When Grandpa insists on going to his boyhood home to finish his painting, 'River Boy', Jess becomes entranced by the scene he is painting. And then she becomes aware of a strange presence in the river.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
River Boy
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Amazon Review
Tim Bower's tense and sensitive River Boy is, quite simply, an excellent book that deservedly won the Carnegie Medal in 1998.
Jess, a talented and obsessive swimmer, finds it difficult to come to terms with her grandfather's impending death but at the same time cannot understand his refusal to let go until he has finished his final painting "River Boy". On a family holiday, which takes Jess and Grandpa back to the places of his childhood, Jess too becomes involved in the mysterious painting and finds herself drawn to the real River-Boy who leads her into a challenge that she must complete before it is too late.
Written with a sense of calm amidst the brooding atmosphere of the story it tells, River Boy is a well-crafted, poetic novel written by a man whose talent for creating visual images with the use of a few, carefully chosen words will surely help to make it a modern classic.
Hot on atmosphere and strong on characters this haunting book, which so delicately yet so profoundly looks at the very nature of life and death, the past and the future, deserves a place on every discerning readers bookshelf. (Ages 10 and over). --Susan Harrison --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Unflinchingly facing down the subject of death, Bowler elevates it into an elegiac, magical depiction of a granddaughter's relationship with her grandfather. (Scotland on Sunday )
...haunting, poetic, and written with great feeling. (Mail on Sunday ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
...haunting, poetic, and written with great feeling. (Mail on Sunday ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
It didn't start with the river boy. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Yellow Dog
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
An elegantly written, very touching homage to family love and a positive heart-warming story of bereavement. As poignant as Paul Gallico's the Snow Goose, and as deserving as that book of being a classic.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By C. Lozeau
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Like many young adults in the digital era, I literally hadn't read a book from back to front since I was a child. Now in my 20s, this is the first book I chose to change that on my newly purchased Kindle and I'm pleased I did. A brilliant story that creates superb imagery and grips you from the beginning.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Ironsock
Format:Paperback
I am a teacher working with 13-16 year olds. Three of my students are reading the book at the moment and are very positive. I read the book last weekend and found it interesting, easy to read, pleasant and generally a very nice book. I agree with another reviewer that it lacks the drama and action of many other teenage books but I do think it works nevertheless. And if you want a more "raw" type of book Tim's Blade series is good. But River Boy does deal with the topic of death very well and gives young readers an interesting and very relevant perspective on death. That is, I think, quite an achievement. Do not though misunderstand me the book is a celebration of life and family. Nicely written too, sensitive, clever...
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
River boy is a spellbinding novel that drags you into the print,its magical plot allows you to feel for the charactors. I couldn't and wouldn't put this book down, through the pages there where mixed emotions laughs aching my stomach, tears reddening my eyes and my teeth gritting with tension.Tim Bowler is gifted in that he can write such enchanting story lines,he has added a fact of life with a touch of his own experiece, to paper and there he has what I think is a bestselling book.I hope you have this opportunity to read this book as I have, I know it sounds stupid but it helped me cope with a tough patch I was going through.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This is very original and beautifully written. It grips you from the first page, and doesn't let you go!
By jellybeanmat
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read this book to support my 12 year old son with his school work. I loved it, but my son needed convincing. The book is beautifully rich in description with the river acting as a metaphor for birth, life, death and beyond. It had me sobbing towards the end but my son was just happy to have completed his homework.
By L. White
Format:Paperback
This is a great book for young teens and adults alike. A 'can't-put-down' story which engraves itself on your mind. The imagery is superb and the narrative flows like the river in the title.
The book arrived within 3 days of ordering in excellent condition.
The book arrived within 3 days of ordering in excellent condition.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is truely the most amazing book i have ever read, i could not put it down! The cover may not look that interesting but from the first page you are totally gripped by the strangely moving storyline. It deals with death in a new enlightening way which draws you in. I never got into a book the way i did this one i would recommend it to absolutely everyone, people of all ages would enjoy it throughly.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book purchase - River Boy: 2006 Edition
River Boy: 2006 Edition, purchased in August 2009 was received in very good time and was in excellent condition. Thank you
Published on 15 Sep 2009 by Gareth Griffiths
5.0 out of 5 stars
A moving story
I was recommended this book by my teenage daughter. I read it in an afternoon; and could not put it down. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
A moving rites of passage novel
Tim Bowler skillfully deals with death and self exploration, using convincing characters and strong narrative. It is a powerful, magical, and unforgettable read. Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2001
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pitiful
This pointless novel is just about the least enjoyable thing I've ever read. The leading character is simply weirdly obsessive without being remotely interesting. Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
A sensitive, beautifully scripted story about death and hope
Jess has difficulty accepting that her much-loved grandfather is going to die. The writer focuses on her feelings and her experiences, culminating in a prodigious journey that had... Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2000
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