What do you think?
Rate this book
Hope City: The Alaskan Adventures of Percy Hope
Two teenage boys from San Francisco set off in the summer of 1898 into the goldfields of the Alaskan wilderness.
Warned by his father to conceal his Jewish heritage from the ruffians he may encounter, Samuel Rothman changes his name to the less conspicuous Percy Hope. This fateful decision gives a yet-unnamed mining village a new identity and catapults Percy into a world where the good and the righteous must face greedy and ruthless adversaries.
Along a waterway known as Turnagain Arm, the newly named Hope City and the more established Sunrise are like opposite sisters. The good and virtuous Hope, with a Catholic church led by the influential Reverend O’Hara, admonishes residents against committing the seven deadly sins. In Sunrise, villainous saloon owner Magnus Vega tempts prospectors with whiskey, gambling, and women.
Hope City weaves the tale of a young man falling down a rabbit hole of unexpected hardships and struggling to find his way out, amid a wild and unforgiving environment where ambitious men and women seek their fortunes.
This fast-paced adventure is full of unforeseen twists and will dellight all readers looking for a rich and dramatic page-turner with a shocking twist.
Warned by his father to conceal his Jewish heritage from the ruffians he may encounter, Samuel Rothman changes his name to the less conspicuous Percy Hope. This fateful decision gives a yet-unnamed mining village a new identity and catapults Percy into a world where the good and the righteous must face greedy and ruthless adversaries.
Along a waterway known as Turnagain Arm, the newly named Hope City and the more established Sunrise are like opposite sisters. The good and virtuous Hope, with a Catholic church led by the influential Reverend O’Hara, admonishes residents against committing the seven deadly sins. In Sunrise, villainous saloon owner Magnus Vega tempts prospectors with whiskey, gambling, and women.
Hope City weaves the tale of a young man falling down a rabbit hole of unexpected hardships and struggling to find his way out, amid a wild and unforgiving environment where ambitious men and women seek their fortunes.
This fast-paced adventure is full of unforeseen twists and will dellight all readers looking for a rich and dramatic page-turner with a shocking twist.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
389 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2020
7 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Neil Perry Gordon
29 books13 followersBeginning with his debut novel—A Cobbler’s Tale, followed by Moon Flower, The Righteous One, The Bomb Squad, Hope City, Sadie’s Sin, Cape Nome, Otzi’s Odyssey, Denali, Thunder Falls and soon to be released—The Nazarite, Neil Perry Gordon has established himself as a well-respected and prolific historical and metaphysical fiction novelist.
His storytelling ability has earned him high editorial praise from the likes of Kirkus, Midwest Book Review, Book Viral and others, including hundreds of four and five star reader reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
Neil attributes his love of the writing process from his formative education at the Green Meadow Waldorf School, where he understood that classes such as music, dance and theater, writing, literature, legends and myths, were not simply subjects to be learned, but lessons to be experienced.
His creative writing methods and inspiration have been described as organic; meaning he begins his work with a premise for his characters, rather than working within the confines of a formal, detailed outline. This encourages his writing to offer surprising twists and unexpected outcomes, which readers have celebrated. His novels have the attributes of being driven by an equal balance between character development and face-paced action, which moves his stories along at a swift page-turning pace.
His storytelling ability has earned him high editorial praise from the likes of Kirkus, Midwest Book Review, Book Viral and others, including hundreds of four and five star reader reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
Neil attributes his love of the writing process from his formative education at the Green Meadow Waldorf School, where he understood that classes such as music, dance and theater, writing, literature, legends and myths, were not simply subjects to be learned, but lessons to be experienced.
His creative writing methods and inspiration have been described as organic; meaning he begins his work with a premise for his characters, rather than working within the confines of a formal, detailed outline. This encourages his writing to offer surprising twists and unexpected outcomes, which readers have celebrated. His novels have the attributes of being driven by an equal balance between character development and face-paced action, which moves his stories along at a swift page-turning pace.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Read
September 2, 2020I feel like you can tell I’ve been watching a lot of adventure and treasure hunting shows lately based off of the books I’ve been reading. What can I say, I really find the subject enjoyable! Plus this is a story of adventure in Alaska, which is one of the places I want to visit the most. So yeah, this was a story that seemed to be made just for me.
And adventure abounds in this story. There are some twists that will keep you interested in finding out what will happen next. And the characters themselves provide plenty of entertainment while reading, helping to develop the plot and give a more realistic appeal to the hunt for gold in the Alaskan wilderness.
This is such a lush novel. The writing just has that something extra that really draws you in and makes you think. There were so many enjoyable moments and the plot really kept you on your toes and made you consider what life was like back then. And all in all, it’s just a really good story.
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
And adventure abounds in this story. There are some twists that will keep you interested in finding out what will happen next. And the characters themselves provide plenty of entertainment while reading, helping to develop the plot and give a more realistic appeal to the hunt for gold in the Alaskan wilderness.
