deaths along the way, but the actual climax and ending didn't seem riveting or anything. It was just there. Just another day in the West. La la la.

Also, isn't it strange that certain people caught up to the group in the West, while traveling? The West is a HUGE place... it seemed way too coincidental. Too convenient.

This last thing I'm going to mention isn't *really* a complaint, but more of a comment for those like me who enjoy a good romance alongside a story - the romance isn't really a thing in this book. Sure, there are seeds, but not happens, nothing is going on. Just seeds. Please water them in the next book, Rae Carson. Knowing what I know about the Fire & Thorns series, I'm sure that will be the case.

Would I Recommend It:

Despite not loving this one, I'd recommend it! It's fun to read different genres, and Western historical fiction is definitely one that I don't read nearly enough. Granted, there aren't that many published in YA lit. Me reading two Westerns in one year is impressive, let alone two in two months! Even if you don't like Westerns, give this book a shot! I think things will pick up in the next book.

Rating:

3 stars. I hope to see more related to Lee's gold sense. I hope to see more once Lee and the gang reach California and tuck in. There needs to be more to the plot, because right now, this story isn't meaning much to me! Still, I am interested in the next book, as I trust Rae Carson.