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The Secret River
There’s just not enough…not enough money, not enough food, not enough fish for her daddy to sell at the market. Hard times have come to the forest, but Calpurnia wants to turn them back into soft times. With her little dog Buggy Horse and a tip from old Mother Albirtha, the wisest person in the forest, Calpurnia finds a secret river and uses the pink paper roses from her hair to catch enough beautiful catfish to feed the whole swamp land - with some left over for Daddy to sell. When she tries to find the river again the next day, Mother Albirtha tells her, “Child, sometimes a thing happens once, and does not ever happen anymore….You caught catfish when catfish were needed…you will not find the river again.” This story by the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Yearling and literary icon Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is about living in a time of want, yet it is overflowing with riches.
60 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1955
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About the author
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
81 books737 followersPeople know American writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings for her novel
The Yearling
(1938).
This author lived in rural Florida with rural themes and settings. Her best known work, The Yearling, about a boy who adopts an orphaned fawn, won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1939 and was later made into a movie of the same title, The Yearling. The book was written long before the concept of young-adult fiction, but is now commonly included in teen-reading lists.
This author lived in rural Florida with rural themes and settings. Her best known work, The Yearling, about a boy who adopts an orphaned fawn, won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1939 and was later made into a movie of the same title, The Yearling. The book was written long before the concept of young-adult fiction, but is now commonly included in teen-reading lists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
March 21, 2019
Now for me, in order for a given novel to be worthy of a five star ranking, it must be both readable and also personally relatable. And no, I do not necessarily mean that I have to totally and utterly see myself reflected in the main protagonist (although yes indeed, that does often rather help) but mainly and more importantly that the hero or heroine must be someone I can generally admire and appreciate as a person, as an individual in and of himself or herself (someone who is likeable, someone who is interesting, someone who displays courage when and if required, but is also not just total and unassailable perfection either). And with Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' (posthumously published) 1955 and 1956 Newbery Honour The Secret River, yes indeed, a glowing five star rating is both deserved and in my humble opinion also very much required. For yes, I just so so much love young Calpurnia and her resourceful kindheartedness and how in The Secret River she "follows her nose" to the unknown magical river and like in the many folktales celebrating kindness later shares her bounty of caught catfish with both animals and Mother Albirtha before giving the catfish (and still more than enough of them) to her father to sell at his fish-stand (thus making the hard times dissipate for both her family and her neighbours), not to mention that I also have found the juxtaposition of fantasy and reality in The Secret River both lovely and thought-provoking (with a tingly feeling that one never is altogether quite certain and sure whether the secret river Calpurnia and her dog have encountered is or has been bona fide reality or is like what Mother Albirtha claims something that exists only in one's mind, to be recalled and fondly remembered as needed and wanted). A sweet and magical family story with important but never openly didactic messages regarding in particular friendship, perseverance and following one's intuition is The Secret River, and I also do definitely much appreciate that Calpurnia's parents, although they are of course worried about their daughter when they think she might be lost in the forest, never scold or harangue her because of this, but are simply and lovingly just appreciative of the fact that she has managed to return home safely, and with the oh so necessary catfish.
And furthermore, I am also absolutely glad to have waited until I could locate a copy of the original 1955 The Secret River. For while the 2011 (and rather abridged) version of The Secret River certainly does visually glow with Leo and Diane Dillon's expressive accompanying illustrations, personally I simply did not desire to read and review an abridged version of The Secret River (mostly because I do not generally enjoy abridgements all that much anyhow, and yes, I also absolutely wanted to read the text that actually won the Newbery Honour for Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and not a condensed version thereof). And actually and indeed, I have also aesthetically much preferred Leonard Weisgard's sepia toned accompanying illustrations (for the 1955 original The Secret River) to the 2011 pictures by the Dillons, finding his pictures a bit gentler, more realistic and especially with regard to the depictions of the wild animals that Calpurnia encounters on her way home from the secret river considerably less exaggerated and not nearly as potentially frightening as the Dillons' renditions (and yes, I also totally love how Leo Weisgard has rendered Calpurnia as perhaps being African American, but that she does not necessarily need to be African American, and while there of course is nothing at all wrong with Leo and Diane Dillon showing Calpurnia as definitely African American in the 2011 edition of The Secret Reiver, personally, I do rather prefer the uncertainty in Leonard Weisgard's depictions of her).
And furthermore, I am also absolutely glad to have waited until I could locate a copy of the original 1955 The Secret River. For while the 2011 (and rather abridged) version of The Secret River certainly does visually glow with Leo and Diane Dillon's expressive accompanying illustrations, personally I simply did not desire to read and review an abridged version of The Secret River (mostly because I do not generally enjoy abridgements all that much anyhow, and yes, I also absolutely wanted to read the text that actually won the Newbery Honour for Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and not a condensed version thereof). And actually and indeed, I have also aesthetically much preferred Leonard Weisgard's sepia toned accompanying illustrations (for the 1955 original The Secret River) to the 2011 pictures by the Dillons, finding his pictures a bit gentler, more realistic and especially with regard to the depictions of the wild animals that Calpurnia encounters on her way home from the secret river considerably less exaggerated and not nearly as potentially frightening as the Dillons' renditions (and yes, I also totally love how Leo Weisgard has rendered Calpurnia as perhaps being African American, but that she does not necessarily need to be African American, and while there of course is nothing at all wrong with Leo and Diane Dillon showing Calpurnia as definitely African American in the 2011 edition of The Secret Reiver, personally, I do rather prefer the uncertainty in Leonard Weisgard's depictions of her).
