International Rights

Up the Creek

  • ISBN 9781443175746, Paperback
  • 240 Pages | Ages 9 to 12

Has Chris Dearing finally broken his family’s run of bad luck? Find out in this hilarious, high-stakes companion to Mine!

After a lifetime of bad luck, Chris Dearing is sure his family fortunes have finally turned around. With the help of some friends, he’s reclaimed his granddad’s old land in Dawson City, Yukon, and is adjusting to life with his new foster parents. While he waits for his dad to get out of jail — and get sober — Chris turns his attention to his next challenge: finding the gold that he knows is somewhere on his family’s claim.

What’s standing in his way? A few things: a) he doesn’t know a thing about gold mining, and it turns out there’s a lot more to it than a pan in a creek; b) Lucy, the attack goose guarding the local junkyard; c) the fact that Family Services keeps getting in the way; d) two Filthy Rats trying to swindle Chris’s dad out of the gold; oh, and last but not least, e) the rumours that Chris’s grandfather didn’t actually find his gold — he stole it.

The stakes are high and the hijinks even higher in this touching, witty companion to Mine!

Rights Sold

Kyrgyz – Kitepstan Publishing

Selling Points

• An insightful look at a kid dealing with tough family issues, including foster parents, a father with alcoholism and money troubles.
• A contemporary action-adventure with humour and a dose of mystery.
• Who hasn’t dreamed of getting lucky with a windfall of gold?

Awards

  • Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, 2021

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