Hobbs, Will. Downriver. New York: Random House, 1991. Print.
Annotation:
Wilderness therapy? Discovery Unlimited? Indeed! Jessie resents being sent away to the woods for nine weeks to discover herself. However, the other participants, the other hoods in the woods, add interest to this whole experience, which gets even more interesting when the alluring Troy convinces Jessie and the other risk takers to take even more of a chance. Discoveries abound!
Justification for Nomination: Fifteen-year old Jessie's mother died when Jessie was five. Since then it had always been Jessie and her dad until Madeline came along. Now, everything is changing, and Jessie resents the way things are going. Her actions and resentment have landed her a place in a group of other young people in need of self-discovery. This adventure novel takes Jessie, Star, Heather, Rita, Adam, Pug, Freddy, and Troy on a true discovery adventure. The characters of Downriver face off against nature--the outside world of nature and human nature. Not only do the characters discover truths about themselves, each other, and life, they experience the wonder of the elements and the outdoors. The young adult reader lives right along with the characters. The struggle for independence and the characters' efforts to prove themselves, to be accepted, resonate loudly with the young reader. The thrill of romance is found in the love, friendship, and adventure the characters share and experience. The reader is captivated by the intense range of emotions and experiences the sense of adventure as the story rushes along like the river, plunges along like the boats.
Will Hobbs masterfully weaves nature and human nature into a story of determination, resilience, and survival that demonstrates the strength of the human spirit and the ability to perceive life more clearly that results from struggle and survival. Hobbs' ability to develop both the characters and the plot without sacrificing one or the other is indicative of his craftsmanship as a writer. The impending sense of hope in the face of danger and suspense creates a wonderful tale of adventure for the young adult reader. The adventure novel Downriver definitely meets the criteria of a romantic adventure novel and is therefore worthy of nomination for an award for literary excellence.
Genre: Romance/Adventure Novel, Coming of Age
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