June 12, 2015
I loved almost everything about this book! (And I don't love fishing; but I certainly appreciate and understand its necessity in cases such as this.)
Calpurnia is a wonderful heroine; bright, brave, resourceful, kindhearted, and intuitive. I adore her poems! I love her kindness to *all* animals, even those that others would deem too scary or dangerous. Buggy-horse is such a charming companion for her adventures. I especially appreciate stories where children help adults in trying times and this story shines in that regard. It's written in such a beautiful, soulful way, with such wisdom, too. Some of the lines are just great: "[Calpurnia's] mother was very considerate and did not ask questions unless she had to." ;-)
My version is illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon. I'm a big fan of their work and it's just luminous here. The setting feels so real, yet magical. Calpernia's expressions are just perfect and the river is suitably magical. The layout is great, too--the shock at turning the page and seeing the frightening animals in the night (for example) or when Calpurnia, looking oh-so-small at the bottom of one page, looks up at the enormous owl who takes up the entire opposite page.
The story (already abridged from the Newbery Honor-winning original) is rather long for the younger picture book crowd, but this story is one I'm adding to my personal collection to share with my son when he's older.
Calpurnia is a wonderful heroine; bright, brave, resourceful, kindhearted, and intuitive. I adore her poems! I love her kindness to *all* animals, even those that others would deem too scary or dangerous. Buggy-horse is such a charming companion for her adventures. I especially appreciate stories where children help adults in trying times and this story shines in that regard. It's written in such a beautiful, soulful way, with such wisdom, too. Some of the lines are just great: "[Calpurnia's] mother was very considerate and did not ask questions unless she had to." ;-)
My version is illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon. I'm a big fan of their work and it's just luminous here. The setting feels so real, yet magical. Calpernia's expressions are just perfect and the river is suitably magical. The layout is great, too--the shock at turning the page and seeing the frightening animals in the night (for example) or when Calpurnia, looking oh-so-small at the bottom of one page, looks up at the enormous owl who takes up the entire opposite page.
The story (already abridged from the Newbery Honor-winning original) is rather long for the younger picture book crowd, but this story is one I'm adding to my personal collection to share with my son when he's older.
August 13, 2020
A lovely book for children. . . a southern river, feeds hungry people via a sweet girl, Calpurnia in their time of need. Yet when she goes looking again she cannot quite find the way. . . .she is assured that is because she doesn't have the same level of need. . .
Secret River is in my mind.
I can go there any time.
Everything Mother Albirtha says is true.
The sky is gold and the river is blue.
Secret River, I love you.
5 stars.
Secret River is in my mind.
I can go there any time.
Everything Mother Albirtha says is true.
The sky is gold and the river is blue.
Secret River, I love you.
5 stars.
September 6, 2018
One my all-time favorites. Just before picking up this univ. copy for a reread, I discovered that it was published posthumously, and wondered if there's a story behind that.
There is! And it's explained in an introduction, in the book itself. Apparently Rawlings wanted to see if she could write a whole book about Calpurnia, but her 'untimely death' made it possible for this to get illustrated and released.
When I was a child, one of the things that I loved most about this story was the idea of 'follow your nose.' I was just beginning to understand metaphor, and so enjoyed the idea both literally and metaphorically. If turning to look at interesting sights, towards interesting sounds, could really lead to adventures, to secret places, I was all for it!
I also admired Calpurnia's courage. I had no sense of my own bravery, but since she showed what someone was capable of, I felt more confident myself.
And of course the note on the little red boat: "Please tie me up again when you are through with me. I am so afraid of getting lost" is delightful. The idea of sharing, and trust, enchants.
This time I noticed that we never see Calpurnia's face. We almost do when she's still asleep in her little bed, but elsewise she's turned at least 1/2-way away from us. We see what she sees. We look beyond her nose.... Also, we are left to imagine that she's non-white... she could be of Florida Indian, or Mexican, or African descent. We don't see her parents, either. I agree with Weisgard's choices to illustrate the book that way.
A treasure of a book. I'm so lucky to have known it as a child, as an adult, and to also know the Dillon's version. The Dillon's is colorful, picture-book size, and does show the family clearly as African-American. But in their case, that's a good choice, too.
There is! And it's explained in an introduction, in the book itself. Apparently Rawlings wanted to see if she could write a whole book about Calpurnia, but her 'untimely death' made it possible for this to get illustrated and released.
When I was a child, one of the things that I loved most about this story was the idea of 'follow your nose.' I was just beginning to understand metaphor, and so enjoyed the idea both literally and metaphorically. If turning to look at interesting sights, towards interesting sounds, could really lead to adventures, to secret places, I was all for it!
I also admired Calpurnia's courage. I had no sense of my own bravery, but since she showed what someone was capable of, I felt more confident myself.
