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Wild River
It’s Ryan versus the river in a race against time to save his brother’s life.When twelve-year-old Ryan reluctantly agrees to join his experienced older brother Tanner on a camping trip, he could never have dreamed this would turn into the most frightening day of his life. Ryan’s no good at sports or outdoor stuff. He’d rather be home playing video games. But Tanner says it’s an easy trip. They’ll kayak down the Boulder River, catch fish, and roast marshmallows. But the river is higher than usual, and the kayaking is scary. Tanner isn’t worried. But soon after, he’s badly hurt in a kayaking accident, leaving Ryan alone and afraid he can’t save his brother’s life. He’s only faced danger in video games. What good are games now when Ryan faces a real-life battle?
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
17 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Petersen
32 books12 followersP. J. Petersen grew up on a farm six miles from Geyserville, California. He says, "I was sure that I lived in the most boring place in the world--a prune farm in the middle of nowhere. Since my family didn't have the time or money to travel, I did my traveling through books. I read everything I could get my hands on. Most of my books came from the Geyserville Public Library, which was one tiny room served by the county Bookmobile. I loved the place, especially on the day after the Bookmobile came."
Mr. Petersen wanted to be a writer from the beginning. He had other ambitions, like being an airline pilot and a baseball player, but he always intended to write books.
He was not an immediate success. He wrote seriously for over twenty years without selling a single word. Then he had his best idea--to write a book for his daughter Karen, a seventh grader at the time. He had never written for young people, but he knew the kind of books his daughter liked. That book, WOULD YOU SETTLE FOR IMPROBABLE?, was his first published novel. He has been writing books for young people ever since.
Mr. Petersen lives with his wife, Marian, in Redding, California. He has two grown daughters, Karen and Carla, and two grandchildren, Ryan and Emma. A graduate of Stanford University with a Ph.D. in American literature from the University of New Mexico, he taught at Shasta College from 1964 to December 2000. Now that he has retired from teaching, he is available for school visits, workshops, or conferences.
Mr. Petersen wanted to be a writer from the beginning. He had other ambitions, like being an airline pilot and a baseball player, but he always intended to write books.
He was not an immediate success. He wrote seriously for over twenty years without selling a single word. Then he had his best idea--to write a book for his daughter Karen, a seventh grader at the time. He had never written for young people, but he knew the kind of books his daughter liked. That book, WOULD YOU SETTLE FOR IMPROBABLE?, was his first published novel. He has been writing books for young people ever since.
Mr. Petersen lives with his wife, Marian, in Redding, California. He has two grown daughters, Karen and Carla, and two grandchildren, Ryan and Emma. A graduate of Stanford University with a Ph.D. in American literature from the University of New Mexico, he taught at Shasta College from 1964 to December 2000. Now that he has retired from teaching, he is available for school visits, workshops, or conferences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
April 25, 2013
The book "Wild River" was about a boy who planed a trip to go kayaking. He decided to invite his younger brother, but he just didn’t want to go. He knew it was right to obey his brother so he took the trip with him. As both brothers kayaked their boat crashed into a big rock and popped. The older brother was badly hurt and didn’t wakeup. It seemed as if he were in a comma, while the younger brother looked for recue. As he searched for rescue to have his mind off things he was afraid he made up songs and kept on bringing back his video games. It helped him a lot. Finally towards the end he sees a truck coming toward him and the owner of the truck helped them get out of this nightmare they were both in. This book was pretty interesting. It was like being on an adventure along with the characters. It was well detailed and well explained to better understand what was going on throughout the entire book. I would definably recommend this book to anybody who likes adventure books during their free time. It was a pretty good book which is why I rated it as “I liked it”.
December 8, 2014
I thought this book was good until I read Never Say Die by Will Hobbs. That book makes this one look a little bit pathetic.
December 15, 2018
Page turner - quick easy read
July 9, 2023
3.5 stars
My 9yo put this in my hands and said “you won’t want to put this down” and OF COURSE I’m going to read that! Doing a buddy read with one of my kids will definitely up the enjoyment factor, but I could appreciate why kids would love this. Is it phenomenal literature? No. But it is non-stop action and you can’t help but want to see how things will work out. A quick, engaging read.
