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Plein nord
From the author of Raft of Stars comes a heartfelt novel of marriage and whitewater rafting, following one couple as they navigate the changing currents of family, community, and the river itself.
As the summer of 1993 begins, Sam and Swami Brecht roll into town with a twenty-six-foot Winnebago camper van, their three young kids, and the deed to Woodchuck Rafting Company. Sam and Swami met as young, adventurous river guides but, a decade later, find themselves weighed down by money worries and the demands of adulthood. The town of Thunderwater, in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, could be the fresh start their marriage needs. But Woodchuck, once the property of Sam’s eccentric uncle, has seen better days and will need a serious overhaul if it is going to stand a chance at survival.
Soon Sam and Swami learn they are not the only ones looking for change and profit on the river. A competing rafting outfit, clashing raft guides, stubborn townsfolk, and an exploratory mining company begin to threaten their tenuous livelihood. Then nature intervenes, in the form of historic floods throughout the Midwest. Amid tumultuous currents both on and off the river, Sam and Swami struggle to maintain the new life they’ve built. Before the summer draws to a close, the Brechts must learn to face the floodwaters together in order to create a sustainable future for their family, the town, and the pristine river from which it all flows.
As the summer of 1993 begins, Sam and Swami Brecht roll into town with a twenty-six-foot Winnebago camper van, their three young kids, and the deed to Woodchuck Rafting Company. Sam and Swami met as young, adventurous river guides but, a decade later, find themselves weighed down by money worries and the demands of adulthood. The town of Thunderwater, in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, could be the fresh start their marriage needs. But Woodchuck, once the property of Sam’s eccentric uncle, has seen better days and will need a serious overhaul if it is going to stand a chance at survival.
Soon Sam and Swami learn they are not the only ones looking for change and profit on the river. A competing rafting outfit, clashing raft guides, stubborn townsfolk, and an exploratory mining company begin to threaten their tenuous livelihood. Then nature intervenes, in the form of historic floods throughout the Midwest. Amid tumultuous currents both on and off the river, Sam and Swami struggle to maintain the new life they’ve built. Before the summer draws to a close, the Brechts must learn to face the floodwaters together in order to create a sustainable future for their family, the town, and the pristine river from which it all flows.
416 pages
First published January 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
November 17, 2025
What seems like the perfect “retirement” new life “career” quickly feels like a dream gone badly for Sam and Swami. The idea to live and work along the river seems to slowly melt away into troubles and slick well-financed competition.
Sam and Swami are struggling as a couple, and the dreams are definitely being challenged. But there is something about this feel-good plot (if you can be patient with it) that feels like hope is just around the corner. With white-water rafting as a backdrop, who doesn’t want to believe that the water is great and the flow of the river will make everything feel better eventually.
Sam just wasn’t willing to give up, so maybe as readers, we shouldn’t either. There is something warm-hearted between these pages.
Sam and Swami are struggling as a couple, and the dreams are definitely being challenged. But there is something about this feel-good plot (if you can be patient with it) that feels like hope is just around the corner. With white-water rafting as a backdrop, who doesn’t want to believe that the water is great and the flow of the river will make everything feel better eventually.
Sam just wasn’t willing to give up, so maybe as readers, we shouldn’t either. There is something warm-hearted between these pages.
January 17, 2024
With the country locked in ice, “True North,” Andrew J. Graff’s warmhearted story about a summer of white-water rafting, sounds like the vacation we all need. Graff’s second novel offers just enough drama to be exciting and just enough reassurance that everybody will get home safe.
But the stakes couldn’t be higher for Sam Brecht, the optimistic young man who puts this adventure in motion. Desperate to save his failing marriage, he’s already run through a series of bold visions, including a pick-your-own blueberry farm that, somehow, never got off the ground. Now, with two kids and a new baby, Sam suspects he’s about to lose his job as a high school art teacher, so he needs a sure thing.
I’m no financial adviser, but when your best side hustle starts with buying a brand-new 23-foot-long Winnebago, you’re on the scenic route to bankruptcy. And yet that monster vehicle is only the smallest part of Sam’s last-ditch scheme. With money from his retirement savings — surely vast, given his degree in ceramics — he’s also bought a run-down rafting company in Wisconsin. Back in the day, he and his wife, Swami, had fallen in love near a river. “Maybe,” he thinks, “another river could make everything right again.”
This would be a brilliant plan if the fundamental problem with Sam’s marriage was dehydration.
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/...