And of course the note on the little red boat: "Please tie me up again when you are through with me. I am so afraid of getting lost" is delightful. The idea of sharing, and trust, enchants.
This time I noticed that we never see Calpurnia's face. We almost do when she's still asleep in her little bed, but elsewise she's turned at least 1/2-way away from us. We see what she sees. We look beyond her nose.... Also, we are left to imagine that she's non-white... she could be of Florida Indian, or Mexican, or African descent. We don't see her parents, either. I agree with Weisgard's choices to illustrate the book that way.
A treasure of a book. I'm so lucky to have known it as a child, as an adult, and to also know the Dillon's version. The Dillon's is colorful, picture-book size, and does show the family clearly as African-American. But in their case, that's a good choice, too.
June 2, 2011
Calpurnia loves to think up rhymes and spend time with her dog Buggy-horse. When her father tells that times are hard for everyone, she decides to find some fish in order to help out. After getting directions from a neighbor, she finds a secret river where fish abound. She catches plenty but then must make her way home in the dark. As she encounters an owl, a bear, and a panther, she offers them fish in order to pass safely. Her father is able to sell the fish, enabling its buyers to find the strength to work again, and hard times improve. The acrylic illustrations are impressive, often hiding faces in the forest's tree trunks and mirroring her image in the water. Everything about this book is beautiful--even the endpapers with fish floating in tandem across them.
January 26, 2011
Any book that gives me goosebumps gets five stars! Did you see the face in the forest? Did you see the hands in the bear grass? Did you see the fish in the leaves? Did you see Mother Albirtha's necklace change expressions? Did you see the chairs at Calpurnia's house repaired in two different ways? *happy sigh* I love the tonal shifts in color throughout the book, from thin gray dawn to golden green afternoon to golden brown sunset to deep blue night. I love the folkloric narrative arc of the story, too. I've put a hold on the 1955 version, to read the "slightly longer version" mentioned in the end notes, and also to see the other illustrations.
August 24, 2020
I really enjoyed the magic of this forest and the characterization. The plot morphed into folk tale, which I quite enjoyed. It was great to see how the community relied on each other.
January 21, 2025
Calpurnia is a Black girl living with her parents in Florida. Hard times have come the area as the fish everyone relies upon as a cheap food source have disappeared. Determined to help out, Calpurnia consults with a local wise woman and sets off in search of the mythical secret river filled with fish that the woman describes. Everything unfolds like a folk tale, with a dark forest and dangerous animals adding excitement to the quest.
Be aware that the 2011 picture book I read -- beautifully illustrated by Leo and and Diane Dillon -- uses abridged text. The very first sentence omits the word "green" for no reason. The rest of the first paragraph is missing several sentences. An early scene from the original book showing Calpurnia climbing a ladder to get pink paper out of the attic is gone. More omissions of words and sentences continue throughout, culminating in the last two pages of the original story being eliminated entirely. If you want the full story, seek out the 1955 edition illustrated by Leonard Weisgard.
Be aware that the 2011 picture book I read -- beautifully illustrated by Leo and and Diane Dillon -- uses abridged text. The very first sentence omits the word "green" for no reason. The rest of the first paragraph is missing several sentences. An early scene from the original book showing Calpurnia climbing a ladder to get pink paper out of the attic is gone. More omissions of words and sentences continue throughout, culminating in the last two pages of the original story being eliminated entirely. If you want the full story, seek out the 1955 edition illustrated by Leonard Weisgard.
January 25, 2014
This is a re-issued book of the author's 1956 Newbery honor award winning book of the same title.
In lush illustrations, the story of Calpurnia and her dog Buggy-horse unfolds. Deep in the dark forest of Florida is a community reliant on each other. If one fails, like a domino they are all impacted.
Hard times occurred in the forest. The rivers carrying fish for Calpurnia's father to sell have all gone dry. Hard times hit harder for poor people.
Calpurnia wondered how she could possibly help her father and their community.
Remembering a small pond where she and her dog fished unsuccessfully, she thought that perhaps fish would bite the line of something pretty, instead of worms. Folding pink roses, she visited wise Mother Albirtha for guidance.
Mother Albirtha told Calpuniia of a secret river teaming with so very many fish that when caught, they would sink a boat. Mother Albirtha told her to trust her sense of findiing the river by following her nose.
Eventually finding the magic river, Calpurnia was astounded at the amount and size of the fish Using her paper roses as bait, she caught many fish
Giving fish to the animals along the way, there still was enough overflowing to give to Mother Albirtha and her father to sell.
Highly recommended.
The illustrations are breath taking!!!
In lush illustrations, the story of Calpurnia and her dog Buggy-horse unfolds. Deep in the dark forest of Florida is a community reliant on each other. If one fails, like a domino they are all impacted.
Hard times occurred in the forest. The rivers carrying fish for Calpurnia's father to sell have all gone dry. Hard times hit harder for poor people.
Calpurnia wondered how she could possibly help her father and their community.
Remembering a small pond where she and her dog fished unsuccessfully, she thought that perhaps fish would bite the line of something pretty, instead of worms. Folding pink roses, she visited wise Mother Albirtha for guidance.
