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Trouble River
As soon as Dewey Martin sees the Indian creeping toward the cabin - and toward his unsuspecting grandmother - he knows what to knock him down and take off before the rest of the raiding party arrives. The only means of escape is Dewey's homemade raft, and lying in its path are rapids, wolves, Indians, and forty miles of uncharted river. Can a boy who's never manned an oar and an old frontierswoman be the first to make it down Trouble River?
158 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
22 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Byars
138 books159 followersBetsy Byars was an American author of children's books. She wrote over sixty books for young people. Her first novel was published in 1962. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal. She also received a National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Night Swimmers and an Edgar Award for Wanted ... Mud Blossom!!
Daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are also writers.
Daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are also writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
November 20, 2019
An adventure novel from Betsy Byars? That's not what she's known for, but Trouble River is one long race to escape danger and reach sanctuary following a night of terror for our main characters. Twelve-year-old Dewey Martin is confident he and his grandmother are safe in their cabin on the isolated prairie. His pa has taken his ma to Hunter City for her to give birth to Dewey's baby brother or sister, but they wouldn't have left Dewey were it not safe. The boy spends his early evening hours down by Trouble River, putting the finishing touches on the raft he's built, the Rosey B. It's small, not designed to carry more than one or two passengers, but Dewey is proud of what he's made. That night, back at the cabin, he's cheerful about his progress on the raft, but Grandma is on edge. Indians occasionally roam this region of the prairie, and she has a feeling something bad might happen tonight. Dewey soon learns to trust the old woman's instincts.
Intending to slip down to Trouble River and work on the Rosey B after Grandma retires to bed, Dewey and his dog, Charlie, don't make it that far. He spots a lone Indian soundlessly approaching the cabin, where Grandma is sleeping all by herself. Indians on these prairies don't tend to treat white settlers charitably. Dewey and Charlie attack before the Indian can enter the cabin, and the man darts away quick as a deer. Crisis is temporarily averted, but a red glow on the horizon alarms Dewey. It looks like fire, and several other settlers have cabins nearby. Did the Indian plan to set the Martins' cabin aflame? Dewey wishes he could wait for his parents, but they might not return for a week, and the Indian is likely gathering reinforcements for a second invasion at this very moment. Grandma resents being herded outside by her grandson, but he brings her rocking chair along and positions it on the Rosey B so she has a place to sit during the long trip down Trouble River toward the closest settlement. It will be a rougher ride than Dewey expects.
With Grandma even more ornery than usual, Dewey poles the raft downstream using an old oar, but Trouble River is so shallow in most places that the Rosey B is always in jeopardy of becoming stuck. Dewey has to remain constantly alert or their means of transport will be sidelined indefinitely. He must maintain a swift pace, because out there in the moonlit darkness at least one Indian is stalking them, and Dewey and Grandma will be finished if they fall into his hands. Wolves inhabit the wilds, too, but at least Dewey brought Pa's rifle. Indians, animal predators, difficulties with the raft, and treacherous rapids are a few of the problems Dewey has to navigate if he and Grandma are to survive to join Ma and Pa in Hunter City. He's only a boy, but can he prove he has the gumption for life on the lonesome American prairie?
Dewey and Grandma are both realistic characters. Dewey is resourceful, but mainly built the Rosey B for recreational excursions on Trouble River; he had no wish to be responsible for Grandma's life. Grandma has a tart tongue and her default is to criticize and complain, but she loves Dewey and notices all his heroics even if she seems not to. She's wise, understanding human nature in times of extreme emergency. "There is something inside a person—I don't know how to give it a name exactly—but when something bad happens to you, like your Uncle Ben breaking both his legs...well, a person thinks, This here's the end. I've thought it. I thought it when I had to come live out here on the prairie...I reckon you'll think it more than once in your life. Only then a little time passes, a week or maybe it takes a year, and this something inside a person—whatever you'd call it—makes you come alive again." Tragedy makes us want to crawl inside ourselves and never come out, to wave the white flag to a world that was too tough an opponent to overcome, but the human spirit isn't as easily vanquished as we feel in our moment of defeat. We rebuild our houses, recalibrate our goals, mourn our dead, and eventually get back about the business of living, even knowing another disaster may hit us someday. What good was surviving if we act like we died? Trouble River isn't as excellent as some of Betsy Byars's contemporary fiction, but it's a solid adventure novel. I rate it two and a half stars, and wasn't far from rounding to three. Engaging with Ms. Byars's writing is a unique pleasure.
Intending to slip down to Trouble River and work on the Rosey B after Grandma retires to bed, Dewey and his dog, Charlie, don't make it that far. He spots a lone Indian soundlessly approaching the cabin, where Grandma is sleeping all by herself. Indians on these prairies don't tend to treat white settlers charitably. Dewey and Charlie attack before the Indian can enter the cabin, and the man darts away quick as a deer. Crisis is temporarily averted, but a red glow on the horizon alarms Dewey. It looks like fire, and several other settlers have cabins nearby. Did the Indian plan to set the Martins' cabin aflame? Dewey wishes he could wait for his parents, but they might not return for a week, and the Indian is likely gathering reinforcements for a second invasion at this very moment. Grandma resents being herded outside by her grandson, but he brings her rocking chair along and positions it on the Rosey B so she has a place to sit during the long trip down Trouble River toward the closest settlement. It will be a rougher ride than Dewey expects.