But the stakes couldn’t be higher for Sam Brecht, the optimistic young man who puts this adventure in motion. Desperate to save his failing marriage, he’s already run through a series of bold visions, including a pick-your-own blueberry farm that, somehow, never got off the ground. Now, with two kids and a new baby, Sam suspects he’s about to lose his job as a high school art teacher, so he needs a sure thing.
I’m no financial adviser, but when your best side hustle starts with buying a brand-new 23-foot-long Winnebago, you’re on the scenic route to bankruptcy. And yet that monster vehicle is only the smallest part of Sam’s last-ditch scheme. With money from his retirement savings — surely vast, given his degree in ceramics — he’s also bought a run-down rafting company in Wisconsin. Back in the day, he and his wife, Swami, had fallen in love near a river. “Maybe,” he thinks, “another river could make everything right again.”
This would be a brilliant plan if the fundamental problem with Sam’s marriage was dehydration.
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/...
February 18, 2024
For a split second, Sam could see the whole vision again, his family a river family, Sam himself someday an old man with a permanent tan and a beard and the gorge in his voice, expansive and happy and filled.
It's 1993, and Sam and Swami Brecht and their children are heading north to Thunderwater, Wisconsin, a Northwoods town of just over 200 residents. Sam and Swami have just purchased half of Sam's uncle Chip's whitewater rafting company, Woodchuck. The couple met as bright-eyed young river guides, but now their marriage has fractured under the weight of money troubles and the responsibility of three young children. Sam is convinced that a fresh start in the wilds of the Northwoods is just what his family needs. But Woodchuck needs some serious TLC, and things become even more tenuous when a flashy new competitor starts taking their business, and a mining company begins early excavations along the river that serves as their livelihood. And then come the historic floods, and the realization that Sam and Swami must learn to cling to each other and their family -- or they're going to drown.
True North is a poignant, perceptive family drama, rich with atmosphere and adventure. Andrew Graff's prose is evocative and emotional, vivid with descriptions of the natural world and infused with deeply human insights. This story completely captivated me from the first page, drawing me into the life of this lovely, messy family, and I was rooting so hard for them to make it.
One of my favorite movies is The River Wild, and True North gave me similar vibes -- not for the action plot, and not just for the obvious whitewater rafting comparison -- but because of the way a family comes together on a literal river, navigating the rapids as a unit. This is a book about how it's all so complicated, life and marriage and family and all of it, but how it can also be so simple -- about how love can change and grow and fade over time, but never really goes away completely. It's just such a beautiful, moving exploration of the complexities of navigating life as a family.
The characters are well-developed, conveyed with tenderness and authenticity, even the children (it's so hard to write children well, but Graff does it). There's this wonderful small-town found family element to the book that I found so affecting and heartwarming. There's adventure, there's emotion, there's drama, there are characters that come to feel like friends, all rendered by a writer with a true gift for storytelling. If you enjoy family dramas and wilderness fiction, you will love True North. Thank you to Ecco and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.
November 19, 2023
Like the winding waters of a river, Sam and Swami Brecht must navigate new currents after Sam loses his teaching job in the summer of 1993. TRUE NORTH is a family drama that follows Sam, Swami and their three children on an unexpected path to the Northwoods of Wisconsin to take over Sam’s Uncle’s whitewater rafting business. The family faces many barriers to success including a fractured marriage, a competing rafting outfit, and a mining company with a different vision for the land.
Andrew Graff’s love for the outdoors and adventure is evident in this book. As a previous whitewater rafting guide, Graff infuses his technical knowledge with a heart for the river. TRUE NORTH will appeal broadly to readers, especially those who enjoy family drama, wilderness fiction, and the challenges of marriage.
READ THIS IF:
-Found family and fresh starts resonate with you
-You can’t resist a good comeback story
-Books with a rugged outdoor setting (i.e. Peter Heller) work well for you
RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: January 16, 2024
Many thanks to Ecco and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Andrew Graff’s love for the outdoors and adventure is evident in this book. As a previous whitewater rafting guide, Graff infuses his technical knowledge with a heart for the river. TRUE NORTH will appeal broadly to readers, especially those who enjoy family drama, wilderness fiction, and the challenges of marriage.