This is such a lush novel. The writing just has that something extra that really draws you in and makes you think. There were so many enjoyable moments and the plot really kept you on your toes and made you consider what life was like back then. And all in all, it’s just a really good story.
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
November 10, 2020
The year is 1898, and gold lines the earth in Alaska. Neil Perry Gordon takes the reader on a journey that probes into the idea of ‘a life worth living,’ not a life pinned on heavenly aspirations. Using one’s mind and body to the extent it can be used – one might say, a life of adventure and exploration. Two young men, Liam and Samuel, hear a graduation speech from the legendary and historical Jack London, and promptly Liam begins the push to go to Alaska in search of ‘a life worthy to be remembered.’
Hope City is a throwback to the times where North America was a wild place with gold to be found, lessons on surviving, a time where ‘hope’ meant something beyond what people knew. Many of the settlers and frontiersmen had little to no knowledge of what was really out there in the wilds, and the spirit of adventure was alive within them. The novel feels like a nostalgic look at these times – both charming and honest in the narrative and character of his protagonists. They’re men who understand that courage is in more than the mind; courage is in action and the opportunities people seize during their lifetime.
Gordon takes the reader back in time in more ways than one; the author writes honestly about the cultural perceptions of Jewish individuals, even as far back as 1898 – so Samuel takes a name given to him by his father, a goyim name: Percy Hope.
With this, the story takes off to a place most modern people have little knowledge of, though their feet still stand on the same ground. The country has changed drastically for modern people, and this wild country is one of adventure and tenacity. However, the cultural complexity is another thing that Gordon explores – a clinging Norse religion of the north, Asatru, the conflict of Catholicism and Judaism, and the relations between settlers and Native folk of the region.
Gordon captures the spirit of old frontier literature, captures Jack London’s spirit, in Hope City. It is a testament to likely a lifetime of interest and research into not just the physicality required by a life during these times, but also the precarious dancing between cultural beliefs and relations. It is a piece of literature out of times past, well-written and insightful in a way that I was not entirely expecting.
Hope City is simply a sincere, incredible work right out of the past. I don’t want to give away much of the plot – but believe me when I say that the author keeps the pages turning. Gordon writes a cast of characters that both surprise and intrigue, a battle between our perceptions of good and perceptions of evil, acts of betrayal and acts of courage. There’s so much meat to this particular novel that I can see myself reading it more than once. It’s a true adventure tale that captures the spirit of the past. It is a beautiful testament to times long forgotten, risks and conflicts that could have only existed before the 1900’s. It was a turbulent and transitional time for many, and for one man – Samuel Rothman, aka Percy Hope – it was a single season in a lifetime full of more adventure than anyone may have expected.
Hope City is a throwback to the times where North America was a wild place with gold to be found, lessons on surviving, a time where ‘hope’ meant something beyond what people knew. Many of the settlers and frontiersmen had little to no knowledge of what was really out there in the wilds, and the spirit of adventure was alive within them. The novel feels like a nostalgic look at these times – both charming and honest in the narrative and character of his protagonists. They’re men who understand that courage is in more than the mind; courage is in action and the opportunities people seize during their lifetime.
Gordon takes the reader back in time in more ways than one; the author writes honestly about the cultural perceptions of Jewish individuals, even as far back as 1898 – so Samuel takes a name given to him by his father, a goyim name: Percy Hope.
With this, the story takes off to a place most modern people have little knowledge of, though their feet still stand on the same ground. The country has changed drastically for modern people, and this wild country is one of adventure and tenacity. However, the cultural complexity is another thing that Gordon explores – a clinging Norse religion of the north, Asatru, the conflict of Catholicism and Judaism, and the relations between settlers and Native folk of the region.
Gordon captures the spirit of old frontier literature, captures Jack London’s spirit, in Hope City. It is a testament to likely a lifetime of interest and research into not just the physicality required by a life during these times, but also the precarious dancing between cultural beliefs and relations. It is a piece of literature out of times past, well-written and insightful in a way that I was not entirely expecting.
Hope City is simply a sincere, incredible work right out of the past. I don’t want to give away much of the plot – but believe me when I say that the author keeps the pages turning. Gordon writes a cast of characters that both surprise and intrigue, a battle between our perceptions of good and perceptions of evil, acts of betrayal and acts of courage. There’s so much meat to this particular novel that I can see myself reading it more than once. It’s a true adventure tale that captures the spirit of the past. It is a beautiful testament to times long forgotten, risks and conflicts that could have only existed before the 1900’s. It was a turbulent and transitional time for many, and for one man – Samuel Rothman, aka Percy Hope – it was a single season in a lifetime full of more adventure than anyone may have expected.
