Genre #5 Book Review #2 : Richard Peck - THE RIVER BETWEEN US

1.Bibliography –

Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN-10: 0-8037-2d735-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0803727359

2. Plot Summary –

“This historical novel set at the beginning of the Civil War actually opens in 1916, as 15-year-old Howard Leland Hutchings recounts his trip in a Model T to visit his father's childhood home in Grand Tower, IL. When he and his younger brothers meet the four elderly people who raised their father, the novel shifts to 1861, and the narrator shifts to 15-year-old Tilly Pruitt, the boys' grandmother. When a steamboat from New Orleans brings two mysterious young ladies, Mama offers them room and board, and the Pruitts' lives are forever changed. Fair and beautiful Delphine Duval, with her fancy dresses and high-society ways, fascinates the family. And what of Calinda, the darker-skinned young woman? Could she be Delphine's slave? On the eve of his 16th birthday, Tilly's twin brother, Noah, leaves to join the Union troops at Camp Defiance and Mama, distraught, sends Tilly and Delphine to bring him home. It is here that Tilly learns of Delphine's heritage. She is a quadroon, part of the colored family of a rich white man. Her mother sent her daughters away from New Orleans, hoping Delphine can pass for white. The novel ends with a return to 1916 and Howard's finding out his father's true parentage. In this thoroughly researched novel, Peck masterfully describes the female Civil War experience, the subtle and not-too-subtle ways the country was changing, and the split in loyalty that separated towns and even families. Although the book deals with some weighty themes, it is not without humor. A scene involving strapping on a corset is worthy of Grandma Dowdel herself” (Burns, C., 2003).


3. Critical Analysis -

a. Characters –
The main characters in THE RIVER BETWEEN US are the Pruitt family that consists of Mama, the twins Tilly and Noah, little sister Cass, the mysterious New Orlean’s visitors Delphine Duval and Calinda, Dr. William Hutchings Sr.; and in the beginning and ending of the story we are introduced to Dr. William Hutchings Jr., and his sons Howard Leland Hutchings, and little twin brothers Raymond and Earl.

“The actions of the characters are very realistic. Customs from New Orleans are described through Delphine’s and Calinda’s characters. For example, the issue of race and laws preventing interracial marriages are discussed. Cass’ visions and Calinda’s card reading add to the mystery of the novel. The characters come from a variety of backgrounds and family structures” (Library Thing).


b. Plot –
“The plot is strong, interesting, and believable” (Library Thing, 2009).

The plot of the story actually sees the fusing of two stories in one – two plots coming together in a unique and wonderful way! The first story finds Dr. William Hutchings Jr. and his three sons traveling in their Model Ford T Touring Car in 1916 to their homeplace in Grand Tower where Dr. Hutchings’s family still lived. Then we are transported to 1861 and are given the history of his family through Tilly Pruitt’s eyes and the Civil War era that they lived through; and how the visitors from New Orleans came to live there too. The end of the story brings us back to 1916 and concludes with Dr. Hutchings Jr. talking to his eldest son on their return trip back to St. Louis, in which time we find out the twist in his family’s story!

“The Southerners need lodging and Mrs. Pruitt needs money, so a business deal is struck. But, while the duo brings excitement to the Pruitt family, their guests also bring mystery and controversy. Is Delphine a spy? Is Calinda her slave? Why aren’t they moving on to St. Louis as originally planned? When an attraction develops between Noah Pruitt and Delphine, everyone in town seems to know. The intrigue of the guests’ identities merges with the outbreak of war to affect the future in ways none of them expect” (Albion, M., 2005).

c. Setting –
The setting for THE RIVER BETWEEN US is the small town of Grand Tower, IL., at the beginning of the Civil War. The banks of the Mississippi River that runs from New Orleans to St. Louis as well as the city of Cairo are also key to the story:

“The story takes place in 1916 when Tilly begins telling her family history from 1861. The setting and time periods are described through the actions of the characters. The steamboats and the trains as well as the descriptions of the characters’ clothes and activities allow the reader to understand life in 1861. The story is built around life during the Civil War. The harsh realities of war and its effect on families in this novel are convincing to the reader” (Library Thing, 2009).

“Richard Peck is a master of stories about people in transition, but perhaps never before has he told a tale of such dramatic change as this one, set during the first year of the Civil War. The whole country is changing in 1861-even the folks from a muddy little Illinois settlement on the banks of the Mississippi” (Amazon).

d. Theme –
In this story, “fifteen-year-old Tilly Pruitt frets over the fact that her brother is dreaming of being a soldier and that her sister is prone to supernatural visions. A boy named Curry could possibly become a distraction. Then a steamboat whistle splits the air. The Rob Roy from New Orleans docks at the landing, and off the boat step two remarkable figures: a vibrant, commanding young lady in a rustling hoop skirt and a darker, silent woman in a plain cloak, with a bandanna wrapped around her head. Who are these two fascinating strangers? And is the darker woman a slave, standing now on the free soil of Illinois? When Tilly's mother invites the women to board at her house, the whole world shifts for the Pruitts and for their visitors as well” (Amazon, 2009).

e. Style –
“Within a page-turning tale of mystery, adventure, and the civilian Civil War experience, Richard Peck has spun a breathtaking portrait of the lifelong impact that one person can have on another. This is a novel of countless riches” (Amazon, 2009).

“Peck's spare writing has never been more eloquent than in this powerful mystery in which personal secrets drive the plot and reveal the history. True to Tilly's first-person narrative, each sentence is a scrappy, melancholy, wry evocation of character, time, and place, and only the character of Delphine's companion, Calinda, comes close to stereotype. A final historical note and a framing device--a grandson writing 50 years after the story takes place--make the reading even better, the revelations more astonishing. It's a riveting story that shows racism everywhere and young people facing war, not sure what side to be on or why” (Rochman, H., 2003).

“As The River Between Us demonstrates, you can’t go wrong with a Richard Peck book. It’s no accident that the author of thirty novels has achieved the Newbery Medal, a Newbery Honor, a National Humanities Medal and scores of other accolades. His books for young people always challenge, never condescend. Masterfully crafted plots grab the reader and plant them firmly in a place and time. His characters are complex, interesting and always human, struggling with history, personal relationships and themselves. The plot lines may twist and turn, but they always bring the reader to a surprising and ultimately extraordinary conclusion. The River Between Us further enhances Peck’s reputation and leaves us all asking when his next book will hit the shelves” (Albion, M., 2005).

f. Additional criteria –
“Conversation is also used to understand the characters. In describing Delphine, Grandma Tilly’s mother told Tilly, “She put some starch in my spine.” In addition changes were seen in Tilly and Cass after the arrival of the mysterious ladies. The reader also noticed a change in Noah and Dr. Hutchings after the Civil War. The dialogue was suited to the time period. Words like et and seegars were used. Delphine, who was from New Orleans, used French terms. The mystery was not solved until the end of the novel. Townspeople thought that Delphine and Calinda were spies. The ghost story was presented at the beginning of the book. However, it was not until the end of the novel before everything came together. The point of view allowed a young person to understand family, customs, and the effects and harsh conditions of the Civil War. The split between the North and the South and the turmoil that families faced are evident in this novel. A surprise ending of Howard finding information about his real grandparents helped the reader understand the serious laws of the time. A River Between Us is a great story woven around the events of the Civil War” (Library Thing, 2009).

At the end of the book, there is a note on the story where Mr. Peck talks about the history that he researched that went into making this book more true to life, adding real historical details to make it more authentic. He is quoted by saying:

“Researching the Civil War is enough to swamp any novelist’s boat. That war remains the pivot on which all American history turns. It ground on for four endless years, raging on a thousand fronts. I could have spent the rest of my life researching that time. People do. But I had to carve out a place for my young characters to stand.

Because it’s a story of two mysterious young women who come north from New Orleans, the focus of the story is upon the war on the Mississippi River. Since they needed a northern destination, I borrowed the hometown of my friend Richard Hughes, because all of my stories are set in real places” (Peck, R., P. 159, 2003).

g. Awards & recognitions –
Richard Peck has won almost every children's fiction award, including the Newbery Medal, and he has recently received a National Humanities Medal from the White House.