READ THIS IF:
-Found family and fresh starts resonate with you
-You can’t resist a good comeback story
-Books with a rugged outdoor setting (i.e. Peter Heller) work well for you
RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: January 16, 2024
Many thanks to Ecco and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2024
Rated 2.5 stars and rounded up to 3
I found this book so frustrating from beginning to end. Sam, parent of three, about to be unemployed, decides the best thing to do is buy his uncle’s failing raft business. He does zero research into the area or the business, has no business plan and has no money at all. He just loves rafting and thinks this will be good for the family. Then he seems shocked that his wife, Swami, isn’t thrilled. Poor Swami is stuck always being the adult who makes sure the children are housed and fed. With a spouse like Sam, no wonder she’s at the end of her rope. And then we find out Swami is cold and can be mean. I mean…zero blame. Do I wish she’d be nicer, sure. But good grief her husband is a complete mess and she can’t even afford the laundromat to wash her kids’ clothes. I’d be a raging bitch if it were me.
The last maybe 20% of the book got more engaging but honestly, it was a feat of endurance to make it that far. If this weren’t for a book club I would have set it down after the first chapter. I’m sure there are readers out there who would love to read about a middle aged dude who wants adventure and will go for it no matter how much it imperils his family, but this just wasn’t it for me.
I found this book so frustrating from beginning to end. Sam, parent of three, about to be unemployed, decides the best thing to do is buy his uncle’s failing raft business. He does zero research into the area or the business, has no business plan and has no money at all. He just loves rafting and thinks this will be good for the family. Then he seems shocked that his wife, Swami, isn’t thrilled. Poor Swami is stuck always being the adult who makes sure the children are housed and fed. With a spouse like Sam, no wonder she’s at the end of her rope. And then we find out Swami is cold and can be mean. I mean…zero blame. Do I wish she’d be nicer, sure. But good grief her husband is a complete mess and she can’t even afford the laundromat to wash her kids’ clothes. I’d be a raging bitch if it were me.
The last maybe 20% of the book got more engaging but honestly, it was a feat of endurance to make it that far. If this weren’t for a book club I would have set it down after the first chapter. I’m sure there are readers out there who would love to read about a middle aged dude who wants adventure and will go for it no matter how much it imperils his family, but this just wasn’t it for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2024
This is the best book I’ve read so far this year (I know you’re saying big whoop, it’s January, but STAY WITH ME HERE) because I have a sneaking suspicion, or possibly fear, that I may approach December 31st and feel the exact same way. Does my 2024 reading all go downhill from here?
At the end of the story, Andrew Graff says that he really wanted to get it right and I wish I could tell him more personally than in a Goodreads review that he did. I loved this so much. It’s not a story that is going to hit the perfect chords for everybody like it did for me, and with that in mind, I’ll have to be thoughtful about who I recommend it to. I’m too fragile and protective of this book and its people (Chip 🥹🥹🥹🥹) to hear criticism or to see others meeting the magic of this story with passivity.
I don’t feel the need to summarize things because you can easily find that aspect elsewhere, but I found the plot itself creative, captivating, and fascinating. If you have any sort of outdoor adventure dirtbum-y life experiences in wild and/or rugged-settings, I think you will too. There was a lot going on, but somehow it all worked. The setting was deeply atmospheric with such a strong sense of the kind of people and places you find in those worlds. Reading this book reminded me of that time of my life and made me homesick for that lifestyle.
The writing here also just SHINED. It’s not at all just a book about rafting and adventures, it’s a raw and beautiful depiction of life and love and it take a special kind of writer to make the two work so cohesively into one. I was touched and enchanted by Graff’s style of prose and also jealous as someone who dreams of writing a novel one day. Passages upon passages spoke to me here—leaving a lump in my throat and a desire to find a highlighter and highlight the shit out of the words in an attempt to tattoo them into my brain.
I don’t cry often at the end of books, but I did with this one and you’re probably not surprised given the gushing turn this review has taken. But my partner asked why it made me cry and the answer felt impossible to summarize. I think maybe it’s because with a rafting company that’s full of charm as its backdrop, this book is a melting pot—of sorrow and joy, beauty and ugliness, hardship and triumph. Reading those things all mixed together left me with a little bit of both a broken and mended heart and an appreciation that the pond in my backyard leads to a river.
At the end of the story, Andrew Graff says that he really wanted to get it right and I wish I could tell him more personally than in a Goodreads review that he did. I loved this so much. It’s not a story that is going to hit the perfect chords for everybody like it did for me, and with that in mind, I’ll have to be thoughtful about who I recommend it to. I’m too fragile and protective of this book and its people (Chip 🥹🥹🥹🥹) to hear criticism or to see others meeting the magic of this story with passivity.