September 14, 2020
Sam Rothman and Liam Kampen are headed for the wilds of Alaska in an attempt to strike it rich and have some adventure. After a stirring speech by Jack London at their high school graduation, Sam and Liam leave their hometown of San Francisco to venture to the Turnagain Arm region. Before departure, Sam's father warns him that his Jewish name may not be the best to use in Alaska and Sam decides on the name of Percy Hope. Upon the boy's arrival, Magnus Vega, a local saloon owner, declares that he will name the neighboring town after the first person off the boat. Percy becomes the talk of the town before even striking gold. As Percy and Liam get settled and learn the ways of the land, they see that Hope follows the rules of the Catholic church and Reverend O'Hara while the neighboring town of Sunrise is ruled over by Magnus and his devious ways. Percy and Liam find out what they are made of as they are captured in the rivalries between towns, enemies and religious groups.
As Jack London tells Sam, every good story needs conflict, danger, a battle between good and evil, a relatable hero as well as twists and turns. This is exactly what Hope City delivers in a fast-paced and exciting read. I loved the setting of wild Alaska during the gold rush and the many different settings that Sam and Liam's adventures took them through from the rivers of the Turnagain Arm, to the new towns, the native villages and the open waters. Both Liam and Sam were great characters who took different paths while in Alaska offering two different views. The point of view switched between Sam/Percy and Magnus which confused me a little at first, but became clear after the first few chapters. Through these two different points of view the fight between good and evil was evident; however, what makes a person good or bad was more difficult to tell. The inclusion of the Asatru religion made for many more interesting twists and turns as well. With a very exciting and unexpected ending, Hope City makes for a wonderful historical adventure.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
As Jack London tells Sam, every good story needs conflict, danger, a battle between good and evil, a relatable hero as well as twists and turns. This is exactly what Hope City delivers in a fast-paced and exciting read. I loved the setting of wild Alaska during the gold rush and the many different settings that Sam and Liam's adventures took them through from the rivers of the Turnagain Arm, to the new towns, the native villages and the open waters. Both Liam and Sam were great characters who took different paths while in Alaska offering two different views. The point of view switched between Sam/Percy and Magnus which confused me a little at first, but became clear after the first few chapters. Through these two different points of view the fight between good and evil was evident; however, what makes a person good or bad was more difficult to tell. The inclusion of the Asatru religion made for many more interesting twists and turns as well. With a very exciting and unexpected ending, Hope City makes for a wonderful historical adventure.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
November 9, 2020
As an Alaskan resident for 30 years, it's always interesting to see how an author portrays the state's unique living conditions and hardships, especially during the late 1890's era of mass immigration in search of gold. Neil Perry Gordon has done an excellent job of staying true to Alaska while his fictional character finds his way through a community and lifestyle that is totally foreign to him.
Two young men influenced by a graduation speech by Jack London, decide to seek what they believe to be an easy fortune in the Alaskan gold fields in 1898. Leaving his home and family, along with his Jewish name, far behind, Percy Hope is born in what he knows will be the greatest adventure of his life. He will find culture shock...no one could realistically describe what he will find upon his arrival. The trials and tribulations, the defeats and victories, will all be his to experience, bring readers right along with him.
You can truthfully find many stories such as this in Alaska. Sit in a lodge for awhile with a few oldtimers and their stories will fascinate and educate on Alaska's past and hopes for it's future.
Two young men influenced by a graduation speech by Jack London, decide to seek what they believe to be an easy fortune in the Alaskan gold fields in 1898. Leaving his home and family, along with his Jewish name, far behind, Percy Hope is born in what he knows will be the greatest adventure of his life. He will find culture shock...no one could realistically describe what he will find upon his arrival. The trials and tribulations, the defeats and victories, will all be his to experience, bring readers right along with him.
You can truthfully find many stories such as this in Alaska. Sit in a lodge for awhile with a few oldtimers and their stories will fascinate and educate on Alaska's past and hopes for it's future.
May 26, 2020
I received this book for an honest review.
Samuel Rothman and Liam Kampen, two teens, travel from San Francisco to the Alaskan goldfields in 1898. Concealing his Jewish heritage, Samuel changes his name to Percy Hope. This is a story of hardships and struggles in an unforgiving environment.
What a read. I was drawn in from the start, enjoying the ending. Jack London advice on writing. How can it any better than that? It had a weird element to the story, and I'll say no more for fear of spoiling it. Alaska during the gold rush became alive within the pages. 5-Star all the way. I look forward to more books by Gordon. In fact, I've downloaded The Bomb Squad, telling the story of Max Rothman during WWI.
Samuel Rothman and Liam Kampen, two teens, travel from San Francisco to the Alaskan goldfields in 1898. Concealing his Jewish heritage, Samuel changes his name to Percy Hope. This is a story of hardships and struggles in an unforgiving environment.
What a read. I was drawn in from the start, enjoying the ending. Jack London advice on writing. How can it any better than that? It had a weird element to the story, and I'll say no more for fear of spoiling it. Alaska during the gold rush became alive within the pages. 5-Star all the way. I look forward to more books by Gordon. In fact, I've downloaded The Bomb Squad, telling the story of Max Rothman during WWI.