With Grandma even more ornery than usual, Dewey poles the raft downstream using an old oar, but Trouble River is so shallow in most places that the Rosey B is always in jeopardy of becoming stuck. Dewey has to remain constantly alert or their means of transport will be sidelined indefinitely. He must maintain a swift pace, because out there in the moonlit darkness at least one Indian is stalking them, and Dewey and Grandma will be finished if they fall into his hands. Wolves inhabit the wilds, too, but at least Dewey brought Pa's rifle. Indians, animal predators, difficulties with the raft, and treacherous rapids are a few of the problems Dewey has to navigate if he and Grandma are to survive to join Ma and Pa in Hunter City. He's only a boy, but can he prove he has the gumption for life on the lonesome American prairie?
Dewey and Grandma are both realistic characters. Dewey is resourceful, but mainly built the Rosey B for recreational excursions on Trouble River; he had no wish to be responsible for Grandma's life. Grandma has a tart tongue and her default is to criticize and complain, but she loves Dewey and notices all his heroics even if she seems not to. She's wise, understanding human nature in times of extreme emergency. "There is something inside a person—I don't know how to give it a name exactly—but when something bad happens to you, like your Uncle Ben breaking both his legs...well, a person thinks, This here's the end. I've thought it. I thought it when I had to come live out here on the prairie...I reckon you'll think it more than once in your life. Only then a little time passes, a week or maybe it takes a year, and this something inside a person—whatever you'd call it—makes you come alive again." Tragedy makes us want to crawl inside ourselves and never come out, to wave the white flag to a world that was too tough an opponent to overcome, but the human spirit isn't as easily vanquished as we feel in our moment of defeat. We rebuild our houses, recalibrate our goals, mourn our dead, and eventually get back about the business of living, even knowing another disaster may hit us someday. What good was surviving if we act like we died? Trouble River isn't as excellent as some of Betsy Byars's contemporary fiction, but it's a solid adventure novel. I rate it two and a half stars, and wasn't far from rounding to three. Engaging with Ms. Byars's writing is a unique pleasure.
August 13, 2009
I HATE THIS BOOK, AND I WILL HATE THIS BOOK FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE!!!
September 1, 2018
Such a fun read (zipped through it in a day)! Will have to pick this one up for my collection...an exciting read about a 12-year-old boy who is forced to use his beloved homemade raft to flee raiding Indians with his grandmother and injured dog. Lots of adventure and the characterizations are spot on and well-developed for such a short book. I appreciated how respectful the boy remained, no matter how annoying his grandmother got with her "backseat driving" - LOL. Very lovable characters with a great ending.
Age: 8-10 years or so and older, depending on maturity (people are killed/burned by Indians, scalping mentioned a few times)
Themes: Pioneer days/raiding Indians/traveling on water/wilderness adventure
Age: 8-10 years or so and older, depending on maturity (people are killed/burned by Indians, scalping mentioned a few times)
Themes: Pioneer days/raiding Indians/traveling on water/wilderness adventure
November 23, 2025
We made it 50% of the way through, and neither my daughter nor I wanted to continue. The writing was just okay, and the grandma character was nothing but rude and negative toward the poor kid.
November 25, 2023
I remember my 11 year old self DREADING whenever I had to read this book in class
July 3, 2025
Read this with my summer school class (5th). It was a great read and easy to follow. The kids enjoyed it and so did I!
November 20, 2015
I read this for my class. We are going to cover historical fiction.
October 4, 2009
it was not the best book i read
October 14, 2009
This is a really wierd book...
September 18, 2017
Summary: Living on the frontier has plenty of dangers, Indians being one of them. In order to save himself and his grandmother, Dewey Martin takes on a thrilling adventure down the most dangerous river, Trouble River.
Evaluation: I gave this book 4 stars. It is thrilling and keeps students on their toes. This book keeps you wondering what is going to happen next on this adventure.
Teaching Point: This would be a great book to read when teaching students about the frontier and Native Americans during this time period. It will allow students to understand more in depth of what life was possibly like for the white people and Indians on the frontier.
Evaluation: I gave this book 4 stars. It is thrilling and keeps students on their toes. This book keeps you wondering what is going to happen next on this adventure.
Teaching Point: This would be a great book to read when teaching students about the frontier and Native Americans during this time period. It will allow students to understand more in depth of what life was possibly like for the white people and Indians on the frontier.
May 4, 2018
Summary: Living on the frontier has plenty of dangers, Indians being one of them. In order to save himself and his grandmother, Dewey Martin takes on a thrilling adventure down the most dangerous river, Trouble River.
Evaluation: I gave this book 4 stars. It is thrilling and keeps students on their toes. This book keeps you wondering what is going to happen next on this adventure.