I don’t feel the need to summarize things because you can easily find that aspect elsewhere, but I found the plot itself creative, captivating, and fascinating. If you have any sort of outdoor adventure dirtbum-y life experiences in wild and/or rugged-settings, I think you will too. There was a lot going on, but somehow it all worked. The setting was deeply atmospheric with such a strong sense of the kind of people and places you find in those worlds. Reading this book reminded me of that time of my life and made me homesick for that lifestyle.
The writing here also just SHINED. It’s not at all just a book about rafting and adventures, it’s a raw and beautiful depiction of life and love and it take a special kind of writer to make the two work so cohesively into one. I was touched and enchanted by Graff’s style of prose and also jealous as someone who dreams of writing a novel one day. Passages upon passages spoke to me here—leaving a lump in my throat and a desire to find a highlighter and highlight the shit out of the words in an attempt to tattoo them into my brain.
I don’t cry often at the end of books, but I did with this one and you’re probably not surprised given the gushing turn this review has taken. But my partner asked why it made me cry and the answer felt impossible to summarize. I think maybe it’s because with a rafting company that’s full of charm as its backdrop, this book is a melting pot—of sorrow and joy, beauty and ugliness, hardship and triumph. Reading those things all mixed together left me with a little bit of both a broken and mended heart and an appreciation that the pond in my backyard leads to a river.
November 7, 2023
True North by Andrew J. Graff
In the summer of 1993 begins, Sam and Swambi Brecht roll into town with a twenty-three-foot Winnebago camper van, and their three kids, and the deed to Sam's late uncle's Woodchuck Rafting Company. Sam and Swambi met as adventurous river guides but a decade later, had money problems and demands of adulthood. The town of Thunderwater, in Wisconsin's Northwoods, could be the fresh start their marriage needed. The property needed a complete overhaul. Soon Sam and Swambi learn they are not the only ones here to profit on the river,. A competing rafting outfit, clashing guides, townsfolk and a mining company begin to threaten their livelihood. I really enjoyed this story, full of adventure and I know you will too. I received this book in the Goodreads Giveaway and from the Author Andrew J Graff
In the summer of 1993 begins, Sam and Swambi Brecht roll into town with a twenty-three-foot Winnebago camper van, and their three kids, and the deed to Sam's late uncle's Woodchuck Rafting Company. Sam and Swambi met as adventurous river guides but a decade later, had money problems and demands of adulthood. The town of Thunderwater, in Wisconsin's Northwoods, could be the fresh start their marriage needed. The property needed a complete overhaul. Soon Sam and Swambi learn they are not the only ones here to profit on the river,. A competing rafting outfit, clashing guides, townsfolk and a mining company begin to threaten their livelihood. I really enjoyed this story, full of adventure and I know you will too. I received this book in the Goodreads Giveaway and from the Author Andrew J Graff
October 15, 2024
This story got way bogged down in the middle and I did check the spoiler - I almost gave up when I thought their marriage was over but thank god it came together in the end. The ending was four stars for sure. Hang in there, it’s worth it or just skip to the end if the middle is too awful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2024
I think this book has a really limited audience. Had I not been familiar with - and experienced - the Wisconsin Northwoods and rafting, I do not believe I would have finished the book. A young family buys a rafting outfit and moves to the Northwoods for the summer to make a go of it. The couple is having marital issues, there's a competing outfit, the town is facing a threat from a mining company...it all didn't really add up to a super-compelling story. Personally, I enjoyed the setting and some of the characters, but overall it was just an average read for me.
September 7, 2023
At the end of the book, Graff says, I really wanted to get this story right.
Well, mission accomplished.
Well, mission accomplished.
February 17, 2024
I thought this was going to be a quick, fun, forgettable read, and that’s what I was looking for to break up dreary February. However, the character development and strong sense of place surprised me…turns out I’ll remember this one for quite awhile.
April 26, 2024
Swami is my most hated literary character since the wife from Gone Girl. Could not stand her.
February 9, 2025
Meh, wish they would have talked more about how Sam and Swami resolved their issues. Swami annoyed me from start to finish in the book. Also, no rafting company would EVER take boy scouts on a river flowing at CFS levels higher than any guide has ever seen. That’s incredibly irresponsible and dumb.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2023
I requested this book on Netgalley because I dearly loved Raft of Stars. I was thrilled to get an ARC…it made my week and went to the top of my TBR.