July 4, 2020
Loved this book! Big historical fiction fan and great to find something new that's entertaining and character driven while set in an historical setting that hasn't been so well covered. This one checks all the boxes. Fast paced with plenty of suspense, set in the Alaskan frontier of the late 19th century, this is a must read. Enjoy!
September 1, 2021
I received a copy of Hope City for free to read and review on my blog, Once Upon A Book Blog(ger).
------------------
The beginning of Hope City begins with a quote from Jack London's Credo, a great introduction to the story. As I really enjoy this quote, I will share it with you:
"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather choose that my spark burn out in a brilliant blaze than be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent plant. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."
- Jack London's Credo
Our story begins with Liam and Sam, two friends who live and work in San Francisco, California in 1898. Both seventeen years old and just graduating out of high school, the two have an inspiring graduation speech from none other than the Jack London (yes, the same one whose quote I just posted). With the last words of his speech, "Wake up before it's too late and live a life worthy to be remembered," Liam is inspired to take a steamship up to Alaska to prospect for gold, to live a life of adventure and do more than just live a boring life. He ropes in Sam, who is hesitant, since his father owns a general store and Sam helps in the day-to-day functions. Thankfully, Sam's parents give permission to take the summer off for adventure, with the exception of changing his name to something not Jewish, in order to avoid bigotry and possible harm. With the optimistic name of "Percy Hope," and with the words of Jack London to inspire him, Sam Percy sets off towards the wilderness of Alaska with Liam, in hopes of finding gold, exploring, and having a great story to tell about his life.
I enjoyed reading Hope City: The Alaskan Adventure of Percy Hope. Due to some of the mature language, certain references in the book, and the graphic detail of a couple of the twists in the book, I recommend this story for young adults (older teens) and up.
Hope City is a quick paced historical fiction adventure story that flips between the book's namesake, Percy Hope and Magnus Vega, the obvious antagonist of the novel. Magnus is introduced quite early on in the story as someone to avoid, but he always seems to pop up and make himself known. Magnus is the one who begins Percy's summer adventures, who after landing in Alaska all bright-eyed and bushy tailed, finds that the unnamed city he is in is to be named after him! Hope City is where quite a bit of the novel takes place, while the other portion is set in the sister city, Sunrise, the "bad twin" to Hope (i.e. gambling, drinking, etc. is done in Sunrise, while going to church and being an upstanding citizen is the way of life in Hope). There are other areas that both Percy and Liam visit, as they end up on a crazy ride of adventures throughout the novel, but the two realize as much as they enjoyed (and did not enjoy) everything they experienced, they miss the normalcy of home. Given that this is only book one, I imagine that we will be hearing about more adventures to come!
There are a few reoccurring story lines in the novel, two of which I would like to highlight. The first of which is that Percy (Sam) had to deal with an internal war with his fake name and his religious beliefs. He feels nervous that so much attention is focused on his "name," and that he has to attend a Catholic church, which he feels goes against his Jewish faith. While Hope City provides quite a bit of historical context, I would have loved to see a bit more expansion on this topic, as it is a frightening to hide your faith to stay safe, but still want to be true to it.
The second story line that I enjoyed and would not mind to hear more of is our protagonists (and antagonists) meeting natives who lived in the areas surrounding the miners. I appreciate how Mr. Gordon emphasized that these communities of people were not heathens or ignorant, but wise and how they appreciate nature and work with it, not against it as the miners had.
In all, there was one twist I did not quite care for, but either way, Hope City is filled with adventure, friendship, twists and turns, some romance, and history. I appreciate that the story highlighted that you must face the consequences of your actions, and that sometimes the line between a hero and a villain can be blurred - nothing is black and white. This is a story you can binge read and you will not realize where the time went!
------------------
The beginning of Hope City begins with a quote from Jack London's Credo, a great introduction to the story. As I really enjoy this quote, I will share it with you:
"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather choose that my spark burn out in a brilliant blaze than be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent plant. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."
- Jack London's Credo
Our story begins with Liam and Sam, two friends who live and work in San Francisco, California in 1898. Both seventeen years old and just graduating out of high school, the two have an inspiring graduation speech from none other than the Jack London (yes, the same one whose quote I just posted). With the last words of his speech, "Wake up before it's too late and live a life worthy to be remembered," Liam is inspired to take a steamship up to Alaska to prospect for gold, to live a life of adventure and do more than just live a boring life. He ropes in Sam, who is hesitant, since his father owns a general store and Sam helps in the day-to-day functions. Thankfully, Sam's parents give permission to take the summer off for adventure, with the exception of changing his name to something not Jewish, in order to avoid bigotry and possible harm. With the optimistic name of "Percy Hope," and with the words of Jack London to inspire him, Sam Percy sets off towards the wilderness of Alaska with Liam, in hopes of finding gold, exploring, and having a great story to tell about his life.
