Set in 1870’s San Francisco, this time period was not easy on children with poverty and lack of family hard on everyone. Main character Jack London (the girl pictured front and center on the cover) is a tough 11-year-old who is an expert pickpocket. Jack uses her skills and boldness to help her found family.

Trouble immediately arrives when she pickpockets a gold watch from the richest man in San Francisco. Jack is suddenly the target of gangs and the so called King of the Barbary Coast.

Help comes from a stray dog, a kidnapped prince, and an ex-best friend. She’ll have to use these three and her smarts to get out of this mess or Jack may lose her family.

The adventurous story is fiction but uses many well known names during that time. Ones like William Randolph Hearst, Ned Allen, and Offty Goofty. The real world building is nicely done to give readers a sense of what life was like over 150 years ago. Be prepared for a large cast of characters Jack encounters. There’s even a two-page list at the beginning of more than 20 names in the story. I went back to this list several times to remind me who was who.

THE BARBARY CHRONICLES will appeal to anyone who likes a fast-paced plot with memorable characters. The third person narration is perfect propelling you to the exciting and dangerous finish. Although this story wraps up nicely, there are hints of a sequel which would be welcome.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: October 6, 2026 PAGES: 224

Check out the poster with an 1870s map of the Barbary Coast as well as the reader’s guide here.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE BARBARY CHRONICLES by Bobbi Miller

1. The emotional impact that many children didn’t have a family and took to living on the streets.
2. Dog lovers will appreciate the loyalty and braveness of Alaska, that cute pup.
3. The attitude of never giving up is a welcome one and is prevalent throughout the tale.
4. Lady Jane, my favorite adult character, heads The Family so that many young ones actually do have a family.
5. The extras not every novel has like a colorful poster inside the cover and an extended author’s note about the places and real-life characters in the story. Don’t miss either of these.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bobbi Miller has a passion for exploring the American landscape and spinning tall tales. She does both in her books for young readers, including Big River’s Daughter and The Girls of Gettysburg. She also blogs about writing on Smack Dab in the Middle and Teaching Authors.

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