I just finished it and I really enjoyed it. Now, I have never been rafting…but I feel like I know a lot more about it after reading this book! It’s a family story set against the backdrop of a whitewater rafting business. The setting of this book is so vivid that the river is almost a character.
There’s a lot of adventure in this book and excitement, but mostly it’s a family story. There’s both inherited family relationships (husband/wife/kids) as well as found family relationships.
My only criticism of the book is that there’s a lot of competing storylines. A mining company is looking to move in to town. There’s a competing rafting company that is edging out the main characters’ company with fancy zip lines and brand new equipment. Bills are mounting. Did I mentioned that there are some ancient Native American landmarks being threatened by the encroaching development? Then we have the family drama of will-they-or-won’t-they-split-up-for-good. It’s a lot jam packed into one book, but all of the storylines get resolved by the end.
This is a book that I would hand to lots of different types of readers. It definitely feels like a good “dad book” but it would have wide appeal to those who like wilderness fiction or found family stories. If you like Peter Heller’s books (particularly The River) but would like less of the creepy factor, then this book would be great for you. (And you absolutely need to read Raft of Stars, because it’s a wonderful book!)
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC. (PS to the publisher: the cover is gorgeous! Whoever does the covers for Graff’s books is brilliant at their job!)
I just finished it and I really enjoyed it. Now, I have never been rafting…but I feel like I know a lot more about it after reading this book! It’s a family story set against the backdrop of a whitewater rafting business. The setting of this book is so vivid that the river is almost a character.
There’s a lot of adventure in this book and excitement, but mostly it’s a family story. There’s both inherited family relationships (husband/wife/kids) as well as found family relationships.
My only criticism of the book is that there’s a lot of competing storylines. A mining company is looking to move in to town. There’s a competing rafting company that is edging out the main characters’ company with fancy zip lines and brand new equipment. Bills are mounting. Did I mentioned that there are some ancient Native American landmarks being threatened by the encroaching development? Then we have the family drama of will-they-or-won’t-they-split-up-for-good. It’s a lot jam packed into one book, but all of the storylines get resolved by the end.
This is a book that I would hand to lots of different types of readers. It definitely feels like a good “dad book” but it would have wide appeal to those who like wilderness fiction or found family stories. If you like Peter Heller’s books (particularly The River) but would like less of the creepy factor, then this book would be great for you. (And you absolutely need to read Raft of Stars, because it’s a wonderful book!)
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC. (PS to the publisher: the cover is gorgeous! Whoever does the covers for Graff’s books is brilliant at their job!)
January 30, 2024
Thank you so much partner @bibliolifestyle and @eccobooks for my gifted copy.
I’ll keep it short & sweet! True North is a comeback story with an atmospheric outdoor backdrop. There’s a ton of heart in this story and you can feel the author’s live for the outdoors emanating through the pages of this book. There’s a lot going on but it worked with this author’s writing style. It’s an adventurous story that will have a specific audience for sure. True North is out now!
Happy reading
I’ll keep it short & sweet! True North is a comeback story with an atmospheric outdoor backdrop. There’s a ton of heart in this story and you can feel the author’s live for the outdoors emanating through the pages of this book. There’s a lot going on but it worked with this author’s writing style. It’s an adventurous story that will have a specific audience for sure. True North is out now!
Happy reading
July 11, 2024
All of the trouble and stress he submerses his wife into the ENTIRE novel, they take a break, she invites him to try again with her and the kids in CA… and all I can think is, IS THIS AUTHOR FOR REAL?
A cross country trip on a DIRT BIKE, with a PUPPY. A puppy he’s going to SURPRISE his daughter with? Without even mentioning the dog to the wife?
YOU HAVE LEARNED NOTHING SAM.
Terrible book. Amazing examples of gaslighting.
A cross country trip on a DIRT BIKE, with a PUPPY. A puppy he’s going to SURPRISE his daughter with? Without even mentioning the dog to the wife?
YOU HAVE LEARNED NOTHING SAM.
Terrible book. Amazing examples of gaslighting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2024
This is the story of Sam and Swami Brecht. Their financial struggles and years of drifting apart. they spend the summer in Wisconsin’s Northwoods running the Woodchuck Rafting Company. Their interactions with the community and Uncle Chip brings them new insight into their relationship. A wonderfully told story, with many descriptions of white water rafting.
December 2, 2025
3.5 stars…I loved that this was set heavily outdoors and I enjoyed the story of a young family forging a new (simpler) path for their lives in the early 90s. The mom, Swami, taking ownership of her family’s future, even though she was far from perfect… top notch. Just a little bit of a slow read I had to work to finish!