I enjoyed reading Hope City: The Alaskan Adventure of Percy Hope. Due to some of the mature language, certain references in the book, and the graphic detail of a couple of the twists in the book, I recommend this story for young adults (older teens) and up.
Hope City is a quick paced historical fiction adventure story that flips between the book's namesake, Percy Hope and Magnus Vega, the obvious antagonist of the novel. Magnus is introduced quite early on in the story as someone to avoid, but he always seems to pop up and make himself known. Magnus is the one who begins Percy's summer adventures, who after landing in Alaska all bright-eyed and bushy tailed, finds that the unnamed city he is in is to be named after him! Hope City is where quite a bit of the novel takes place, while the other portion is set in the sister city, Sunrise, the "bad twin" to Hope (i.e. gambling, drinking, etc. is done in Sunrise, while going to church and being an upstanding citizen is the way of life in Hope). There are other areas that both Percy and Liam visit, as they end up on a crazy ride of adventures throughout the novel, but the two realize as much as they enjoyed (and did not enjoy) everything they experienced, they miss the normalcy of home. Given that this is only book one, I imagine that we will be hearing about more adventures to come!
There are a few reoccurring story lines in the novel, two of which I would like to highlight. The first of which is that Percy (Sam) had to deal with an internal war with his fake name and his religious beliefs. He feels nervous that so much attention is focused on his "name," and that he has to attend a Catholic church, which he feels goes against his Jewish faith. While Hope City provides quite a bit of historical context, I would have loved to see a bit more expansion on this topic, as it is a frightening to hide your faith to stay safe, but still want to be true to it.
The second story line that I enjoyed and would not mind to hear more of is our protagonists (and antagonists) meeting natives who lived in the areas surrounding the miners. I appreciate how Mr. Gordon emphasized that these communities of people were not heathens or ignorant, but wise and how they appreciate nature and work with it, not against it as the miners had.
In all, there was one twist I did not quite care for, but either way, Hope City is filled with adventure, friendship, twists and turns, some romance, and history. I appreciate that the story highlighted that you must face the consequences of your actions, and that sometimes the line between a hero and a villain can be blurred - nothing is black and white. This is a story you can binge read and you will not realize where the time went!
October 17, 2020
I got Hope City by Neil Perry Gordon for free From the writer for a fair and honest review
Hope City is the story of Samuel Rothman and his best friend, Liam Kampen, teenage boys from San Francisco who, in the summer of 1898, venture into the goldfields of the Alaskan wilderness.
Samuel’s father Warned him to conceal his Jewish heritage from the ruffians he may encounter, so he changes his name to the less conspicuous Percy Hope. This fateful decision gives a yet-unnamed mining village a new identity and catapults Percy into a world where the good and the righteous must face greedy and ruthless adversaries.
Along a waterway known as Turnagain Arm, the newly named Hope City and the more established Sunrise are like opposite sisters. The good and virtuous Hope, with a Catholic church led by the influential Reverend O’Hara, admonishes residents against committing the seven deadly sins. In Sunrise, saloon owner Magnus Vega tempts prospectors with whiskey, gambling, and women
I went into reading Hope City with some trepidation, as although I thought the only other book I had read by Neil Perry Gordon, was Bomb Squad, was fine but had some weaknesses at the end.
However, when reading the book the trepidation just floated away as this was a really enjoyable book to read.
The main Character Percy (Samuel) was a really likeable character, with the right amount of naivety at the beginning of the book, but with just enough skill to allow him to grow throughout the book.
The friendship with Liam, felt like one that two mates going on adventure would be like, sticking together, while having fallouts and arguments along the way. This was particularly enhanced that not only was Pecy a solid character but Liam was a well. Along with most of the other people in the book such as Ella.
The only weakness in the characters of the book was Magnus Vaga, while he was the major conflict of the book, he was written in such a way that you want him to win, with his conflict with the Reverend.
This is one of those historical fiction which not only leaves World War II behind but takes you into an historical event that the average reader will not know about in the Alaska Gold rush, and with the writing and the story made it a pleasure to read.
So who will I recommend this book to? The easy answer to that is people who like either adventure novels or Historical fiction which are in an unusual setting.
The hard answer is another readership that I feel the book would be suitable for, due to the age of the main characters and the experiences they go through as well as the plott and that would be for those who read New Adult novels.
All in all this is a great book, so whatever the reason you decide for reading this Neil Perry Gordon Book you should read Hope City.
Hope City is the story of Samuel Rothman and his best friend, Liam Kampen, teenage boys from San Francisco who, in the summer of 1898, venture into the goldfields of the Alaskan wilderness.
Samuel’s father Warned him to conceal his Jewish heritage from the ruffians he may encounter, so he changes his name to the less conspicuous Percy Hope. This fateful decision gives a yet-unnamed mining village a new identity and catapults Percy into a world where the good and the righteous must face greedy and ruthless adversaries.