My 9yo put this in my hands and said “you won’t want to put this down” and OF COURSE I’m going to read that! Doing a buddy read with one of my kids will definitely up the enjoyment factor, but I could appreciate why kids would love this. Is it phenomenal literature? No. But it is non-stop action and you can’t help but want to see how things will work out. A quick, engaging read.
December 9, 2022
2/3 Battle of the Books 22-23. Meh.
August 18, 2016
Wild River tells the story of Ryan's and his older brother, Tanner's, kayaking trip. The author does a nice job of creating a believable voice for Ryan--a middle school boy who prefers video games to outdoor activities. The fact that Ryan's expertise with outdoor adventures is much less than Tanner's is essential to the story. Ryan depends on Tanner to direct the kayaking trip and whatever obstacles arise but an accident forces Ryan into the leadership role.
When Ryan finds himself in a situation he must problem-solve without his brother's help he relies on the skills and knowledge he uses when video-gaming and applies them to his current crisis. For example: realizing that in a video game trying the same thing over and over does not result in success gives Ryan the idea to look at each obstacle he encounters on the river from new and varied perspectives.
I am not a huge fan of kid-survival-in-the-wilderness stories. I tend to lose interest when an author spends a lot of time (more than 2 sentences) describing in detail how a particular tool is fashioned or a particular maneuver is performed. So for someone like me who processes things more by seeing them than reading a description I found myself bored and starting to skim pages on a few occasions in Wild River. For this reason the pacing felt a little uneven to me, but the language and short chapters are ideally suited to early 3rd & 4th grade readers.
If a young reader likes the survival/adventure genre then Wild River is an okay introduction to the genre--a jumping off place for books like the famed Hatchett by Gary Paulsen.
When Ryan finds himself in a situation he must problem-solve without his brother's help he relies on the skills and knowledge he uses when video-gaming and applies them to his current crisis. For example: realizing that in a video game trying the same thing over and over does not result in success gives Ryan the idea to look at each obstacle he encounters on the river from new and varied perspectives.
I am not a huge fan of kid-survival-in-the-wilderness stories. I tend to lose interest when an author spends a lot of time (more than 2 sentences) describing in detail how a particular tool is fashioned or a particular maneuver is performed. So for someone like me who processes things more by seeing them than reading a description I found myself bored and starting to skim pages on a few occasions in Wild River. For this reason the pacing felt a little uneven to me, but the language and short chapters are ideally suited to early 3rd & 4th grade readers.
If a young reader likes the survival/adventure genre then Wild River is an okay introduction to the genre--a jumping off place for books like the famed Hatchett by Gary Paulsen.
November 8, 2009
Ryan feels inept and awkward when compared to his athletically talented older brother, Tanner. Tanner loves all outdoor sports, but Ryan would rather stay indoors and get his adventure from video games. So when Tanner railroads him into a brothers-only kayaking trip, Ryan is apprehensive. But Tanner is so confident and competent that Ryan goes along with him.
The beginning of the trip was easier than Ryan thought it would be. The river was high, and easy to navigate; the sunshine and the fishing were great. Ryan almost began to enjoy himself. The first whitewater chute was exciting and a little scary, but the second chute was bigger, louder, and more dangerous. Just as they started down, Ryan saw something ahead: a black log, right in the middle of the chute, with a jagged end pointing straight at them, and it wasn't moving. Not at all.
When their rubber kayak was impaled by the log, the boys were thrown out into the river. Ryan swam for shore, but Tanner floated downriver, unconscious. Ryan's adventures, pulling his brother to shore and working to save his life and rescue both his brother and himself, make an exciting story for ages 8-12. Especially good for reluctant readers, as the adventures are non-stop, and the style of writing is lively.
The beginning of the trip was easier than Ryan thought it would be. The river was high, and easy to navigate; the sunshine and the fishing were great. Ryan almost began to enjoy himself. The first whitewater chute was exciting and a little scary, but the second chute was bigger, louder, and more dangerous. Just as they started down, Ryan saw something ahead: a black log, right in the middle of the chute, with a jagged end pointing straight at them, and it wasn't moving. Not at all.
When their rubber kayak was impaled by the log, the boys were thrown out into the river. Ryan swam for shore, but Tanner floated downriver, unconscious. Ryan's adventures, pulling his brother to shore and working to save his life and rescue both his brother and himself, make an exciting story for ages 8-12. Especially good for reluctant readers, as the adventures are non-stop, and the style of writing is lively.