June 16, 2024
Didn’t think I would enjoy this as much as I did but knew when I met the author that I had to give it a fair shot because he was such a nice guy! And anyone who can work Bon Jovi into their novel gets 5 stars from me!
April 29, 2025
I don’t know what it was about this book specifically that made me love it so much. The story is pretty predictable and some of the characters are one dimensional.
I think there’s just something about Graff’s writing that makes it so enjoyable. It’s like watching a movie. There were hardly any dull parts because even when you’re just in Swami or Sam’s head for pages and pages it’s still so entertaining.
I think there’s just something about Graff’s writing that makes it so enjoyable. It’s like watching a movie. There were hardly any dull parts because even when you’re just in Swami or Sam’s head for pages and pages it’s still so entertaining.
February 16, 2024
The opening scene of this novel will suck you right in! It totally sets the tone of the story, and introduces the majority of the characters perfectly. I loved it! The setting and timeline are an added bonus—summer of 1993 in the Wisconsin Northwoods? Yes, please! Husband and wife, Sam and Swami, along with their three young children have plans to take over the family’s rafting business. Let’s just say that the work involved to keep it afloat is a lot more than they expected, and it puts quite a strain on their relationship, as well as their bank account. This novel captures adulthood wonderfully as it explores marriage, parenting, finances, career choices, and friendship. If you love the great outdoors, adventure, and 90s nostalgia, then True North is just the book for you. I give it 4/5 stars! It’s out now!
March 10, 2024
🛶 I did not think Sam and Swami would mend their relationship that quickly or easily. I am not even sure Sam and Swami should have ended up together.
🛶 At times, I was like, “This was definitely written by a guy because why is Swami the villain for being a rational human being concerned about $ and her children?” While I do think she was in the wrong when Sam was hurt, I don’t believe she was in the wrong for most of the book. Also, the narration tended to be “Sam is the victim,” which I just did not agree with. I think their whole relationship would have been better if at any point THEY TALKED TO EACH OTHER . Even at the end of the book, Sam and Swami still don’t talk or communicate.
🛶 There’s no way charges would not be filed against Debbie and Randy
🛶 The burial mounds felt like they were appropriated and tokenized at times and used as plot devices to help advance the plot
🛶 Not a huge fan of the ending – Sam and Swami still not talking; Sam and Swami going out to California without talking about it; Sam missing most of DeeDee’s first year of life throughout the entirety of the book.
🛶 At times, I was like, “This was definitely written by a guy because why is Swami the villain for being a rational human being concerned about $ and her children?” While I do think she was in the wrong when Sam was hurt, I don’t believe she was in the wrong for most of the book. Also, the narration tended to be “Sam is the victim,” which I just did not agree with. I think their whole relationship would have been better if at any point THEY TALKED TO EACH OTHER . Even at the end of the book, Sam and Swami still don’t talk or communicate.
🛶 There’s no way charges would not be filed against Debbie and Randy
🛶 The burial mounds felt like they were appropriated and tokenized at times and used as plot devices to help advance the plot
🛶 Not a huge fan of the ending – Sam and Swami still not talking; Sam and Swami going out to California without talking about it; Sam missing most of DeeDee’s first year of life throughout the entirety of the book.
April 11, 2024
Andrew graffiti teaches at Wittenberg! This wasn’t a quick read for me, it was richly written, but also a little dense. Descriptive and somewhat heavy on rafting terminology. Good character development, though again, kids are poorly written - misunderstood language development for their ages. Disliked swami, the wife - spoiled and whiny. Happy endings are always a good thing
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March 15, 2024I enjoyed this book. I'm from Wisconsin and it was fun to read they County and town names. The descriptions of the river and the rafting experiences were well done.
March 23, 2024
As much as I had to push and pull myself through the first two thirds of this book, the final rolled out pretty easily. I may have skimmed a bit in order to keep it going.
November 20, 2024
I loved this book, even though it kind of walked the line of being 'literary fiction' which is not my favorite genre. There was enough of a plot to keep me interested, but I loved the character development throughout the book. Sam and Swami Brecht navigate the challenges of marriage, family, and whitewater rafting in the Wisconsin Northwoods.