Mother Albirtha told Calpuniia of a secret river teaming with so very many fish that when caught, they would sink a boat. Mother Albirtha told her to trust her sense of findiing the river by following her nose.
Eventually finding the magic river, Calpurnia was astounded at the amount and size of the fish Using her paper roses as bait, she caught many fish
Giving fish to the animals along the way, there still was enough overflowing to give to Mother Albirtha and her father to sell.
Highly recommended.
The illustrations are breath taking!!!
June 29, 2015
Both the story and illustrations are wonderful!! Calpurnia is a smart and kind little girl. When her family is in trouble because her father is unable to catch fish, she wants to help. Mother Albirtha, the wisest woman in the village, tells her to follow her nose and she will find the secret River where plenty of fish will bite. So Calpurnia does exactly that. (I love how literally she follows the woman's advice!). She finds the secret river and catches many fish. Then this kind hearted and brave girl, shares what she has caught with many hungry creatures in the forest as well as with Mother Albirtha and her father, a truly beautiful story of courage, compassion, creativity and confidence.
February 13, 2011
This is a classic by the renowned author, Marjorie Kinnans Rawlings. I'd never seen the book before so was intrigued. It was a profoundly beautiful tale of a young girl who decides to help her father whose business has been stricken by the Great Depression. With a little magic and a lot of imagination, she makes a miracle happen. I found myself near tears at points in this book, perhaps because the child is so selfless, her intentions so pure. The illustrations are equally magical, reflecting the exotic mystery of the Florida forests and wetlands.
December 15, 2011
Absolutely wonderful! My daughter still yearns for picture books over chapter books with spot illustrations here and there, but she's old (and ridiculously bright) enough to want stories with more depth and substance than is to be found in shorter children's books intended for limited attention spans. This book is a fantastic bridge from child to kid literature. The entire family was enchanted by this sweet, mystical tale of a girl who wants to do her part to turn hard times into soft.
September 18, 2024
I chose this book to read for a "Published Posthumously" category in a reading challenge (Rawlings died in 1953). I didn't realized until I read the copy I received from Interlibrary Loan that the original printing and the 2011 reprint have different illustrators! The 2011 reprint was also edited - according to the information I was able to find, some descriptive text was removed, and one poem were removed. I read the 2011 version and haven't seen the 1955 version, so I can't make a direct comparison myself.
This long picture book (about 48 unnumbered pages in the reprint edition) is set in rural Florida and features a young girl and her dog who set out to find fish to help her struggling family and community.
Hard times have fallen upon Calpurnia's community. Her father has no fish to sell in his market shop, and the community is starting to go hungry. Mother Albirtha, a wise old shopkeeper, advises Calpurnia that she will find fish in the Secret River if she just follows her nose. Calpurnia finds an abundance of fish and meets the creatures of the woods on her way home, bringing much joy to her family and village. But the Secret River only appears in times of need - and Calpurnia can't find it again later.
The writing is beautiful in this story, as is the theme of a girl searching for a way to help her community. Calpurnia often has a poem on her lips, and they are sprinkled throughout the story. The illustrations in the reprint edition are charming and colorful, and give a sense of a story taking place in the 1930s era.
Content Considerations: The only one I noted was in the illustrations - when Calpurnia visits Mother Albirtha, there is an illustration of what appears to be a palm reading diagram, but this does not appear in the text.
This long picture book (about 48 unnumbered pages in the reprint edition) is set in rural Florida and features a young girl and her dog who set out to find fish to help her struggling family and community.
Hard times have fallen upon Calpurnia's community. Her father has no fish to sell in his market shop, and the community is starting to go hungry. Mother Albirtha, a wise old shopkeeper, advises Calpurnia that she will find fish in the Secret River if she just follows her nose. Calpurnia finds an abundance of fish and meets the creatures of the woods on her way home, bringing much joy to her family and village. But the Secret River only appears in times of need - and Calpurnia can't find it again later.
The writing is beautiful in this story, as is the theme of a girl searching for a way to help her community. Calpurnia often has a poem on her lips, and they are sprinkled throughout the story. The illustrations in the reprint edition are charming and colorful, and give a sense of a story taking place in the 1930s era.
Content Considerations: The only one I noted was in the illustrations - when Calpurnia visits Mother Albirtha, there is an illustration of what appears to be a palm reading diagram, but this does not appear in the text.
June 5, 2017
A girl, whose father needs fish to sell in his market, sets out to find the magical secret river.
Short and sweet. Lovely illustrations.
Short and sweet. Lovely illustrations.
September 28, 2015
I haven't read the original version of The Secret River, which the afterward to this edition says is "slightly longer", but I definitely do plan on reading it someday. Leonard Weisgard's illustrations for the story must be some incredible sight to see, and I'm sure well worth the effort required to track down a used copy of the book. This is the new edition I'm reviewing here, however, and so I will focus on what I saw from this version.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is an author nonpareil. She worked wonders in her emotionally haunting presentation of The Yearling, and has done a beautiful job again with The Secret River, albeit in a much shorter space. The story is of a small, loving family in backwoods Florida (the same area used so evocatively as the setting for The Yearling) during a time of local economic depression. Calpurnia, the family's young daughter, is concerned about the future of her father's business selling fish when people just don't have enough money to be buying. She wants to do something real to help, so she goes to ask a woman named Mother Albirtha—who happens to have second sight—if there's anything that she herself can do to make the times less stressful for her parents.
