The Walton Boys in Rapids Ahead

by Hal Burton

Genres: Childrens

282 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1950

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I still cringe, as a mother, at the thought of allowing kids to do the things they do in juvenile books, nevertheless, I can ignore it enough to enjoy the danger and adventures.

In this book, 3 Walton boys, Ed 17 years old, Bert 15 years old, and Howie 14, travel to Maine for a camping and canoeing trip on a river. Bert seems to be the main character in this story. Leftover from the previous book is a villain who wants to kill them. The parents know about this, but the kids are still allowed this trip. Maybe getting away from town will be good? Wrong! The villains follow the boys to Maine where they sabotage them at every turn, including damaging their canoe, ruining their food supply, ripping their tent. Luckily there are people in the Maine woods willing to help.

This book was much better than I expected it to be, and now I want to read the other two books in this series.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

A product of its time with the use of language and descriptions but never less a fun, easy read that is enjoyable.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this among old books of my dad's I found while cleaning out his house after he passed. Wish he had the other two. It was a fun little read, similar in style to Hardy Boys books.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I should have rated this 3 stars, and perhaps I would have liked this better in my youth--I think I might have read it then, as well. Overall it was interesting, but at times boring. There were some exciting adventures, but perhaps just not emotive enough for me to feel very involved. Then there were the uses of "luck," and such. And I thought a couple of times, "Do they WANT Bert to be kidnapped or hurt?"/"Does he WANT to run into trouble?" He went or was left on his own numerous times, and he wasn't the oldest in the group. If it had been necessary for him to be alone, then fine, but otherwise it was a bit fool-hardy what with two bad guys lurking around and numerous other dangers....That's my female perspective, anyway. :)

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun adventure story for early teens or younger. Much like the Hardy Boys, except with an outdoor theme (canoe trip.) This, along with two other Walton Boys books was printed by the Whitman Publishing Company of Racine Wisconsin. It is out of print, but usually available from abebooks.com etc.

[Jim Graziano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood memories!

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

read in summer of 1966

[Laura Floyd]

Is this the book where I learned about snipe hunting? It was either this one or the other Walton Boys book I read. The things that stick with us.