It's the summer of 1993 in Thunderwater, Wisconsin. Sam and Swami are a couple who met as river guides in college, and now have three children. They take over Sam's uncle's whitewater rafting business after Sam loses his teaching job. Their marriage is in a precarious spot, with relatable stressors (kids, finances, career changes) weighing on them. The move to Wisconsin feels like a last ditch effort to save their marriage & family, but once in Wisconsin, they become aware that the rafting company is not doing well- especially with a competing rafting company just down the river. There's also a mining company interested in buying/ mining land that would significantly impact the town and it's natural resources. And to top it off, the summer of '93 brought historic flood levels to the area which further hindered the raft company's business.
I can't decided if part of the reason I loved this book was because of the setting in the Wisconsin Northwoods- a place that is near and dear to my heart and was so easy to imagine in my mind. But aside from that, I loved the themes of family, community, friendship, ethical & moral dilemmas, and discovering/ doing what is best for ourselves and our families. Of course, the play on words of the title "True North" does not escape me- as finding ourselves and discovering our "true north" is a central theme throughout the book.
If I had one complaint, it would be about how easily three children seemed to play and act and behave in a camper all summer. Swami was constantly "strapping the baby to her chest" and hiking around doing her raft supervision while the smaller kids just played with each other (no fighting or arguing or complaining ever!). This seemed really unrealistic to me- to the point of a distraction because I've never known any children to be this easily entertained or content with where their parents put them. However, I realize this couldn't have been written much differently for the sake of the story.
It's the summer of 1993 in Thunderwater, Wisconsin. Sam and Swami are a couple who met as river guides in college, and now have three children. They take over Sam's uncle's whitewater rafting business after Sam loses his teaching job. Their marriage is in a precarious spot, with relatable stressors (kids, finances, career changes) weighing on them. The move to Wisconsin feels like a last ditch effort to save their marriage & family, but once in Wisconsin, they become aware that the rafting company is not doing well- especially with a competing rafting company just down the river. There's also a mining company interested in buying/ mining land that would significantly impact the town and it's natural resources. And to top it off, the summer of '93 brought historic flood levels to the area which further hindered the raft company's business.
I can't decided if part of the reason I loved this book was because of the setting in the Wisconsin Northwoods- a place that is near and dear to my heart and was so easy to imagine in my mind. But aside from that, I loved the themes of family, community, friendship, ethical & moral dilemmas, and discovering/ doing what is best for ourselves and our families. Of course, the play on words of the title "True North" does not escape me- as finding ourselves and discovering our "true north" is a central theme throughout the book.
If I had one complaint, it would be about how easily three children seemed to play and act and behave in a camper all summer. Swami was constantly "strapping the baby to her chest" and hiking around doing her raft supervision while the smaller kids just played with each other (no fighting or arguing or complaining ever!). This seemed really unrealistic to me- to the point of a distraction because I've never known any children to be this easily entertained or content with where their parents put them. However, I realize this couldn't have been written much differently for the sake of the story.
September 25, 2024
I can't say I knew much about rafting before reading this book. The most I've done is canoe down a mild river. I picked this book by Andrew Graff because he's a local author.
I am so glad I picked this book! It's beautifully written and descriptive. I can't say it made me fall in love with rafting but this story isn't only for the rafting fan.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They felt so realistic, flawed and wonderfully full of quirks. The Woodchuck and Thunderbay community feels so cozy. At first I didn't really like Swami but then I grew to like her. The characters in this book are so psychologically well written! The insights to life and again beautiful writing.
I liked the comparison of rafting to life. Do we fight the river and try to hold on to much or do we go with the flow? The tension and animosity in this married couple is palpable! The story itself is full of ups and downs. I thought about this one when I had to put it down and some of the quotes and characters will stick with me for awhile.
I really enjoyed this book. I also just love a story about people going through hard times and communities of people overcoming obstacles. Highly recommend!
I am so glad I picked this book! It's beautifully written and descriptive. I can't say it made me fall in love with rafting but this story isn't only for the rafting fan.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They felt so realistic, flawed and wonderfully full of quirks. The Woodchuck and Thunderbay community feels so cozy. At first I didn't really like Swami but then I grew to like her. The characters in this book are so psychologically well written! The insights to life and again beautiful writing.
I liked the comparison of rafting to life. Do we fight the river and try to hold on to much or do we go with the flow? The tension and animosity in this married couple is palpable! The story itself is full of ups and downs. I thought about this one when I had to put it down and some of the quotes and characters will stick with me for awhile.
I really enjoyed this book. I also just love a story about people going through hard times and communities of people overcoming obstacles. Highly recommend!