Well, Mother Albirtha has something really good to tell Calpurnia. There is a secret river in the forest around somewhere, and Calpurnia can find it if she'll just "follow (her) nose". That secret river is just filled with perfect game fish, Mother Albirtha says, enough to pull their part of Florida out of the economic dumps and set them all right smack in the middle of softer times.
Delighted to hear this, Calpurnia embarks on a trip to locate the river full of fish, and she isn't going to leave until she's changed the fortunes of her family and all their neighbors who have been hurting for money so badly. What she watches unfold in the river's part of the woods is like a vision from a pleasant dream, but the dream becomes reality when it turns out that she has brought back enough fish to set things right again around home for a long time. This is some special river, indeed, a place that she will want to return to often for the rest of her life.
The truth of the secret river that Mother Albirtha explains to Calpurnia after she comes home, about why it's the type of place that one can't ever go back to after that first enchanting visit, is the thread by which this mystical story leads back to reality. When Calpurnia was at her lowest, when she wasn't sure how her family was even going to make it by, she needed that secret river; not wanted, but needed it. I think of the times in my own life when I needed something as special and unique as a secret river to help me out, and when that something (or someone) actually came along for me, what an experience it was for however long I had it. A day, a month, half a year, or maybe even longer than that. But those kinds of sudden miraculous provisions, they don't usually last forever. And the heartache of losing them is real, and feels like it hurts as much as the predicament we were in before. The truth is, though, like Mother Albirtha tells Calpurnia, "The secret river is in your mind... You can go there any time you want to. In your mind. Close your eyes, and you will see it." We're better off for having experienced that blessed provision, even if it may hurt too much right now to understand that. But I wouldn't trade my remembrances of the past times for anything, ever.
All in all, The Secret River is an emotionally resounding story that lives up to the author's reputation for greatness in literature. In its Newbery year, 1956, I can't see any book other than Jean Lee Latham's powerful Carry On, Mr. Bowditch actually winning the Newbery Medal, but in my opinion The Secret River was a fully deserving Newbery Honor recipient for that year; in fact, I feel comfortable saying that it's one of the most deserving Honor books of the whole 1950s decade. No matter who's providing the illustrations, this is a story worthy of attention and acclaim in any generation, and I loved it. If you read it, I'm sure you will, too.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is an author nonpareil. She worked wonders in her emotionally haunting presentation of The Yearling, and has done a beautiful job again with The Secret River, albeit in a much shorter space. The story is of a small, loving family in backwoods Florida (the same area used so evocatively as the setting for The Yearling) during a time of local economic depression. Calpurnia, the family's young daughter, is concerned about the future of her father's business selling fish when people just don't have enough money to be buying. She wants to do something real to help, so she goes to ask a woman named Mother Albirtha—who happens to have second sight—if there's anything that she herself can do to make the times less stressful for her parents.
Well, Mother Albirtha has something really good to tell Calpurnia. There is a secret river in the forest around somewhere, and Calpurnia can find it if she'll just "follow (her) nose". That secret river is just filled with perfect game fish, Mother Albirtha says, enough to pull their part of Florida out of the economic dumps and set them all right smack in the middle of softer times.
Delighted to hear this, Calpurnia embarks on a trip to locate the river full of fish, and she isn't going to leave until she's changed the fortunes of her family and all their neighbors who have been hurting for money so badly. What she watches unfold in the river's part of the woods is like a vision from a pleasant dream, but the dream becomes reality when it turns out that she has brought back enough fish to set things right again around home for a long time. This is some special river, indeed, a place that she will want to return to often for the rest of her life.
The truth of the secret river that Mother Albirtha explains to Calpurnia after she comes home, about why it's the type of place that one can't ever go back to after that first enchanting visit, is the thread by which this mystical story leads back to reality. When Calpurnia was at her lowest, when she wasn't sure how her family was even going to make it by, she needed that secret river; not wanted, but needed it. I think of the times in my own life when I needed something as special and unique as a secret river to help me out, and when that something (or someone) actually came along for me, what an experience it was for however long I had it. A day, a month, half a year, or maybe even longer than that. But those kinds of sudden miraculous provisions, they don't usually last forever. And the heartache of losing them is real, and feels like it hurts as much as the predicament we were in before. The truth is, though, like Mother Albirtha tells Calpurnia, "The secret river is in your mind... You can go there any time you want to. In your mind. Close your eyes, and you will see it." We're better off for having experienced that blessed provision, even if it may hurt too much right now to understand that. But I wouldn't trade my remembrances of the past times for anything, ever.
All in all, The Secret River is an emotionally resounding story that lives up to the author's reputation for greatness in literature. In its Newbery year, 1956, I can't see any book other than Jean Lee Latham's powerful Carry On, Mr. Bowditch actually winning the Newbery Medal, but in my opinion The Secret River was a fully deserving Newbery Honor recipient for that year; in fact, I feel comfortable saying that it's one of the most deserving Honor books of the whole 1950s decade. No matter who's providing the illustrations, this is a story worthy of attention and acclaim in any generation, and I loved it. If you read it, I'm sure you will, too.