Along a waterway known as Turnagain Arm, the newly named Hope City and the more established Sunrise are like opposite sisters. The good and virtuous Hope, with a Catholic church led by the influential Reverend O’Hara, admonishes residents against committing the seven deadly sins. In Sunrise, saloon owner Magnus Vega tempts prospectors with whiskey, gambling, and women
I went into reading Hope City with some trepidation, as although I thought the only other book I had read by Neil Perry Gordon, was Bomb Squad, was fine but had some weaknesses at the end.
However, when reading the book the trepidation just floated away as this was a really enjoyable book to read.
The main Character Percy (Samuel) was a really likeable character, with the right amount of naivety at the beginning of the book, but with just enough skill to allow him to grow throughout the book.
The friendship with Liam, felt like one that two mates going on adventure would be like, sticking together, while having fallouts and arguments along the way. This was particularly enhanced that not only was Pecy a solid character but Liam was a well. Along with most of the other people in the book such as Ella.
The only weakness in the characters of the book was Magnus Vaga, while he was the major conflict of the book, he was written in such a way that you want him to win, with his conflict with the Reverend.
This is one of those historical fiction which not only leaves World War II behind but takes you into an historical event that the average reader will not know about in the Alaska Gold rush, and with the writing and the story made it a pleasure to read.
So who will I recommend this book to? The easy answer to that is people who like either adventure novels or Historical fiction which are in an unusual setting.
The hard answer is another readership that I feel the book would be suitable for, due to the age of the main characters and the experiences they go through as well as the plott and that would be for those who read New Adult novels.
All in all this is a great book, so whatever the reason you decide for reading this Neil Perry Gordon Book you should read Hope City.
January 8, 2022
Will Percy Hope be able to be true to himself in the unforgiving times of the Alaskan Gold Rush? Hope City by Neil Gordon is a thoughtful story about a struggling youth navigating his way in the world.
Set in the year 1898 in San Francisco, two teenage boys set off to explore the goldfields in the wilderness of Alaska. Samuel Rothman is advised by his father to disguise his Jewish identity as he begins his journey into an unknown land. He changes his name to Percy Hope in order to save himself from becoming the target of ruffians along the way. The name Samuel gives to himself becomes a new identity for a mining town, Hope City, where the good and righteous struggle to shine victoriously against their evil enemies. The newly formed Hope City is the complete contrast of another town called Sunrise along the waterway of Turnagain Arm. Whereas in Hope City, where Reverend O’Hara preaches for good and guides residents against the seven deadly sins, a dark and wicked saloon owner in Sunrise, Magnus Vara, calls the residents to live a life of gambling, drinking, and adultery.
Hope City by Neil Gordon is a wonderful story about a struggling young man as he fights through unexpected hardships to find his way through an unforgiving and unpredictable environment. The story explores the Alaska Gold Rush and how life for residents became frightening and exhilarating at that point in time. This work of fiction by Gordon is crafted with impeccable attention to detail and uplifts readers as they follow Percy’s hopeful journey. The characters in the story are well fleshed out and the writing style is intriguing with a beautifully unique clarity. Young readers will be able to relate to Hope’s realistic self-doubt and other new emotions as they read this coming-of-age story. Hope City by Neil Gordon is a fast-paced novel full of exciting twists and turns that will keep fans of adventure and suspense hooked till the last page.
Set in the year 1898 in San Francisco, two teenage boys set off to explore the goldfields in the wilderness of Alaska. Samuel Rothman is advised by his father to disguise his Jewish identity as he begins his journey into an unknown land. He changes his name to Percy Hope in order to save himself from becoming the target of ruffians along the way. The name Samuel gives to himself becomes a new identity for a mining town, Hope City, where the good and righteous struggle to shine victoriously against their evil enemies. The newly formed Hope City is the complete contrast of another town called Sunrise along the waterway of Turnagain Arm. Whereas in Hope City, where Reverend O’Hara preaches for good and guides residents against the seven deadly sins, a dark and wicked saloon owner in Sunrise, Magnus Vara, calls the residents to live a life of gambling, drinking, and adultery.
Hope City by Neil Gordon is a wonderful story about a struggling young man as he fights through unexpected hardships to find his way through an unforgiving and unpredictable environment. The story explores the Alaska Gold Rush and how life for residents became frightening and exhilarating at that point in time. This work of fiction by Gordon is crafted with impeccable attention to detail and uplifts readers as they follow Percy’s hopeful journey. The characters in the story are well fleshed out and the writing style is intriguing with a beautifully unique clarity. Young readers will be able to relate to Hope’s realistic self-doubt and other new emotions as they read this coming-of-age story. Hope City by Neil Gordon is a fast-paced novel full of exciting twists and turns that will keep fans of adventure and suspense hooked till the last page.
June 5, 2020
Hope City is a loosely based historical fiction of the hardships and adventures of the Alaska gold rush in the late 1800’s. Samuel Rothman is a naïve 17-year-old who picks the Alaska gold rush for his coming of age adventure. Hope City is the latest of several historical fiction and fiction novels written by Neil Perry Gordon.
