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Blackwater
Thirteen-year-old Brodie Lynch was ready for the perfect summer of adventure along the awesome Blackwater River. That was before everything changed forever. When a harmless prank goes too far, the unthinkable happens. Brodie's lies make him a hero, but inside, his guilt tears at him like the treacherous current of the Blackwater itself, which has become a horrifying reminder of his part in the tragedy. In this gripping new coming-of-age novel, a young boy is faced with a choice between right and wrong and ultimately learns that truth can offer hope in even the darkest moments. 01-02 Golden Sower Award Masterlist (YA Cat.) 2000 Quick Picks for Young Adults (Recomm. Books for Reluctant Young Readers)
Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
53 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Eve Bunting
307 books406 followersAlso known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
July 27, 2018
It was a good book. Not the best though. The mystery kept me going and I was constantly wondering who the third person was but what bugged me the entire time was the way the book was written. It was written like a child was talking instead of a 13 Year old. But besides that it was fine.
I liked the ending and the author has done a good job narrating an interesting in such few pages. And for that I give it 3 stars.
I liked the ending and the author has done a good job narrating an interesting in such few pages. And for that I give it 3 stars.
February 11, 2011
Thirteen-year-old Brodie Lynch's life changes forever one summer day when he takes his cousin Alex to swim in the Blackwater River. Brodie had been looking forward to the summer a camping trip, maybe a movie date with a special girl.But when Brodie and Alex get to the swimming spot tere is that girl with another boy! Brodie's jealous attempt to sneak up and startle them ends in tragedy when they are swept into the treacherous river current, and they drown. Brodie tries to save them and is treated as a local hero, but Alex and a mysterious witness know the truth and Brodie's terrible secret. Brodie is in agony: Should he protect the lie and his hero status, or admit the truth and accept responsibility for the tragedy. What will he do?
September 30, 2009
This book isnt interesting and very predictable. In the beginnng it was very boring. The middle was ok and it did get a little more interestng. By the time I finished reading like the 30th page I already knew what was going to happen in the end. It did have a little bit of suspense throughout the book. Other than that the book was very plain and ordinary. It didnt catch my attention and the only reason I read the book was to get it over with and get on to another book.
October 13, 2017
I read that a book is a mystery if the reader doesn't know whodunit. A book is a thriller if the reader knows whodunit. This book is a thriller.
My school gave me a set of these books for my struggling readers to read. It's okay but not as gripping as I/we had hoped. The ending has somewhat of a resolution but not enough for my very literal students.
In many ways, I think this book was too easy for my students.
My school gave me a set of these books for my struggling readers to read. It's okay but not as gripping as I/we had hoped. The ending has somewhat of a resolution but not enough for my very literal students.
In many ways, I think this book was too easy for my students.
September 16, 2008
This book i thought would have been better, but once i started reading it i wasn't has excited as i thought i would be. In the begginning it was i guess you can say okay, but it didnt really catch my eye. but that is my opinion if you think you will like it then read it.
May 3, 2020
The book was very good. It was full of suspense and it shows how one lie can lead to many more to come. I enjoyed the book, I honestly did, but the characters felt somewhat bland to me. There was no depth to them at all.
My least favorite character in the book was Alex. I hated how he thought he would gain his cousin's trust by lying to everyone about the incident, rather than let Brodie make his own decisions. I also hated how he would brag to Brodie to make himself look cool.
I also couldn't take the writing very seriously. It didn't sound like it was coming from a teenager, but a child. On page 2 (not even joking), Brodie says this:
"Dad is the pastor of our community church, St. Mark's, and he'd believe a werewolf was nice and needed some normal living. If he ever met a werewolf."
I found this completely unnecessary, and this has nothing to do with the main plot.
I also found it strange that he even fought over Pauline with Otis. He did it because he was afraid that Alex would make fun of him about it later on. But why is he so insecure about it? Brodie seems as if he doesn't care how other people think, but he kills two people to prove a point to his distant cousin?
My least favorite character in the book was Alex. I hated how he thought he would gain his cousin's trust by lying to everyone about the incident, rather than let Brodie make his own decisions. I also hated how he would brag to Brodie to make himself look cool.
I also couldn't take the writing very seriously. It didn't sound like it was coming from a teenager, but a child. On page 2 (not even joking), Brodie says this:
"Dad is the pastor of our community church, St. Mark's, and he'd believe a werewolf was nice and needed some normal living. If he ever met a werewolf."
I found this completely unnecessary, and this has nothing to do with the main plot.