July 21, 2025
This book is a love letter to northern Wisconsin, to river rafting, to families, and most of all, to the Menominee River. The author grew up on this river and spent summers guiding rafting expeditions here, the same river that I look at every morning as I drink my coffee. He describes so perfectly the places I've come to love in my retirement - the cliff overlooking Piers Gorge, the pine-scented Northwoods, even my favorite Wausaukee ice cream shop - they're all here. It's action-packed fiction, but true stories are woven throughout. The Menominee Indian tribe once paddled these waters and wandered through these woods, and burial mounds and dance rings can be seen along its banks. And the river truly does face a significant threat from a mining company that wants to build a huge open pit just 50 yards from its banks, and in the midst of this historically significant land. Highly recommend this book for everyone who loves the Wisconsin Northwoods and especially the Menominee River, but even if you've never been here, this book will delight and engross you with its adventurous story and engaging characters navigating the sometimes choppy waters of life.
January 24, 2024
Five glorious stars! When a book makes me cry and feel so many things, it gets 5 stars.
Sam & Swami are going through the motions of marriage when Sam buys Woodchuck Rafting Company from his uncle Chip, a place full of memories from his childhood. Sam wants desperately to recapture the excitement of his early days with Swami and to settle his growing restlessness in Chicago. Sam, Swami and their three children set off for the Northwoods of Wisconsin for summer vacation to make a go of their new family business on the Piers Gorge. Enter a wonderfully colorful cast of characters from all walks of life. The care with which Graff handles the differences between the characters as they forge friendships is just beautiful. I'm literally astonished by his ability. These are people who would very likely not mix in many other settings, but what a beautiful mashup they make in Thunderwater, Wisconsin.
For those of us who have lived a childhood filled with trips to the river or the family lake house, endured big companies trying to change the landscape of our small towns, found ourselves protective of local customs and residents, or fighting for our families, True North is a nostalgic adventure brimming with family drama, comedy & heart. I can't recommend it enough. True North was one of my most highly anticipated books for 2024, and it exceeded my expectations.
Sam & Swami are going through the motions of marriage when Sam buys Woodchuck Rafting Company from his uncle Chip, a place full of memories from his childhood. Sam wants desperately to recapture the excitement of his early days with Swami and to settle his growing restlessness in Chicago. Sam, Swami and their three children set off for the Northwoods of Wisconsin for summer vacation to make a go of their new family business on the Piers Gorge. Enter a wonderfully colorful cast of characters from all walks of life. The care with which Graff handles the differences between the characters as they forge friendships is just beautiful. I'm literally astonished by his ability. These are people who would very likely not mix in many other settings, but what a beautiful mashup they make in Thunderwater, Wisconsin.
For those of us who have lived a childhood filled with trips to the river or the family lake house, endured big companies trying to change the landscape of our small towns, found ourselves protective of local customs and residents, or fighting for our families, True North is a nostalgic adventure brimming with family drama, comedy & heart. I can't recommend it enough. True North was one of my most highly anticipated books for 2024, and it exceeded my expectations.
November 27, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
True North captured my heart from the very beginning. 🥰 It’s the story of a marriage on the rocks, a couple who is struggling to revive a whitewater rafting company that is slowly falling apart and is being driven out of business by their competitors. Add to this a mining company who desperately wants the land surrounding their operation.
True North is full of loveable characters, hilarious river guides, camaraderie, adventure, nature and a storyline that will have you rooting for the underdogs. I laughed, I cheered and I cried!
Well done Andrew Graff👏🏻
Thank you to Ecco and Harper Collins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“[She] lifted her paddle into the sun, up toward the green pines and bright blue sky. She’d forgotten what this felt like, this moment before a very big rapid, when you’re in the flow, and there are explosions over the horizon and you’re now too deep into your approach to turn back even if you wanted to.”
True North captured my heart from the very beginning. 🥰 It’s the story of a marriage on the rocks, a couple who is struggling to revive a whitewater rafting company that is slowly falling apart and is being driven out of business by their competitors. Add to this a mining company who desperately wants the land surrounding their operation.
True North is full of loveable characters, hilarious river guides, camaraderie, adventure, nature and a storyline that will have you rooting for the underdogs. I laughed, I cheered and I cried!
Well done Andrew Graff👏🏻
Thank you to Ecco and Harper Collins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“[She] lifted her paddle into the sun, up toward the green pines and bright blue sky. She’d forgotten what this felt like, this moment before a very big rapid, when you’re in the flow, and there are explosions over the horizon and you’re now too deep into your approach to turn back even if you wanted to.”
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