Samuel Rothman and his best friend Liam Kampen decide they are going on a summer adventure before they settle into their working life. Samuel’s father warns him that he should take on a different name in order to conceal that he is Jewish. As they step off the boast and stranger walks up and asks Samuel his name and he responds using his new identity, Percy Hope. The stranger is ecstatic and declares the new town will be named “Hope” after this new visitor. From that point on Percy becomes the center of attention and his fame grows. Percy’s fame becomes both a help and a hindrance to both boys over the summer.
Percy is an interesting character who reminds me of Peekay in the book “The Power of One”. Both are precocious students, brilliant boxers, and loved by almost all who meet them. They both reach almost god-like status. Percy becomes caught between the forces of good and evil and manages to work through his challenges.
The plot has some strange and unexpected twists and at times it enters the paranormal which is also unexpected. However, in general I did find it a bit too straightforward and almost comical at times. I would classify the book in the YA category.
I would recommend this book to people who like an adventure story with a few twists. I give it a 3 on 5. I want to thank Book Sirens for providing me with a free digital copy of the novel in exchange for a fair review.
Samuel Rothman and his best friend Liam Kampen decide they are going on a summer adventure before they settle into their working life. Samuel’s father warns him that he should take on a different name in order to conceal that he is Jewish. As they step off the boast and stranger walks up and asks Samuel his name and he responds using his new identity, Percy Hope. The stranger is ecstatic and declares the new town will be named “Hope” after this new visitor. From that point on Percy becomes the center of attention and his fame grows. Percy’s fame becomes both a help and a hindrance to both boys over the summer.
Percy is an interesting character who reminds me of Peekay in the book “The Power of One”. Both are precocious students, brilliant boxers, and loved by almost all who meet them. They both reach almost god-like status. Percy becomes caught between the forces of good and evil and manages to work through his challenges.
The plot has some strange and unexpected twists and at times it enters the paranormal which is also unexpected. However, in general I did find it a bit too straightforward and almost comical at times. I would classify the book in the YA category.
I would recommend this book to people who like an adventure story with a few twists. I give it a 3 on 5. I want to thank Book Sirens for providing me with a free digital copy of the novel in exchange for a fair review.
June 1, 2020
Set in 1898, Gordon’s briskly paced, highly entertaining tale focuses on a teenage Jewish boy who ventures into the wilderness of Alaskan goldfields to seek his fortune but finds himself in the middle of a war between the good and evil.
When 17-year-old Samuel Rothman boarded a ship from San Francisco with his best friend Liam Kampen for Alaska to try his luck in gold mining, he had nothing else but a bit of adventure and some riches on his mind. But seeking a fortune in a small Alaskan town where the good and the righteous are relentlessly in a war with their ruthless opponents is not as easy as it seems on the surface: Samuel must tread his way carefully or risk losing himself to the wild, unforgiving Alaskan terrains.
An adventurous story at heart, the narrative goes far beyond the exploration of Samuel’s journey as a gold-digger in the small mining town: Gordon sweeps Samuel up in the turmoil of a town torn apart by a ruthless war between the good and the greedy, creating a remarkable coming-of-age story as the latter realizes his true aspirations.
Gordon’s beautifully imagined prose has clarity and dimension, and he keeps the pacing relatively quick and does justice to the impressive array of characters. Samuel’s emergence from a typical teenage self-doubt is beautifully imagined.
Ripe on unforeseen twists and shocking turns, this fast-paced adventure will delight action-adventure fans as well as lovers of nuanced coming-of-age tales.
This is a complete entertainment package.
When 17-year-old Samuel Rothman boarded a ship from San Francisco with his best friend Liam Kampen for Alaska to try his luck in gold mining, he had nothing else but a bit of adventure and some riches on his mind. But seeking a fortune in a small Alaskan town where the good and the righteous are relentlessly in a war with their ruthless opponents is not as easy as it seems on the surface: Samuel must tread his way carefully or risk losing himself to the wild, unforgiving Alaskan terrains.
An adventurous story at heart, the narrative goes far beyond the exploration of Samuel’s journey as a gold-digger in the small mining town: Gordon sweeps Samuel up in the turmoil of a town torn apart by a ruthless war between the good and the greedy, creating a remarkable coming-of-age story as the latter realizes his true aspirations.
Gordon’s beautifully imagined prose has clarity and dimension, and he keeps the pacing relatively quick and does justice to the impressive array of characters. Samuel’s emergence from a typical teenage self-doubt is beautifully imagined.
Ripe on unforeseen twists and shocking turns, this fast-paced adventure will delight action-adventure fans as well as lovers of nuanced coming-of-age tales.
This is a complete entertainment package.
