River Friendly, River Wild

By Jane Kurtz

Book Overview

This winter was snowy, this spring brought a terrible blizzard, and now the river is rising. Sandbags don't stop it, the dikes don't stop it, and late one night sirens warn everyone to evacuate. A girl and her family don't expect to be gone more than a couple of days, so they leave their cat and race for shelter with only a suitcase each. But as days stretch into weeks they worry: Is the cat safe? Will they have a home to return to? And how will their lives be changed? In searing, personal poems, Jane Kurtz explores what it's like to struggle through a flood and pull your life together afterward. Inspired by Kurtz's own flood experience, this tale is realistic and unforgettable. Not just a moving story of one girl's courage, River Friendly, River Wild is a tribute to everyone who's ever faced great loss.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689820496
• ISBN13: 9780689820496
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 10.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A must buy!

Like so many others, I lived through the Grand Forks flood. A co-worker showed this to me, and I could not get half-way through without tearing up. It captured so many memories, and touched so much emotion that still lies right below the surface. A great job, and a "must own" for those who experienced the flood first-hand. Well done, Jane.

Wonderfully written

Just when I thought I had bought all the commerative items I wanted for living through the Flood of 1997, I found this book. The book is seen through the eyes of a child, who saw and remembered things that adults overlook. From the way the sandbags were made and stacked to the air raid sirens to the comparison of our snow banks and all our treasures along the berms waiting to picked up by the crablike machine. Even if you didn't experience the Flood of 1997 in Grand Forks, but may have experienced some other disaster, you will be able to relate that it all comes down to is the family and friends you have, not the possessions that have been lost. This is a great gift!

A poignant and remarkable book for all ages

This book is based on real-life experiences of the floods in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1997, but it is sure to have a universal appeal. The poems are both child-like and lyrical. This would be a wonderful read-aloud and also a great book to use in the classroom.