I also found it strange that he even fought over Pauline with Otis. He did it because he was afraid that Alex would make fun of him about it later on. But why is he so insecure about it? Brodie seems as if he doesn't care how other people think, but he kills two people to prove a point to his distant cousin?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2011
Brodie and his cousin, Alex, go to the swimming hole along the fierce river. When Brodie pulls a prank, disaster strikes. One kid drowns and another is missing. When Alex tells a lie about what happens, Brodie becomes a hero. Brodie must decide whether to tell the truth about what happened or let the lie be believed.
This is a great book about the moral dilemna of whethter to tell the truth and suffer the consequences, or perpetuate a lie and deal with the internal consequences. It is not always easy to tell the truth.
This is a great book about the moral dilemna of whethter to tell the truth and suffer the consequences, or perpetuate a lie and deal with the internal consequences. It is not always easy to tell the truth.
October 9, 2013
This was a great book. In the end, Brodie told everyone the truth that he really killed Pauline and Otis, but Brodie's learns that even though he did a terrible thing, everyone still forgave him.
January 1, 2020
I found this to be good but a bit dark I think for the tween reading level. It deals with lying, how one can lead to another, and the consequences. It also deals with jealousy and manipulation.
October 13, 2017
Austin Brum
Stagnaro 3rd
10/9/17
Blackwater
A suspenseful mystery book with hard decisions having to be made is what Eve Bunting achieved in her book Blackwater. Brodie, the main character, is a young kid who lives in a small town with his mother and father. His cousin Alex is staying with him during the summer. Paulina is Brodie’s crush who becomes the victim of his mistake along with Otis who is flirting with Paulina. I found this book on the Foothill library website. It appealed to me because I was looking for a mystery story which this book is.
Brodie is ready for a action packed summer with his friends and finds out that his cousin Alex is coming to visits and he is unable to go on journeys with his friends. Brodie asked Paulina out on a date and she takes him up on it but then finds out she is talking to Otis. He decides to pull a prank by pulling Paulina into the water but as Otis grbs her they slip into the roaring and infamous blackwater which has taken lives in the past. Brodi jumps in to try to save them and people think he is a hero he has to choose between telling everyone the truth or keeping this all a secret.
The book ended with Brodie finally telling the truth that he killed Paulina and Otis. Brodie was not able to deal with the pressure of people thinking he was a hero when he wasn't. Also someone knew that he did it because he got a not that said tell. He did not want people to find out he has been lying this whole time and have someone else spread the news about what really happened. Brodie finally figured out who knew “‘It was you wasn't it?’ I said. She didn't even ask what I meant, just nodded again.” This quote is very important because he finally is relieved he knows who told.
This book was mediocre because of its poor choice of ending the book. Not only did it have a bland ending but the book had very little moments of intense suspense. I mildly enjoyed the book but would not recommend it. The book is similar to Someone is hiding on Alcatraz island by Eve Bunting but Blackwater did not have the intensity that Someone is hiding on Alcatraz island did. People who would like this book is someone who enjoy mildly suspenseful books that have a mystery element to them.
Stagnaro 3rd
10/9/17
Blackwater
A suspenseful mystery book with hard decisions having to be made is what Eve Bunting achieved in her book Blackwater. Brodie, the main character, is a young kid who lives in a small town with his mother and father. His cousin Alex is staying with him during the summer. Paulina is Brodie’s crush who becomes the victim of his mistake along with Otis who is flirting with Paulina. I found this book on the Foothill library website. It appealed to me because I was looking for a mystery story which this book is.
Brodie is ready for a action packed summer with his friends and finds out that his cousin Alex is coming to visits and he is unable to go on journeys with his friends. Brodie asked Paulina out on a date and she takes him up on it but then finds out she is talking to Otis. He decides to pull a prank by pulling Paulina into the water but as Otis grbs her they slip into the roaring and infamous blackwater which has taken lives in the past. Brodi jumps in to try to save them and people think he is a hero he has to choose between telling everyone the truth or keeping this all a secret.
The book ended with Brodie finally telling the truth that he killed Paulina and Otis. Brodie was not able to deal with the pressure of people thinking he was a hero when he wasn't. Also someone knew that he did it because he got a not that said tell. He did not want people to find out he has been lying this whole time and have someone else spread the news about what really happened. Brodie finally figured out who knew “‘It was you wasn't it?’ I said. She didn't even ask what I meant, just nodded again.” This quote is very important because he finally is relieved he knows who told.
This book was mediocre because of its poor choice of ending the book. Not only did it have a bland ending but the book had very little moments of intense suspense. I mildly enjoyed the book but would not recommend it. The book is similar to Someone is hiding on Alcatraz island by Eve Bunting but Blackwater did not have the intensity that Someone is hiding on Alcatraz island did. People who would like this book is someone who enjoy mildly suspenseful books that have a mystery element to them.
