The River Between Us

**This review was created for an assignment at Texas Woman's University**

Book Review: The River Between Us

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York: Puffin Books.
ISBN: 0142403105

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The small southern Illinois town of Grand Tower serves as the backdrop for Richard Peck’s award winning historical fiction novel The River Between Us. The story begins in 1916 with a young boy taking a trip to Grand Tower with his father and brothers in a Model T Ford. Young Howard Hutchings meets four older family members in Grand Tower who helped raise his father. The story unfolds as Howard wonders what these individuals’ lives were like in the time of his Father’s childhood.

The novel backtracks to the year 1861 with the arrival of two young ladies who arrive in Grand Tower via the Mississippi River from New Orleans. The women were destined for St. Louis, but with the start of the war the trip is considered too dangerous. Delphine is a stunningly beautiful and impeccably dressed. She is accompanied by a woman thought to be her slave or servant. Both women need a place to stay, and Ma Pruitt comes forward offering her home that she shares with her three children, Tilly, Noah, and Cass.

Young Tilly Pruitt narrates the story. Tilly, her younger sister Cass, and twin brother Noah become entwined in the lives of Delphine and Calinda. Delphine is a sophisticated woman who speaks French and tells stories about the grand events in her life back in “Nouvelle Orleans”. She is a larger then life woman who is very passionate about her southern home. Calinda is a quiet woman who walks behind Delphine.

The beginning of the Civil War brings each of the main characters in the story to a state of worry and fear. Ma worries about Noah going off to war, Cass sees visions of soldiers dying, and Tilly works hard to keep the family together during this time of uncertainty. Townspeople in Grand Tower begin to start rumors that Dephine and Calinda are spies for the south.

When Noah leaves for war the Pruitt family is torn apart. Fear tears apart Ma who desperately worries about her son’s safety. Tilly and Delphine travel to Cairo, Illinois to find Noah and the events that transpire reveal not only the harsh realities of life during the Civil War, but the strength and determination of the human spirit.

The novel ends with a return to the events in the first chapter in 1916. Readers will encounter many of the main characters of the story in their latter years as secrets about the Pruitt family are revealed that will startle readers leaving them wanting to know more about the lives of Tilly, Noah, Delphine, and Calinda.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Peck tells an emotional and moving story about a small Mississippi River town and it’s inhabitants during the beginning of the Civil War. He successfully achieves a balance of providing readers with factual elements of the places and happenings of the Civil War while blending elements of storytelling as well. Peck pays close attention to historical accuracy carefully citing his research and the historical events and locations of the novel in a note section at the end of the story. The various settings in the novel are real places that were researched by Peck. Events that were portrayed in the novel such as the Battle of Belmont were actual events of the Civil War.

The characters in The River Between Us are real and believable. Peck’s descriptive writing will have readers visualizing the details of the dresses that adorn Delphine, and the atrocities of war through vivid battlefield descriptions. The characters and the townspeople of Grand Tower show a very human side of war as social issues such as racism and classism are revealed through their beliefs and actions. Peck demonstrates how individuals and families were impacted by the war through the eyes of the characters in this story through his writing.

The style of writing and dialogue in the novel reflects the language of the time period and the geographical areas represented in the story. Mama responds to the townspeople who want her to send Delphine and Calinda on their way, “Well, I don’t see how I can send them home. The boats isn’t running.” Calinda shouts, “PRAWLEEENS, NEW ORLEANS STYLE” from the foot of the gangplank as she sells to boats stopping in Grand Tower, and Delphine speaks often of her “Maman and Papa” back in New Orleans in a French dialect.

The plot of the story thickens when Delphine and Tilly take off to find Noah in Cairo, Illinois. The vivid descriptions of their experiences when they first walked into Camp Defiance paint a vivid picture for readers, “The smell hit me, and nearly sent me sideways.” The condition of the soldiers also evokes powerful images. This was written about a soldier who turned out to be Noah when Tilly and Delphine find him at camp, “One sat at the end of his cot with a bucket and a dipper at his feet. He was badly wasted, and his cheeks were sunk to where he looked like a death’s-head.”

The combination of unforgettable characters, intelligent discussions about race and culture, and lyrical storytelling in this novel offers readers a glimpse into a period of U.S. history through a emotional and thought provoking story. The characters and events in this story are memorable and will stick with readers long after the have finished reading the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly: "The author crafts his characters impeccably and threads together their fates in surprising ways that shed light on the complicated events of the Civil War."

Kirkus Reviews: “Peck writes beautifully, bringing history alive through Tilly's marvelous voice and deftly handling themes of family, race, war, and history. A rich tale full of magic, mystery, and surprise.”

5. CONNECTIONS:
*This novel can be paired with a social studies unit on the Civil War to bring a new perspective to this period of history.
*Students can create a map and timeline of the events in this novel and of the war in Mississippi River region to deepen their understanding of the events and places in this story.
*Students can research and learn more about the battles and the main figures of the Civil War mentioned in this novel such as: President Lincoln, General Grant, and Jefferson Davis.

AWARDS:
Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2003
National Book Award Finalist

Web Resources:
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/civilwar.htm
http://users.stlcc.edu/jangert/grndtwr/grndtwr.html