Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Lost in the River of Grass by Ginny Rorby

Sarah is new at school and doesn't really want to go on a field trip to the Everglades.  When she gets there, she gets snubbed as usual.  So when a cute boy offers to take her for a ride on an air boat, why not?  What's the worst that could happen?

Carolrhoda Lab of Lerner Publishing will be releasing this book in March.  It will be coming in hardcover and Adobe Reader form.  I got my copy of this young adult novel from Net Galley (thank you).

The plot of this book is striking.  Ms. Rorby takes you from a fun ride across the Everglades to a death defying trek across the grasslands in just a matter of moments!

Sarah has a crush on the young man who works around the cabins and decides to sneak off for a picnic with him and a ride on the air boat.  After all, she'll be back before the other campers return from their morning outing, what could it hurt?

The bad news is that he is as interested in Sarah as she is in and he forgets to put the plug back in the bottom of the boat.  While they sit and eat lunch casually, the air boat is sinking.

This book hits many of my fears:  snakes, gators, insects, being lost, surviving in the wild with no food or drink.  Even the saw grass is dangerous.  They are all real in the Everglades, I've been there.  We almost ended up with a gator in our air boat because a German who didn't understand English tried to pet it.  So I could really relate to Sarah's fears and to Andy trying to be strong and protect her.

This gripping, action packed story will stay with you long after you put the book down.  It's a book I would read again to see how much more I can pick up in the story.  The first read I devoured it.

It will work great for both boys and girls and should even entice reluctant readers if you have one in your household.  I highly recommend this book.  Get yourself a copy and see what all the excitement is about.

Happy reading!

2 comments:

Ginny Rorby said...

Thank you for the nice review. I'm so glad you enjoyed. It's based on the true story of my husband walking out of the Everglades, and my own personal encounter with palmetto bugs. Ginny Rorby

Journey of a Bookseller said...

It had the ring of truth to it, Ginny. You did a very nice job with the story. I'm sure you'll do well with it!

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