River Thunder

by Will Hobbs

Overview

Jessie, Troy, and the rest of the crew from Downriver have returned to the Grand Canyon for adventure down the Colorado River. In the year since they last were together, each has changed; each feels more mature. But how will they interact now that they are facing new challenges—challenges greater than anything they've had to deal with at home?

For Troy, it is a chance to prove he can be a team player, someone worthy of friendship and love. For Jessie, the river is the ultimate test. Does she have what it takes to row down the mighty Colorado? The only way to find out is to get into the raft and set off to face the thundering rapids and the powerful emotions that the river unleashes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780440226819
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	02/28/1999
Series:	Learn-Along Board Bks.
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	667,368
Product dimensions:	4.25(w) x 6.75(h) x 0.56(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Will Hobbs is the award-winning author of several novels, including the Avon titles Bearstone, Kokopelli's Flute, and Far North, and the American Library Association has recognized four of Will's novels as Best Books for Young Adults. His novel Downriver was chosen as one of the ALA's 100 Best of the Best Books of the past 25 years. Winner of the California Young Reader Medal, Downriver was an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. Downriver has been nominated for state awards in Texas, Utah, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington. Hobbs lived in many places during his youth, including Alaska, Texas and California. He and his wife, Jean, now live in the mountains outside of Durango, Colorado. Downriver and River Thunder draw heavily on Hobbs' own experience rafting down the Colorado and also demonstrate his tremendous love of and respect for nature.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 7 UpThe premise is that the cast from Downriver (Atheneum, 1991) has been asked to work as interns by "Discovery Unlimited" owner Al, rejoining him for a raft trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Their joyful reunion at the launch site is stressed almost to the breaking point when they find out that Troy, the manipulative, buffed, bad boy who nearly sank their earlier escapade, has bankrolled this trip, and that Al is not involved at all. Setting aside misgivings about Troy's duplicity, they row off, settling into a realistic rhythm of river work, problem solving, play, and stress management. The characters are interesting individuals who have changed in mostly positive ways since their first trip together. Jessie gains confidence and knowledge with each challenge. Troy's problems escalate with the rising level of the water, and it's gradually revealed that he has stalked Jessie throughout the previous summer, obsessed with making his fantasy of a relationship with her take shape. The climactic resolution with Troy comes just before they plummet through Lava Falls, which, if predictably plotted, is thrillingly told. The culture of the commercial canyon runners is aptly described. From the raft-eating big drop on the cover to the author's informative note at the end, the vivid descriptions deliver high-volume excitement sure to entice many readers into booking a ride on any subsequent sequels.Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Jr. High School, Iowa City, IA

School Library Journal

Hobbs (Ghost Canoe, p. 557, etc.) reunites the characters of Downriver (1991) for this rapids-shooting adventure. Jessie and her adopted sister, Star, tough-talking Rita, macho man Pug, and later, wisecracking Adam all arrive ready to raft down the Grand Canyon's Colorado River, presumably at the invitation of Al, a tour outfitter; unfortunately, when the handsome and charismatic Troy also shows up, the teens discover that they've all been duped. Troy seeks to make amends for ruining their rafting the previous year, and so has made all the arrangements and paid for the group to go downriver again. Wary at first, the teens agree, and in no time they're shooting through curlers, suckholes, and rooster tails in a pulse-pounding narrative. Jessie, despite her fear, steers a raft down the river's 160 rapids in record-high water caused by a rough winter and careless management of damn spillage. Hobbs's familiarity with whitewater rafting provides authenticity, and while this bunch knows their sport, they nevertheless wind up in the soup more than once. While the crisis point of the novel seems a bit too altruistic—the neurotic Troy follows his better impulses and saves Rita from drowning—the story of these disparate youths coming together for an adventure that risks their lives and strengthens their hearts is ultimately uplifting.

Kirkus Reviews