Walk on Earth a Stranger

A New York Times bestseller and National Book Award longlist selection

The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times–bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America. Walk on Earth a Stranger begins an epic saga from one of the finest writers of young adult literature.

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? 

Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns series, dazzles with the first book in the Gold Seer Trilogy, introducing a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance, as only she can.

• A Girl in Disguise: To survive the perilous journey west, Lee Westfall chops off her hair, binds her chest, and becomes ‘Lee,’ a boy heading to California with nothing but a secret.
• A Touch of Magical Realism: Lee can sense gold, a magical gift that feels like a song in her soul—and a curse that makes her a target for greedy, dangerous men.
• Slow-Burn Romance: Forced to travel with her childhood friend Jefferson, Lee must guard her secrets and her heart on a trail where one wrong move could reveal everything.
• An Epic Survival Story: From the gold hills of Georgia to the treacherous plains of the West, this coming-of-age journey is packed with gritty historical detail, danger, and the resilience of a girl who won’t be broken.