About the book: 2021 / Ba dies at night. Ma has been gone for a long time. Instantly orphaned, Lucy and Sam find themselves completely alone - lost in the vastness of the land, where everything seems alien. In search of a suitable place for their father's grave, they set off on a journey away from the anger of the inhabitants of the mining town - to the open plains, the yellow edge of the horizon, the hills snaking in the distance - and new hopes. “How Much Gold Could There Be in These Hills” is the debut novel of the American writer Chinese-born Xi Pamzhan, longlisted for the Booker Prize. The poignant story of children, descendants of Chinese immigrants, who found themselves all alone in post-Gold Rush California, won the hearts of readers and critics almost immediately after publication. This historical novel brings a new perspective to the 19th-century American West, with poetic storytelling and a heart-wrenching coming-of-age story that will have you falling in love from the first page. This book weaves together the mythical symbolism of Chinese culture and the tart spirit of the California Gold Rush. "There's So Much Gold in These Hills" is a novel of adventure, sisterly love, fear, pain, acceptance, heritage and history. "A memorable, exciting and truly remarkable debut. Pamzhan writes with the clarity and insight of ancient myth-makers, keenly noticing the vicissitudes of nature and humanity." – Chigozie Obioma