July 12, 2011
Twelve-year-old Ryan doesn’t have much in common with his older brother, Tanner. Ryan likes to spend his time sleeping and playing video games. Tanner enjoys outdoorsy stuff like camping, fishing, and kayaking. Now, Tanner has decided that it’s time for Ryan to enjoy those things, too.
Ryan and Tanner set out down the river in their big rubber kayak, and things are okay at first. Soon, though, the going gets rough. Tanner is seriously injured, and it’s up to Ryan to take care of his older brother and find someway to get help. Tanner is the one who’s good at all of this stuff, but Ryan must find a way to overcome his doubts and fears so that he can save his brother? But how can he do this? Being good at playing video games hasn’t prepared him to survive in the woods…or has it? Will Ryan find a way to use his video game skills to save his brother’s life and his own? Find out for yourself when you read Wild River by P.J. Petersen.
I think Wild River is a great book for readers who like camping, hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities. (I do not, but I did kind of enjoy this book.) This book is full of adventure and suspense. If you enjoy books like Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, you’ll definitely want to read Wild River.
Ryan and Tanner set out down the river in their big rubber kayak, and things are okay at first. Soon, though, the going gets rough. Tanner is seriously injured, and it’s up to Ryan to take care of his older brother and find someway to get help. Tanner is the one who’s good at all of this stuff, but Ryan must find a way to overcome his doubts and fears so that he can save his brother? But how can he do this? Being good at playing video games hasn’t prepared him to survive in the woods…or has it? Will Ryan find a way to use his video game skills to save his brother’s life and his own? Find out for yourself when you read Wild River by P.J. Petersen.
I think Wild River is a great book for readers who like camping, hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities. (I do not, but I did kind of enjoy this book.) This book is full of adventure and suspense. If you enjoy books like Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, you’ll definitely want to read Wild River.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2014
Ryan,12, has always lived in the shadow of his older brother, Tanner's limelight and glory. Not much of an athlete or scholar, Ryan is content to play video games and wile-away endless days. Tanner, although always encouraging Ryan to step out of his comfort zone, doesn't really ever seem to get through to Ryan.
But when Tanner's friend backs out of a camping/hiking/kayaking trip, he convinces Ryan to come in his stead. Mom drops the brothers off in the wilderness with assurances that she would be back the next afternoon to pick them up. At first, the waters are calm and predictable. Then, out of nowhere the waters are churning and the boys hit a log, throwing Tanner up in the air, knocking him out. Now, it is left to 'un-heroic' Ryan to save his brother, with no means of communication, minimal tools, or planning.
Wild River is a fast-paced, action-filled survival story which will have kids turning pages quickly...however, the storyline is somewhat diminished by the incessant comparison to the real-life drama Ryan finds himself in with his love for video games and their 'virtual' reality. I realize it probably was a technique to draw the kids in, but...yikes, it is annoying!
But when Tanner's friend backs out of a camping/hiking/kayaking trip, he convinces Ryan to come in his stead. Mom drops the brothers off in the wilderness with assurances that she would be back the next afternoon to pick them up. At first, the waters are calm and predictable. Then, out of nowhere the waters are churning and the boys hit a log, throwing Tanner up in the air, knocking him out. Now, it is left to 'un-heroic' Ryan to save his brother, with no means of communication, minimal tools, or planning.
Wild River is a fast-paced, action-filled survival story which will have kids turning pages quickly...however, the storyline is somewhat diminished by the incessant comparison to the real-life drama Ryan finds himself in with his love for video games and their 'virtual' reality. I realize it probably was a technique to draw the kids in, but...yikes, it is annoying!
August 8, 2011
2012 Battle of the Books.
12-year-old Ryan is dragged on a two-day kayaking adventure by his older brother, Tanner. He makes no secret of the fact that he would rather be home playing video games, and that outdoor adventure is not his thing.
When disaster strikes, Ryan is forced to live in the real world and discover his true capabilities. To be successful, he must draw on his knowledge of life vs video games.
"But this wasn't a video game. In those games, if you made a mistake and got killed, it was no big deal. You just started a new game."
