It's 1852, and 13-year-old Itzik has a secret. He's just discovered that his father has lost his job, they might soon be evicted onto the cruel streets of New York City, and his mother doesn't know.

To make things right, Itzik makes a bold promise to the wealthy Mr. Cohen-a promise that will lead him and his family on an epic journey across two coasts: through the sweltering jungles of Panama, where danger lurks behind every vine, to the muddy streets of gold-rush era San Francisco, where fortune seekers and desperados reign.

Itzik's journey is filled with adventure, danger, and heartache. But the greatest challenges he faces aren't the treacherous terrain or the constant threats-they're the growing web of secrets that threatens to unravel everything he holds dear. When Itzik buckles under the strain of trying to single-handedly hold his family together, he finds himself alone and lost in the rough California wilderness.

Set in one of America's most dramatic decades, Itzik is a thrilling journey about family, loyalty, and the lengths one boy will go to protect those he loves. Will Itzik find his way back home-or will his secrets unravel everything?