Tomorrow, the River

December 1, 2006
Gr 6-8-Its 1896, and feisty Megan Barnett, 14, leaves her family in Nebraska to be a mothers helper for her sister, who lives with her husband and young son on a Mississippi steamboat. Her adventures begin as soon as she boards the train, where a charming college student occupies the seat next to her. Scoundrels, river rats, and an accident all provide grist for twists and turns in the plot as Megan learns to swim, navigate the river, take photographs, fish, and nurse her injured brother-in-law back to health. Newspaper articles give hints about the characters whom Megan meets and are an integral part of the plot. History and river life are skillfully woven into the fast-moving plot, and the characters are fully realized. The dialogue has enough 1890s vernacular to give a sense of the period, and historical information flows smoothly in the text. A first choice for independent reading or as a read-aloud."Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2006
Set in 1896 and rooted in the details of hard daily work, this novel, which follows 14-year-old Megan, who leaves her Nebraska home to help her sister Hannah's family on a boat journey, is both a survival adventure and a realistic coming-of-age story. There's even a touch of romance. The writer's research sometimes overwhelms the story as the young girl learns to fish, steer the boat, treat her brother-in-law's gangrene, and more. But fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House" "books will enjoy the information of life on the boat and on the shore. The characters are beautifully drawn; the warm relationship between the sisters is especially well handled. Best of all is Megan's coming-of-age. Even as she hears her mother's disapproving voice and toils tending the clam cooker covered in slime and grease, she discovers her gift for photography; and, with the support of a loving young man, dares to dream of a career with a camera.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)