Jo's Journey

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Harvard,
Massachusetts.

In this sequel to Jo’s Triumph (2002), Jo is still disguised as a boy,
but the routine of her days in comparison to her former life as a Pony
Express rider makes her restless for adventure. When she reads about the
Gold Rush in the Caribou, she convinces her fellow orphan friend Bart to
go there with her.

Their journey begins on a steamship, where they meet Mr. Emerson, a
portly businessman who offers to pay their way north in exchange for
their labour. Along the trail they hear stories that not only warn them
of terrible hardships ahead, but also inspire the hope of acquiring
incredible wealth. As the trek goes on, Mr. Emerson becomes meaner and
more demanding; he even risks the horses and the men’s lives to reach
his destination. Jo and Bart continue on with heavy hearts, but when
Bart falls into a river and Jo jumps in to save him, they are left
behind. It is at this time that Jo reveals her true identity to Bart.
Happily, their friendship remains strong and by chance they find a few
flakes of gold.

The reader is given a sense of the dangers and discomforts faced by
those who travelled the Caribou Trail from Victoria to Antler’s Creek.
The tension of someone discovering Jo’s true identity and her
increasing feelings of affection for Bart add a touch of romance to this
fine historical adventure story. A teacher’s guide is available from
the publisher. Recommended.