Downriver

Title- Downriver

Author- Will Hobbs

ISBN- 0440226732

Publication Information- Laurel Leaf, 1995

 

Plot Summary- Jesse has been sent by her father to Discovery Unlimited or "Hoods in the Woods" as they call themselves. Jesse meets up with six other friends and in a last act of defiance steals the camping and river rafting gear to raft the Colorado River. As they are chased by other boats and helicopters, they get in over their heads and must decide if they will continue to follow the manipulative group leader, Troy, or act on their own and face the consequences from both him and the adults that are searching for them.

Critical Evaluation- This is a fun read. The main characters are all interesting and wildly different. Star is frail and sweet and has to find her own sense of self. Jesse is smart but easily manipulated and has to find her own strength. Troy is the embodiment of bad charisma. As they run the river, they all discover greater truths about themselves and what they want to be as adults. I particularly like that this is an action book set in the outdoors with a female protagonist, which is all too rare. The setting is the amazing Grand Canyon with all its beauty and terrifying realities. The plot keeps students interested as each rapid becomes more difficult than the last, not only because of nature, but also because the antagonist becomes more difficult to deal with. The book generally goes over nicely with reluctant readers, both male and female and has one a series of awards.

Best Books for Young Adults, American Library Association (ALA)
One of the "100 Best of the Best" Young Adult Books of the past 25 years (ALA)
One of the "100 Best of the Best" Young Adult Books of the 20th Century (ALA)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (ALA)
Pick of the Lists, American Booksellers
Winner, California Young Reader Medal
Books for the Teen Age, New York Public Library
Winner, Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

Reader's Annotation – Would you have the courage to run the rapids of the Grand Canyon with just a few friends? 15 year old Jesse decides to do just that with limited food, no adults, and no river map.

Author Information- The author of 17 novels all for either young adult or children, Will Hobbs likes to write about the things he knows best. Thus, most of his novels are set in the great outdoors. He spent time all over the nation as a child of an Air Force family, including Alaska, California, and Colorado. Downriver is followed by River Thunder.

Curricular Ties- Psychology, geology

Genre Coming of Age, Adventure

Book talking ideas- Do the teens act foolishly or courageously by running the rapids alone? Is the books ending realistic?

Challenge issues- Teen angst and rebellion.

1. Re-read the text to familiarize myself with the story
   
2. Ask parents for their specific objections (they are required to file that with our school district)
   
3. Review approved books list from California Department of Education for similar materials
   
4. Review approaches from ALA
   

Interest Age 15-18

Why I selected this piece- Another CYRM book that I read because Will Hobbs visited our school. Ah, I miss the days when we had money. I also teach this book on occasion with low level sophomores.