Wild River
by Rodman Philbrick (Author)
Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick sends readers rushing down a raging river on a life-or-death adventure when a white water rafting trip goes terribly wrong!
Daniel Redmayne is fast asleep on the first night of a white water rafting trip, when he's awoken by screams. The dam has failed. The river is surging, and their camp will be under water in a matter of moments.
As the shrieking roar of the river rushes closer, the kids scramble to higher ground. They make it; their counselors do not.
Now they're on their own, with barely any food or supplies, in the middle of the Montana wilderness. Do Daniel and his four classmates have what it takes to stay alive until they can get rescued? Alone in the wild, they forge powerful bonds -- but develop dangerous disagreements. If nature doesn't break them, they might just destroy each other.
This gripping survival story from the Newbery Honor author of Wildfire is filled with adrenaline-pumping adventure and moments of true bravery.
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Kirkus
Readers will need to strap on their helmets and prepare for a wild ride.
Publishers Weekly
Newbery Honoree Philbrick twines a heartfelt message about teamwork and forgiveness with realistic dangers in this page-turning survival story. As part of a leadership project, rising sixth grader Daniel Redmayne is chosen to go whitewater rafting in Montana with four of his New Hampshire classmates. "Not a likely pick for anything," quiet, pale-skinned Daniel isn't sure why he was selected for this group, but he welcomes a break from sharing a room with his three younger brothers, even if it means having to open up to his raft mates: obnoxious Deke and sidekick Tony, who are white; confident Mia, who is Latinx; and reserved Imana, who is Black. When the planned-upon river turns out to be dry, though, the two adult guides change course, driving 100 miles to Montana's Crazy River without communicating the change. Disaster strikes immediately, separating the kids from their guardians with only a backpack of emergency supplies. Though Daniel's bipolar father is insensitively referred to as having "been in your own crazy river," a battle for power keeps the tension high, as do plenty of twists and cliffhangers, which create enough uncertainty to keep the pages turning. Ages 9-12. (Mar.)
Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
Praise for Wildfire:
* An intense tale of survival and action. A must-have for all upper elementary/middle grade libraries. — School Library Journal, starred review
* Short chapters, outstanding cover art, and a breathless pace make this a fine choice for reluctant readers. Outstanding suspense. — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* Action lovers will relish every word. With Wildfire — reminiscent of Hatchet and the real-life saga Lost on a Mountain in Maine — Philbrick transforms a raging inferno into an impressively plotted escape story full of heart and soul. — BookPage, starred review
Praise for Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina:
* An appropriately serious and occasionally gruesome tale of surviving Hurricane Katrina, buoyed by large doses of hope and humor. — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Praise for The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg:
A Newbery Honor book
A swashbuckling and humorous tale of adventure. — The Boston Globe
* A rip-roaring adventure. — Publishers Weekly, starred review
A captivating read. — The Horn Book
Praise for Freak the Mighty:
* A wonderful story... memorable and luminous... somewhat different and very special. — School Library Journal, starred review
JUV067000 - Juvenile Fiction | Thrillers & Suspense
JUV029030 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | Disasters
Adventure and adventurers
Adventure stories
Survival
Bullying
Adventure fiction
Rafting (Sports)
White-water canoeing
Rafing (Sports)