"Maybe the games were silly, but I had learned one thing from playing them: if you tried something and it didn't work, you didn't keep doing it. You did something else."
I can see using this book in my classroom for a discussion of story elements. I liked how Ryan discussed the river as if it were alive and malicious, thereby making it a major character in the book as well as being the setting. Otherwise, it was a predictable story in the boy versus wild genre.
12-year-old Ryan is dragged on a two-day kayaking adventure by his older brother, Tanner. He makes no secret of the fact that he would rather be home playing video games, and that outdoor adventure is not his thing.
When disaster strikes, Ryan is forced to live in the real world and discover his true capabilities. To be successful, he must draw on his knowledge of life vs video games.
"But this wasn't a video game. In those games, if you made a mistake and got killed, it was no big deal. You just started a new game."
"Maybe the games were silly, but I had learned one thing from playing them: if you tried something and it didn't work, you didn't keep doing it. You did something else."
I can see using this book in my classroom for a discussion of story elements. I liked how Ryan discussed the river as if it were alive and malicious, thereby making it a major character in the book as well as being the setting. Otherwise, it was a predictable story in the boy versus wild genre.
June 24, 2010
This book is for readers who are below grade level. It has big words, and was a quick read. The story was very predictable. It might be too silly for middle school readers. I would suggest it to my struggling readers. **stop here for spoiler alert **** The big brother, hero, athlete, girl charmer forces his younger brother to go in an inflatable raft down a river on an overnight camping trip. The water is higher than usual, and the rapids and chutes more dangerous. A log jam punctures the raft and throws the boys out. The older brother, who has taken off his life jacket is knocked unconscious. The younger brother drags him out of the water to safety, covers him with a sleeping bag and goes for help on the air mattress. He usually just plays video games, and now he is really 'living' an action packed adventure. He keeps singing to himself that he will beat the demon. I would say that 4th and 5th graders would love the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2017
"The longest day of my life began with my brother, Tanner, yelling, "Wake up, Ryan. You just won a free trip."
Ryan's not the outdoors type. He would rather stay at home and encounter adventure through his video games than "in the wild." But no one says "no" to big brother Tanner and, before Ryan knows it, he's headed out for a day of kayaking, fishing and camping. But when an accident leaves Tanner unconscious, Ryan must find a way to get out of the canyon and get help. It's Ryan against the mountain and the river. “I could almost hear the mountain demon laugh.”
A good survival fiction story for younger readers. Plenty of action. Ryan uses his knowledge gained from video games to help problem solve. Sometimes it's the right; sometimes it's not, but Ryan shows determination and persistence in his quest to get help for his brother.
Ryan's not the outdoors type. He would rather stay at home and encounter adventure through his video games than "in the wild." But no one says "no" to big brother Tanner and, before Ryan knows it, he's headed out for a day of kayaking, fishing and camping. But when an accident leaves Tanner unconscious, Ryan must find a way to get out of the canyon and get help. It's Ryan against the mountain and the river. “I could almost hear the mountain demon laugh.”
A good survival fiction story for younger readers. Plenty of action. Ryan uses his knowledge gained from video games to help problem solve. Sometimes it's the right; sometimes it's not, but Ryan shows determination and persistence in his quest to get help for his brother.
May 6, 2014
Tanner and his younger brother Ryan go on a kayaking tour of the Boulder River one weekend. Tanner is always up for an adventure where Ryan hates taking risks and would rather be home playing video games. Their trip is going ok and they even catch a couple of fish, but then their kayak hits a big log and things start to go wrong. Tanner hit his head and lost consciousness in the river. Ryan went into survival mode and spent a ton of time getting Tanner out of the freezing water, patching his forehead, and trying to get him to warm up and wake up. Ryan has to keep Tanner alive for another day until his father comes to pick them up at a predetermined meeting point, which Ryan does not even think they will make it to.
August 24, 2014
I just read Never Say Die by Will Hobbs right before reading Wild River. I might have liked Wild River better if I hadn't just read Never Say Die because the stories have some similar elements but Wild River is definitely written for a younger less mature audience. I read them because they are both 2015 award nominees in Illinois and i wanted to know who they would appeal to so I can promote them as part of my job. Anyway, without divulging any details if you have a younger reader looking for some mild adventure in a story that seems like it could happen to them then Wild River is for them. However, if you have a tween or teen looking for adventure with a dose of environmental consciousness skip Wild River and go straight to Never Say Die.
