| "RIVER BOY"
Author: Tim Bowler
Interest Level: Upper Middle Grades (6-8)
ATOS Reading Level: 5.3
AR Points: 6.0
Publisher Recommended Age: 12+
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 160
Book Description:
Fifteen-year-old Jess's grandfather has just had a major heart attack, but he insists he finish his painting, River Boy. At first, Jess cannot understand why this painting is so important to her grandfather, especially since there doesn't seem to be any boy in it at all.
But while swimming in the river herself, Jess begins to feel the presence of a strange boy. Could this be the same one her ailing grandfather struggles to paint? And if so, why has he returned?
Book Reviews:
Publisher's Weekly: "...succeeds in conveying the strong bond between Jess and her grandfather...(she) realizes they have more in common than she'd ever imagined." Ages 12+
School Library Journal: "River Boy is about the embodiment of hope, the circle of life, and an artist's spiritual quest. Its premise is creative and deeply tender."
Children's Literature: "This introspective and quiet story dealing with relationships and lost opportunities will appeal to a mature reader." Ages 10-14
VOYA: "...this fascinating novel is the subtle tale of teenaged Jess, who comes to terms with the illness and eventual death of her beloved grandfather....This mystical story is a true work of literature ...recommended for all libraries." Ages 12-18
ALA Booklist (Boxed Review): "What's powerful is the sense of place, especially the river, its sound, rush, and secrets."
Book Awards:
About the Author:
Tim Bowler was born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England, in 1953, and lived for many years in a house overlooking the Thames Estuary, where his first novel, Midget, was set.
In college, he majored in Swedish and Scandinavian studies, after which he worked in a variety of fields, including forestry and the timber trade. He then went into teaching and became Head of Modern Languages at a school in Devon, England, where he lives. Mr. Bowler is now a full-time freelance writer and translator.
In 1995, he started to think about a new book based on the love he felt for his late grandfather, one that would use images of water and swimming as spiritual metaphors. Then one afternoon his wife came home with a painting of a river -- and the next morning he started working on River Boy, which went on to win the 1998 Carnegie Medal. |