February 19, 2011
Luminously illustrated by the Dillons, this new version of a classic children’s book truly shines. The only children’s book written by the author of The Yearling, this story is about Calpurnia, a young girl who is a poet. She woke up one gorgeous morning and found that she had a journey ahead of her. Her father told the family that he had no fish to sell in his fish market. So Calpurnia decided to catch some fish herself. She made roses out of crepe paper for bait and then headed to get advice from Mother Albirtha, the wisest person in the forest. When Calpurnia asked Mother Albirtha where she could catch big fish, Mother Albirtha told her of the secret river that was full of fish and advised Calpurnia to follow her nose. So off Calpurnia went with her dog at her side to find the river. Eventually, Calpurnia found the river and caught some large fish to help her father. But that was just the start of her adventures in the forest, because she had to get back home.
Rawlings’ writing is filled with such depth here. While the story is written for children, it will ask them to stretch, to imagine and to dream. The writing is filled with small touches, turns of phrase that add such beauty to the text. Rawlings also had a poet for a main character, so Calpurnia’s poems are throughout the book. One of my favorite passages happens early in the book where Calpurnia creates a poem and after her mother criticizes one of the phrases turns right around and creates a new poem that focuses on that phrase. Just that one piece is a testament to writing and creativity, as is the entire book.
Dillons’ illustrations take the book to an even higher level. They are illustrations that are celebrate the beauty of light on skin, the depth of dark in a forest, the shine of wisdom on a face, and the blackness of animal fur. The illustrations vary in size, ranging from full page images to smaller illustrations in the margins of the text. There are illustrations so lovely here that one lingers on the page long after the words have been read, just absorbing the image. It is simply beautiful.
This is a treat of a new version of a classic. It is a perfect marriage of illustration and writing that celebrates both. Appropriate for ages 6-8.
Rawlings’ writing is filled with such depth here. While the story is written for children, it will ask them to stretch, to imagine and to dream. The writing is filled with small touches, turns of phrase that add such beauty to the text. Rawlings also had a poet for a main character, so Calpurnia’s poems are throughout the book. One of my favorite passages happens early in the book where Calpurnia creates a poem and after her mother criticizes one of the phrases turns right around and creates a new poem that focuses on that phrase. Just that one piece is a testament to writing and creativity, as is the entire book.
Dillons’ illustrations take the book to an even higher level. They are illustrations that are celebrate the beauty of light on skin, the depth of dark in a forest, the shine of wisdom on a face, and the blackness of animal fur. The illustrations vary in size, ranging from full page images to smaller illustrations in the margins of the text. There are illustrations so lovely here that one lingers on the page long after the words have been read, just absorbing the image. It is simply beautiful.
This is a treat of a new version of a classic. It is a perfect marriage of illustration and writing that celebrates both. Appropriate for ages 6-8.
June 8, 2011
I agree with the goodreads review by Marika, who said "The Dillons’ illustrations bring depth to the story, expanding the text and showing the magic and imagination present in Calpurnia’s world." The cover art intrigued me right away, I could hardly walk by without picking this one up. I don't know how this book stands up against others this year, Caldecott-wise, but it may just get a nod from the Coretta Scott King committee.
The entire book follows the same pattern illustratively -- one full-page illustration, with a smaller inset and one or two vignettes on the text page. Stylized and beautifully detailed they bring out the imaginative elements of the story.
SLJ: "Rawlings's story, somewhat trimmed to picture-book length, has a whole new aura... Illuminated by the Dillons' exquisite artwork, the tale accentuates the enchantment of Calpurnia's journey.... Brilliantly composed images, where the young girl's face is at times superimposed over objects in the story or seemingly floats over the magical river, have a lustrous glow... Imagined in striking scenes, Calpurnia and Buggy-horse's encounters with an owl, a bear, and a panther effectively capture the Florida back country that Rawlings famously drew upon in her writings...."
Booklist: "...glowing, full-page acrylic paintings and small freestanding images that capture the story’s magic realism from a child’s viewpoint...Filled with pattern and texture, the images occasionally have a static quality... They are at their best in scenes of the brave child on her perilous journey, finding her way back in the dark, past an owl, a big black bear, and a crouching panther, until she returns to her parents’ loving embrace..."
The entire book follows the same pattern illustratively -- one full-page illustration, with a smaller inset and one or two vignettes on the text page. Stylized and beautifully detailed they bring out the imaginative elements of the story.
SLJ: "Rawlings's story, somewhat trimmed to picture-book length, has a whole new aura... Illuminated by the Dillons' exquisite artwork, the tale accentuates the enchantment of Calpurnia's journey.... Brilliantly composed images, where the young girl's face is at times superimposed over objects in the story or seemingly floats over the magical river, have a lustrous glow... Imagined in striking scenes, Calpurnia and Buggy-horse's encounters with an owl, a bear, and a panther effectively capture the Florida back country that Rawlings famously drew upon in her writings...."
Booklist: "...glowing, full-page acrylic paintings and small freestanding images that capture the story’s magic realism from a child’s viewpoint...Filled with pattern and texture, the images occasionally have a static quality... They are at their best in scenes of the brave child on her perilous journey, finding her way back in the dark, past an owl, a big black bear, and a crouching panther, until she returns to her parents’ loving embrace..."
February 4, 2011
The Secret River boasts wonderful illustrations that are very pleasing to the eye. The story is also quite evocative of time and place: a Depression-era family living on the bayou.
However, since I like to include asides for veg*n families, I should note that River is a fishing story. The little girl heroine of the book, Calpurnia, discovers a secret river teeming with fish, whom she catches in order to help her father, who is a struggling fish merchant. Before casting her line, Calpurnia asks the fish if they give their permission to be caught. The fish say nothing, so she takes this as their acquiesce. (To me, this section represented a degree of satire of the way we judge animals’ wills to match our own. This will no doubt go over the heads of youngsters, however.) Less ambivalent is Calpurnia’s justification for hooking mostly catfish: “Fish that go out of their way to stick people deserve to be caught.”
On the way home with the now-dead fish, the girl encounters three different menacing animals, whom she each feeds a catfish. She still has enough left to give to the mystical old lady who first told her about the river, and her father to enable him to re-open his fish stand.
While veg*n families may enjoy the magical artwork, the storyline may give pause.
However, since I like to include asides for veg*n families, I should note that River is a fishing story. The little girl heroine of the book, Calpurnia, discovers a secret river teeming with fish, whom she catches in order to help her father, who is a struggling fish merchant. Before casting her line, Calpurnia asks the fish if they give their permission to be caught. The fish say nothing, so she takes this as their acquiesce. (To me, this section represented a degree of satire of the way we judge animals’ wills to match our own. This will no doubt go over the heads of youngsters, however.) Less ambivalent is Calpurnia’s justification for hooking mostly catfish: “Fish that go out of their way to stick people deserve to be caught.”
On the way home with the now-dead fish, the girl encounters three different menacing animals, whom she each feeds a catfish. She still has enough left to give to the mystical old lady who first told her about the river, and her father to enable him to re-open his fish stand.
While veg*n families may enjoy the magical artwork, the storyline may give pause.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2011
I read the original 1955 edition of this children's book, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard, after a fascinating lecture on the origins of the book and the differences between the Weisgard method of illustrating it and the illustrations in the new 2011 release of the book. The story was published posthumously, and there is some indication that Rawlings intended to turn the story into a longer young adult novel, like The Yearling. Beautifully written, the story follows a young black girl named Capurnia, who considers herself a poet, as she tries to save her family and community from "hard times" by seeking out a secret river in the woods full of fish in a time when there seems to be no fish for her father to sell. The most interesting part of the illustration method is that Weisgard chose to have the book printed on tan colored paper to capture the skin tone of the characters while drawing them in outline form, rather than coloring them in with a skin tone. Rawlings, a white author, had complex relationships with black authors and neighbors in Florida during the 1930s and 1940s. She had a strong friendship with Zora Neal Hurston, but Hurston still entered her home through the back door when she visited. This children's book is beautifully written and simply magical in its adventures. It also delves into the natural ecology of rural Florida in detail.
June 15, 2015
This is a wonderful tale, accompanied by gorgeous illustrations for this 2011 reprint of the classic Newbery Honor story. The story is heartwarming, with a young girl who finds a way to contribute to her family that ends up helping a whole community.
The illustrations are so expressive and magical, we found ourselves just pausing our reading of the tale and staring at them, pointing out the different things we saw. This is a book that deserves a second look once you have read the story.
Go back and take another look at the pictures and marvel at the details that you may have missed the first time. We did. This is a long story, so recommend breaking this story up into parts if read to younger children.
This book was featured as one of the selections for the June 2015 Rivers and Lakes-themed reads for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
The illustrations are so expressive and magical, we found ourselves just pausing our reading of the tale and staring at them, pointing out the different things we saw. This is a book that deserves a second look once you have read the story.
Go back and take another look at the pictures and marvel at the details that you may have missed the first time. We did. This is a long story, so recommend breaking this story up into parts if read to younger children.
This book was featured as one of the selections for the June 2015 Rivers and Lakes-themed reads for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
March 27, 2013
Calpurnia is a young poet full of beautiful words and images. Unfortunately her family is poor and her father has fallen on "hard times" because he is unable to find any fish to sell. Calpurnia wants to make things "soft" again so she sets out to find fish for her father. The local fortune teller tells Calpurnia to follow her nose and that's just what she does to find a secret river full of fish. Along the way home Calpurnia runs into some trouble, but she is a resourceful girl and figures out a solution every time. She gives the fish to her father, he sells it, and times are good again.
The beautiful illustrations of this book aid the reader in seeing Calpurnia's thoughts and ideas. The pictures are dreamy and colorful. My favorite illustration is when Calpurnia is dreaming of lots and lots of fish for her father and the illustrator literally draws fish filling and swimming in her head.
The beautiful illustrations of this book aid the reader in seeing Calpurnia's thoughts and ideas. The pictures are dreamy and colorful. My favorite illustration is when Calpurnia is dreaming of lots and lots of fish for her father and the illustrator literally draws fish filling and swimming in her head.
September 14, 2013
After reading the wonderful book by Kris Radish called A Grand Day to Get Lost which revolved around the life of Marjorie Rawlings (winner of the Pulitzer for The Yearling), I became infatuated with Rawling's life. I found The Secret River which was the only book Rawlings wrote specifically for children. The copy I read was beautifully written with gorgeous illustrations by the talented Dillon artists. The story is written like a folktale. A young girl wants to find the secret river so she can catch as many fish as she can. In this way she can help feed the poor people in her town and help make the 'hard times' soft again. A beautiful book for my bookshelf and one that I will read many times.
June 30, 2011
A Leo & Diane Dillon cover will make me pick up a book and, if it’s a picturebook, take it home before I even open it. The Secret River is beautiful story with the feeling of a folk tale. When hard times come to the forest and Calpurnia’s father can’t catch fish to sell, Calpurnia sets out with her dog to catch fish and help her father. Following her nose, she finds the secret river, bursting with fish.With hard work, determination, and belief in the extraordinary, Calpurnia brings softer times to the forest and reaches the understanding that sometimes the answers are in your own mind.The Dillons’ illustrations bring depth to the story, expanding the text and showing the magic and imagination present in Calpurnia’s world.
November 10, 2011
Calpurnia is a delightful, innocent girl who finds her family affected by hard times. Her father is a fisherman who can't find fish and as a result the locals of the forest don't have food to eat or energy to work. Calpurnia turns to the local wise woman for help. Mother Albirtha tells Calpurnia of the secret river that is teeming with fish, especially catfish. She tells Calpurnia to follow her nose to find this mysterious river. Calpurnia does and good things happen as a result. This recently released version of the 1956 Newbery Honor winner has new illustrations. A magical story for middle elementary school-aged children. This book would also make a nice read-aloud for young children.
November 23, 2011
Calpurnia’s family is having hard times. Her father is not catching any fish. Calpurnia speaks to a friend, a fortune-teller and she tells Calpurnia about a secret river that is filled with fish. Calpurnia goes to the secret river and returns home with so many fish she can hardly carry them. On the way home, she encounters several predators who each accept a fish before walking away. Bringing the fish home ends the hard times for the family and their neighbors.
“Mother Albirtha rocked back and forth.
She said, ‘Child, I have not breathed this to a living soul, but I will tell you. There are big fish in the secret river. Oh my, the fish! Catfish, perch, bream, mudfish, and garfish. Especially catfish.”
“Mother Albirtha rocked back and forth.
She said, ‘Child, I have not breathed this to a living soul, but I will tell you. There are big fish in the secret river. Oh my, the fish! Catfish, perch, bream, mudfish, and garfish. Especially catfish.”
August 26, 2018
I really enjoyed this story about the little girl wanting to help her father during the "hard times." This story about a black family is presumably set during the Great Depression in Florida. The book reads almost like a traditional fairy tale, with the child having to follow her nose to find the secret river and catch all the fish; then having to offer fish as protection against the wild animals. The illustrations by the Dillons are lush and gorgeous. In the illustration of the owl, the feathers depict the owl's stern face in a repeating pattern. In one illustration, the trees have faces and hands. These details help capture the magical feel of the story.
April 18, 2012
The secret river, text by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, ill Leo Dillon & Diane Dillon is a wonderful story with lush illustrations. One morning at breakfast, Calpurnia's father anounces that hard times have come.
"I make an honest living selling fish to other poor people. Now there are no fish. Nobody can catch any fish. I shall have to close my fish market, and things will go hard with all of us."
When Calpurnia hears from Mother Abirtha about a secret river with lots of fish, she and her dog Buggy Horse go looking for it.
"I make an honest living selling fish to other poor people. Now there are no fish. Nobody can catch any fish. I shall have to close my fish market, and things will go hard with all of us."
When Calpurnia hears from Mother Abirtha about a secret river with lots of fish, she and her dog Buggy Horse go looking for it.
January 1, 2011
Charming chapter book filled with the wonder and magic of the Florida outdoors. Tale of Calpurnia and her faithful dog Buggy-horse searching the deep forest for the secret river. Whimsical 1950s illustrations by Leonard Weisgard enhance this story; the only children's story written by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
My favorite line spoken by Calpurnia to Buggy-horse, " Wake up, my dear dog. I have a feeling something special is going to happen today." What a lovely thought to have every day!
My favorite line spoken by Calpurnia to Buggy-horse, " Wake up, my dear dog. I have a feeling something special is going to happen today." What a lovely thought to have every day!
February 16, 2011
This lovely story, brought back to life by the Dillons is enchanting. Leo and Diane Dillon are the perfect illustrators for the charismatic tale told by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and originally published in 1956. Such a delight for the eyes as well as the ears, the character Calpurnia and her dog, Buggy Horse are timeless in their longing, their innocence and their growing understanding of life and value.
June 11, 2011
A beautiful book! Calpurnia and her sweet dog, Buggy-horse, help her father by catching fish in a secret river. I enjoyed the story, which has a wonderful voice and rich descriptions. I also enjoyed the artwork and use of color; the illustrations are beautiful and add quite a bit to the story. This is more like an illustrated chapter book; the text is long and fairly advanced. I recommend this book for students in grades 4 - 5.
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