Hi, everyone. Today I will be reviewing The River Way Home by Mary E. Dawson. My apologies go out to Mary. Between my new job (which has me working way too many hours) and my applying to grad school it has been entirely too long of a wait for my review. I'm sorry Mary. But...it is worth the wait!
The River Way Home by Mary E. Dawson is a classic! This wonderful book combines adventure, history, companionship, action, and most of all honor. The story of Queenie, Billy, and the Chief is one all readers, young and old alike, will devour and love. While intended for a YA audience, The River Way Home proved to be a book I loved, and Im not quite in the YA age range!
What I liked best: I loved the characters. Queenie, Billy, and Chief are characters I came to love, respect, and root for. Their adventurous spirit and devotion to the land, animals, and each other is fantastic. I also loved the historical aspect of this book. I am a big history buff, and the way Ms. Dawson incorporated Florida history into this tale really put it over the top for me. It is a wonderful story that will make readers aware of the history of this region of the great state of Florida.
What missed a bit: If I had to pinpoint one thing, I can only comment on the cover. I personally love the cover. I think the image conveys the message of the untamed Florida terrain at an intoxicating time of day (dont you just love that sun?). However, it is my belief that a cover that featured the Queen, the Cowboy, and the Chief might very well appeal to more YA readers. I believe this book is so good that I want it in the hands of as many readers as possible.
**Edit** The Amazon cover image is different than the one I read. I like it better; I believe it will appeal to youngsters more.
Overall: Fantastic! This is really like no other YA book Ive ever read. The adventures the children take feel like they last a lifetime. I remember the long summer days of my childhood, and I can understand how the three days of adventure shaped these children. I really enjoyed the historical information included at the end of the book. It was really fascinating to read about the real-life inspirations for each character, as well as more about the actual history of the area. I loved this book. I would recommend it to all readers of every age. I would also love to see it featured in the classroom and at libraries.
***I received a free book from the author in exchange for an honest review**
The River Way Home by Mary E. Dawson is a classic! This wonderful book combines adventure, history, companionship, action, and most of all honor. The story of Queenie, Billy, and the Chief is one all readers, young and old alike, will devour and love. While intended for a YA audience, The River Way Home proved to be a book I loved, and Im not quite in the YA age range!
What I liked best: I loved the characters. Queenie, Billy, and Chief are characters I came to love, respect, and root for. Their adventurous spirit and devotion to the land, animals, and each other is fantastic. I also loved the historical aspect of this book. I am a big history buff, and the way Ms. Dawson incorporated Florida history into this tale really put it over the top for me. It is a wonderful story that will make readers aware of the history of this region of the great state of Florida.
What missed a bit: If I had to pinpoint one thing, I can only comment on the cover. I personally love the cover. I think the image conveys the message of the untamed Florida terrain at an intoxicating time of day (dont you just love that sun?). However, it is my belief that a cover that featured the Queen, the Cowboy, and the Chief might very well appeal to more YA readers. I believe this book is so good that I want it in the hands of as many readers as possible.
**Edit** The Amazon cover image is different than the one I read. I like it better; I believe it will appeal to youngsters more.
Overall: Fantastic! This is really like no other YA book Ive ever read. The adventures the children take feel like they last a lifetime. I remember the long summer days of my childhood, and I can understand how the three days of adventure shaped these children. I really enjoyed the historical information included at the end of the book. It was really fascinating to read about the real-life inspirations for each character, as well as more about the actual history of the area. I loved this book. I would recommend it to all readers of every age. I would also love to see it featured in the classroom and at libraries.
***I received a free book from the author in exchange for an honest review**
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