June 10, 2020
A summer of Hope
I really enjoyed this book. It was almost a modern day Tom Sawyer. Two young men just graduated from high school, Liam and Sam decide to spend their summer in Alaska looking for gold after hearing a speech at graduation by Jack London.
After much persuasion they were able to convince their parents to let them go. Sam's parents thought it would be best if he changed his name so no one would know he was Jewish, so they settled on Percy Hope. When they reached Alaska the man that ran the town said he was going to name the new town after the first person off the boat. Since Percy Hope was the first person off the town was named Hope City Alaska, and this was the beginning.
The boys learned a lot this summer. Adventure in a new and different place. A murder, the saloon keeper that thought he ran everything, the gold company hiring for 75 percent of gold found in return for lodging and tools, a religious cult, a kidnapping, two native tribes and a pretty girl at the cafe were among some of their adventures.
Inside the book you will find lots of adventure, twists and turns, and some life lessons learned by the young men. It was a delightful book to read and I recommend it.
Thanks to Neil Perry Gordon and Book Sirens for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of the book for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. It was almost a modern day Tom Sawyer. Two young men just graduated from high school, Liam and Sam decide to spend their summer in Alaska looking for gold after hearing a speech at graduation by Jack London.
After much persuasion they were able to convince their parents to let them go. Sam's parents thought it would be best if he changed his name so no one would know he was Jewish, so they settled on Percy Hope. When they reached Alaska the man that ran the town said he was going to name the new town after the first person off the boat. Since Percy Hope was the first person off the town was named Hope City Alaska, and this was the beginning.
The boys learned a lot this summer. Adventure in a new and different place. A murder, the saloon keeper that thought he ran everything, the gold company hiring for 75 percent of gold found in return for lodging and tools, a religious cult, a kidnapping, two native tribes and a pretty girl at the cafe were among some of their adventures.
Inside the book you will find lots of adventure, twists and turns, and some life lessons learned by the young men. It was a delightful book to read and I recommend it.
Thanks to Neil Perry Gordon and Book Sirens for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of the book for an honest review.
September 6, 2020
I really enjoyed the story of Percy Hope and his friend Liam, two young teens who traveled north to seek their fortunes during the Gold Rush days in the wilds of Alaska. From the moment they stepped off the ship, they were destined to leave their mark on the town in ways they never could have imagined, and learned, within the space of a few summertime months, that fortunes don't always come in the shape of a gold nuggets.
Neil Perry Gordon created lovable, engaging characters who kept the story flowing with unusual experiences, twists and turns. The story made me want to research Hope, Alaska further and put it on my got-to-see list the next time I visit my daughter in Valdez.
I listened to the story via Audible Books and felt that the performance would have been better had the reader changed voices or did something in a way that let me, as a listener, know that a change of character had taken place. I often found myself surprised that I was listening to one character when I thought a different character was speaking.
Neil Perry Gordon created lovable, engaging characters who kept the story flowing with unusual experiences, twists and turns. The story made me want to research Hope, Alaska further and put it on my got-to-see list the next time I visit my daughter in Valdez.
I listened to the story via Audible Books and felt that the performance would have been better had the reader changed voices or did something in a way that let me, as a listener, know that a change of character had taken place. I often found myself surprised that I was listening to one character when I thought a different character was speaking.
June 17, 2020
A wonderfully detailed, encouraging, and heartwarming novel of a young graduate's trip to Alaska in 1898. Inspired by Jack London's commencement address, young Samuel, son of a merchant shopkeeper, conceals his Jewish identity and reinvents himself as Percy Hope. At the height of the Alaska Gold Rush, life becomes both exhilarating and terrifying. Author Neil Perry Gordon brings us characters with whom we readily identify, and settings superbly defined.
February 22, 2021
The turn of the century Alaska is certainly not the typical setting for a novel, but this is no typical novel. Samuel Rothman goes by the name Percy Hope in an effort to keep is Jewish ancestry secret. His wild adventures have surprising results. He has hardships and struggles but persists against all odds. Put this on the short list of great books to make a movie out of.
June 2, 2020
I am afraid, this book was not for me. Too many twists and turns, sometimes over the top, predictable development of the characters along the story. An entertaining read though for readers who love much action and not too much depth.
Thank you BookSirens for letting me read this book for free.
Thank you BookSirens for letting me read this book for free.
September 27, 2020
A pair of young men who are best friends took the advice Jack London gave them at their high school graduation in San Francisco in 1898 and went off to spend the summer panning for gold in Alaska and learned a lot of life lessons. The characters are all believable and interesting, especially the Norsemen who practice the old religion (we are Norse). Lots of adventure with plenty of twists and surprises. We loved it!
Frank Block is a very good narrator but it is clear that he is not a voice actor. That was perfectly fine for me and the teenager!
I won this audiobook in a giveaway! Yay me!
Frank Block is a very good narrator but it is clear that he is not a voice actor. That was perfectly fine for me and the teenager!
I won this audiobook in a giveaway! Yay me!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews