Orphan Runaways by Kristiana Gregory

Orphan Runaways 
by Kristiana Gregory 

From the award-winning author of Jimmy Spoon and The Pony Express comes an exciting historical adventure in a boomtown during the great gold rush.

When twelve-year-old Danny and six-year-old Judd lose their parents to pneumonia in 1878, they are orphans.

The orphanage headmaster wants to separate the boys and send them to different families, but they only have each other.

So they plan an escape. They make their way to Bodie Camp, where their Uncle Hank is panning for gold. They meet Captain O'Hara, Madame Mustache, and a host of other boomtown characters. But when they find Uncle Hank, life with him isn't what Danny had imagined. 

Then Judd becomes sick, and Danny must decide what he's willing to compromise to have a real family again.