THE RIVER BETWEEN US has been recognized with the following awards:

• National Book Award: Finalist
• Scott O'Dell Award
• ALA Notable Book
• ALA Best Book for Young Adults
• Riverbank Review Children's Books of Distinction
• Booklist Editor's Choice
• NYPL's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
• IRA Book Award
• Book Sense 76 Top Ten Selection
• Parents' Choice Award



“Richard Peck is the first children’s writer to have been awarded a National Humanities Medal. The author of 30 novels, he has also won the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in young-adult literature, the Newbery Medal (for A Year Down Yonder), a Newbery Honor (for A Long Way from Chicago), and numerous other awards and honors. His most recent book, Fair Weather, was included on more than a dozen best-of-the-year lists” (Teacher Scholastic, 2009).


4. Review Excerpts –

** A rich tale full of magic, mystery, and surprise. -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

** Historical fiction fans should enter this at the top of the must-read list. -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

** Peck reaches new depth with this Civil War-era novel. . . -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

** The harsh realities of war are brutally related in a complex, always surprising plot that resonates on multiple levels. -- The Horn Book, starred review

** This unusual Civil War novel really boosts Peck's credentials as America's best living author for young adults. -- The Washington Post

** Unforgettable characters and handsome prose make this book one you won't want to miss. -- Children's Literature --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

** It's a riveting story that shows racism everywhere and young people facing war, not sure what side to be on or why. -- Booklist, starred review

** Historical fiction fans should enter this at the top of the must-read list. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review


5. Connections –

Richard Peck is a brilliant award winning author and has many books credited to his name. Some of his other literary works are the following:

• DON’T LOOK AND IT WON’T HURT
• DREAMLAND LAKE
• THROUGH A BRIEF DARKNESS
• REPRESENTING SUPER DOLL
• THE GHOST BELONGED TO ME
• ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE ALONE?
• GHOSTS I HAVE BEEN
• FATHER FIGURE
• SECRETS OF THE SHOPPING MALL
• CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH
• THE DREADFUL FUTURE OF BLOSSOM CULP
• REMEMBERING THE GOOD TIMES
• BLOSSOMS CULP AND THE SLEEP OF DEATH
• PRINCESS ASHLEY
• THOSE SUMMER GIRLS I NEVER MET
• VOICES AFTER MIDNIGHT
• UNFINISHED PORTRAIT OF JESSICA
• BEL-AIR BAMBI AND THE MALL RATS
• THE LAST SAFE PLACE ON EARTH
• LOST IN CYBERSPACE
• THE GREAT INTERACTIVE DREAM MACHINE
• STRAYS LIKE US
• A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO
• AMANDA / MIRANDA
• A YEAR DOWN YONDER
• FAIR WEATHER
• INVITATIONS TO THE WORLD


“In the classroom a teacher could use the book to support information on the history of the different people during the Civil War time. The children could discuss the difference in how they fix their meals, how their houses have indoor plumbing, and how they are entertained at theatres in contrast to the life style during the time period of the book. The teacher could use the book to support a lesson on the origin of many of the old folk songs. The children could be taught a song from the time period of the book and then asked to tell what they think the song meant during the Civil War period” (Library Thing, 2009).

** “For companion books, see ‘Civil War--An Update’ in the September 2003 issue of Book Links” (Rochman, H.).

Audio Book -
I also listened to this book in CD format. I found it very enjoyable to listen to. My daughter even enjoyed listening to it in the car to and from school. I still however prefer to read a story by myself; but in this case, I did like hearing the different accents of the characters - for example, Delphine's French accent and Tilly's poor English. I also enjoyed hearing the many French words that Delphine spoke, as well as listening to the different songs that the book presented.


References

Amazon. (1996-2009). THE RIVER BETWEEN US, retrieved on November 6, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0803727356/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Burns, C. (2003). Amazon - school library journal, retrieved on November 7, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/River-Between-Us-Richard-Peck/dp/0803727356/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Rochman, H. (2003). Amazon – booklist, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/River-Between-Us-Richard-Peck/dp/0803727356/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Teacher Scholastic. (2009). Book circle: The river between us, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/pdfs/riverbetweenus_t.pdf

Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN-10: 0-8037-2d735-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0803727359

Albion, M. (2005). The five owls review: The river between us, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://www.fiveowls.com/reviews/river.htm

Library Thing. (2009). The river between us, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://www.librarything.com/work/113890