Teaching Point: This would be a great book to read when teaching students about the frontier and Native Americans during this time period. It will allow students to understand more in depth of what life was possibly like for the white people and Indians on the frontier.
Evaluation: I gave this book 4 stars. It is thrilling and keeps students on their toes. This book keeps you wondering what is going to happen next on this adventure.
Teaching Point: This would be a great book to read when teaching students about the frontier and Native Americans during this time period. It will allow students to understand more in depth of what life was possibly like for the white people and Indians on the frontier.
March 16, 2019
Certainly wouldn't pass as PC today. It definitely paints Native Americans in a negative light (violent savages who scalped victims and burned their property). Some tribes did resort to this type of warfare to try and protect their traditional ground, but the book is old enough (copyright 1979) that no attempt is made to explain the motivation behind these extreme actions. That being said, the writing is gripping, especially for this age group. Byars does a particularly good job of fleshing out the main characters through dialogue. My son and I enjoyed the book for what it is. If you can get past the one-sided viewpoint, it's a relatively short, good choice for grades 2-7.
June 17, 2020
Children's historical fiction at its suspenseful best. The real terror of a boy escaping from Indian raids is lightened by the accompanying descriptions of his grandmother rafting down river with him, sitting primly on her rocking chair. Unfortunately, the story is told only from the perspective of the settlers, reinforcing cultural stereotypes of Indians bringing violence and fear into frontier life, without giving adequate explanation of their perspectives and/or incidents that may have incited Native Americans to this response to settlers taking over their land.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2018
Newbery Medal- winning author published in 1969. This one is a good example of just one of the trials and tribulations of settlers moving west. The fear of the unknown, especially "Indians" at that time was rampant as well as the tactics they used to remove those from their homes. Dewey and Grandma are alone with the dog when they are forced to leave and travel to Hunter City by the raft that Dewey had made.
October 30, 2019
Picked this up because I thought it was by a children's author I like, Betsy Hayes. Oh well, I still enjoyed it. Typical prairie tale of Indian attacks and danger lurking behind every corner with a young boy conquering against all odds with his faithful dog. I ate this sort of tale up as I kid and apparently I still do. Grandma was a bit of an old battle ax and I would have pitched her in the river, but that's just me.
September 14, 2020
I gave this book 5 stars. I think Dewey and his grandmother were very likable characters. They take care of each other. This book was also full of adventure I loved the thrill and action, it kept me on my tip toes every time I read a new chapter. Also, I learned about life on the prairie when Native Americans and Settlers didn't really get along. Overall this book was a combination of learning and cliffhangers and that's why I gave it 5 stars.
October 22, 2017
This book was HORRIBLE. I could see how Byars may have tried to make it an adventurous book but it really was not good. I may be wrong because I am a 10 year old, and I read it in class with my teacher, but I rate it 1. Dewey and Grandma were not likable characters, and the plot was not interesting.
- MIA
- MIA
September 2, 2023
I read this as a kid, and was entranced. I wanted to make my own raft and go traveling on it, although I didn't live near a river. I lived in the suburbs. As an adult, I'm rereading books I liked so much as a kid, and I'm realizing: I liked a lot of "traveling in the wilderness" "stuck in the wilderness but there's a happy ending" stories then. As an adult, I dislike them. I have changed a lot as a person. Stories like these now give me anxiety. This one did, while simultaneously just being...really boring. I have zero clue of whether it's historically accurate. The rocking chair is made of magical wood, since it barely ever tips over, the grandma stays in it the whole time, and there's no real difficulty with it. It even survives rapids. The dog doesn't act like dogs I've known. Why is there never any mention of feeding him? I'm glad I at least know now that as an adult, I dislike this book.
September 6, 2019
It was ok writing. Also cringed a bit at the view of Native Americans, though I know it is how they were viewed historically. Should be good for starting conversations about how we view those who are different from us - and how we treat each other.
March 5, 2018
Read with the kids. Quite the little drama! lol.
March 31, 2018
This was a very cute book with lots of action. I think that my students will enjoy reading it for historical fiction book clubs.
April 17, 2020
This about a boy who builds a raft and try to take his granny to his parents. Wonderful description of journey.
June 18, 2020
This book as about as racist as they come. It describes Native Americans as savages, with racist physical characteristics. It's horrible.
December 31, 2020
Nice little tale about a boy, his dog, and his grandma escaping the Indians on the prairie in the 1800s. I love how witty and hilarious the grandma was! Betsy Byars never disappoints!
October 28, 2021
Fine book. Easy story. My kids would be fine to read it. No worrisome parts.
November 22, 2021
Perfect for fourth grade reluctant but capable reader who loves this genre
December 30, 2021
Good Read and a fun family memory.
December 2, 2022
It was an easy read to race through. Lots of adventure for those who enjoy adventure. It's a bit out dated in its choice of words and ethical descriptions, but over all it's okay.
July 16, 2025
Good book.
Great characters, story, setting. Exciting.
Also includes a dog.
Great characters, story, setting. Exciting.
Also includes a dog.
January 17, 2025
Despite the fact this was a serious book, it made me laugh so many times.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews