Book excerpt: Learn how prospectors mined for gold, what life was like in mining camps, and much more. In 1848, gold was discovered in a California river, kicking off a period of time when thousands of people traveled to the West Coast with dreams of getting rich. Readers (Ages 7-9) will get an up-close look at life during the California Gold Rush as they follow the adventures of Louise and Feng, two kids living in a mining camp near San Francisco.