March 18, 2019
This book cursed my middle school life. The graphic imagery haunted me through the long locker filled halls. I then lugged my hollow shell of an empty preteen body to go through the ala-carte line. Again they had the soggy sketty. The long shreds of bay leaves left in had reminded me of the seaweed the poor victims had been entangled. I attempted to choke it down, but the sloshy, by-goshy noodles began to choke me. Is this how they felt? Drowning in soggy sketty? The warmth taking me in, is this heaven? Am I free from these axe filled halls? I see a light.... the bell rings. I'm fine. I have to go read another chapter. I am disgusted.
July 13, 2018
Brodie was involved in a terrible accident. His cousin, in trying to cover for Brodie, has made it worse. Brodie is being called a hero, but knows it’s not the truth. He wants to tell, but also is scared to. I think this is human nature. We don’t want to let people know when we screw up, even if it was just an accident. Why is that? How does that attitude affect us and those around us? I wished the book would have continued to show how Brodie and family dealt with the fallout. This is a book that kids will remember!
October 31, 2022
This book is the worst book I think I've ever read. I had to read this book for reading class in 7th grade, and it was the worst book I have ever read for school. The synopsis of this book makes it seem like the most interesting book you could have ever written, and then when you read it, the story is slow ad the ending is actually the biggest plot armor story you could have written. It is (and I'm not joking) the laziest way to end a book I have ever read. And I've read a lot of books with lazy endings. I suggest never reading it ever.
March 6, 2017
Thirteen-year-old Brodie Lynch is ready for the perfect summer along the Blackwater River. But then his troubled cousin Alex comes to visit. A harmless prank goes too far, and in the end one teen is drowned and another is missing. Will Brodie face the truth of these tragic events, or will he hide behind the lies created to protect him?
What happens when you make a mistake? Do you admit it? Cover it up? See what Brodie decides to do in this suspenseful novel.
What happens when you make a mistake? Do you admit it? Cover it up? See what Brodie decides to do in this suspenseful novel.
January 15, 2021
Our school used this book with our 6th graders. We would read three chapters at a time and complete a Reading is Thinking chart after we would read each section. The book was suspenseful at times and really got you thinking and making predictions. Ending was a little anticlimactic and I felt the author could have continued to story for another chapter or so to detail what happened after the truth was revealed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2022
This is a fast read and students will enjoy it. Yes, it’s an older book but in the same tradition of Pretty Little Liars and The Red Kayak, there’s something that happened and the full truth is being withheld. This book is named in a suggested list for students in Common Lit360 under the topic of Bad Behavior. I like it for that and I probably wouldn’t have reread it but it’s a fast read and suspenseful.
February 12, 2019
Great book for middle schoolers! The plot is intense and many of them told me they couldn't stop reading because they had to know what happened next. Plus it's short (a little over a hundred pages) and very easy to read!
April 25, 2021
Very predictable, easy read
There's murder, mystery, male protagonist, moral dilemma . . .
This would be a good book for low readers in middle school. It's an easy read, and I thought the twist was predictable.
There's murder, mystery, male protagonist, moral dilemma . . .
This would be a good book for low readers in middle school. It's an easy read, and I thought the twist was predictable.
October 28, 2021
very nice book i red the whole book so awesome the book is about a 13 years old Brodie and his 12 years old cousin Alex, Brodie has a crush on a girl named Pauline and she likes a boy named Otis so Brodie does a prank on them this prank goes wrong and both died ....
September 12, 2017
Not impressed. Clunky writing when in the head of a 13 year old boy. Story feels somewhat forced. in general, I really don't enjoy reading accounts of fictional pubescent boys behaving badly.
February 15, 2018
A amazing spiral office guilt truly eats at a person. Brodie and Alex defy the truth as they try to forget. I couldn’t put it down definitely recommend!!
April 7, 2019
I thought that this book had a good storyline but the way that it was written wasn't appealing to me.
May 21, 2020
Short YA that shows the results of lying. A boy causes two deaths by a jealous fight that throws a boy and a girl into a rushing river.
Read
January 15, 2021Surprising coming of age story where telling the truth is hard but you've gotta do it.
June 11, 2021
I always have my middle schoolers read this book. Some of it is outdated but the premise remains true. Your actions have repercussions. It’s a lesson we all need to learn!
April 23, 2022
Very quick read. Good for teens to learn about consequences and lying.
August 29, 2023
A quite decent story which tells the tale of a tragedy and also includes meaningful morals and life lessons on honesty and self accountability. Definitely worth a read.
May 29, 2024
From the school library - not bad but far too short. I’m not even sure my p7s would enjoy it!
September 1, 2024
The 6th graders I worked with are reading this book, and I hate starting in the middle of a story when I read aloud to them. This book definitely has a great message.
December 12, 2024
This book is the perfect combination of suspense, regret, and heartache.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews