Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grade: 3-5
The William Allen White Children's Book Award
This is a short novel that takes place in California. It is told from the perspective of a boy named Greg who lives in San Francisco with his divorced mother. He spends one weekend a month with his father, who lives in the northern part of the state. This particular weekend, his father has decided that Greg will join him and his half-brother James during a weekend of white water rafting. Greg is not happy with this, does not want to go, tries to get out of it, but ends up going. At the beginning of the story Greg does not know his half-brother very well, and he does not have a good relationship with his father. By the end of the story, after over-coming the many trials they face on the river, they become closer. Greg and James end up saving their father's life, which is almost taken by a snake bite. This brings them all closer. Also, Greg feels that after surviving what they went through that weekend he could handle anything, including a San Francisco earthquake.
Activity #1: Students could describe an event they have experience that has changed their perspective on something. If they shared their experiences with the class it would be a good team-builder because it would bring the students closer.
Activity #2: The book is very descriptive and tells specifically how to do certain things, such as using a pulley system to lift the heavy raft. Simple machines could be taught with this book, which would be a way to tie in science. Also, basic first aid skills could be taught as part of reading this book. This way students could be prepared for a similar situation if they were without what they needed.