September 19, 2017
Meh...was a short book which might appeal to grade school readers. Even so, I found it too clogged with descriptions of the river and the dangers. I found it boring because I don't understand the terminology enough to form a picture in my head. So even tho the book was short, I really just read the beginning, skimmed the middle and read the end.
Should have called the book River Demon as that is what the MC calls it. The relationships were all superficial. The all popular older brother did not make smart choices and MC discovered that video games helped him on his real river adventure??? Just didn't add up for me. Not sure how this was on list for Maud Hart Lovelace award...I'm still on the hunt for my "favorite kids summer read"
Should have called the book River Demon as that is what the MC calls it. The relationships were all superficial. The all popular older brother did not make smart choices and MC discovered that video games helped him on his real river adventure??? Just didn't add up for me. Not sure how this was on list for Maud Hart Lovelace award...I'm still on the hunt for my "favorite kids summer read"
September 1, 2010
This is nowhere in the league of Hatchet or Far North in terms of survival stories, but it was a pretty good yarn anyway. Might appeal to reluctant boy readers who would look at the slimness of the book and agree to read it. Then give them Hatchet and Far North.
I thought the rhymes the kid made up as he went along were really lame, and I don't think most kids would even laugh at them.
But I did like the way Peterson had the character use the same strategizing he uses while playing video games to try to figure out a way out of his dilemma, and the way he realizes that real life is not a video game.
I thought the rhymes the kid made up as he went along were really lame, and I don't think most kids would even laugh at them.
But I did like the way Peterson had the character use the same strategizing he uses while playing video games to try to figure out a way out of his dilemma, and the way he realizes that real life is not a video game.
November 29, 2014
Wild River is a thrilling book about a pair of brothers, Ryan and Tanner, who set out on a camping trip, but an accident happens, leaving the older brother Tanner unconscious. It is up to Ryan to seek help, but he doesn’t know much about where he is or really about anything when it comes to nature. He must step up or possible lose his brother. A short chapter book, this book really captures your attention and brings a regular kid to becoming a hero. I love stories like this and I think they inspire young people to be better people.
Verdict:
A great short chapter book that is both thrilling and has a great message.
Verdict:
A great short chapter book that is both thrilling and has a great message.
October 18, 2014
I thought this book packed a big enough punch to keep the average young reader intrigued. The author also did a good job of bringing in material students could relate to by constantly referencing video games, although they were clearly made up and didn't seem that exciting. The story was action packed and believable enough that I feel kids could relate to the main character, but the ending was greatly lacking and rushed. Overall I enjoyed this book much more than the Caudill nominee "Never Say Die" which was basically the same book, but this book still fell short in some areas for me.
February 10, 2010
Twelve-year-old Ryan, is talked into a rafting/camping overnight with his sixteen year old brother, Tanner. Ryan enjoys video games and is not the outdoor person that is older brother wants him to be. Tanner takes some risks on the river and gets himself hurt pretty badly. Ryan has to think through many actions (just like he does in his video games) in order to save his brother. Video game lovers will relate to this book.
June 26, 2011
This is another book where I personally wasn't spectacularly interested in it, but I believe it will be an easy sell for the Battle of the Books. It is an adventure story with a boy who spends the book trying to translate his many video game experiences into real life as he looks to save his big brother. The reading level is again relatively low, which combined with the subject material will make this an easy book to read (especially for boys).
February 10, 2014
This one is a short story with a cover, hardly even a novella. Ryan is forced to go on an overnight kayaking trip with his older brother when Tanner's friend backs out. Ryan has no experience with camping, kayaking, or anything outdoors. Ryan loves video games. Shortly after the two day trip begins, the kayak crashes, Tanner is knocked unconscious, and Ryan must use his wits and video game experience to obtain help and the mountain wilderness. An easy enough read for any adventure bib.
July 9, 2014
Lexile Level: 420L
Pages: 120
Summary: Twelve year old Ryan, who prefers to stay inside and experience life via video games, feels people compare him to his “hero” older brother Tanner. While on a reluctant river trip with his older brother Ryan proves how resourceful he can be.
Recommendations or Comments: An exciting adventure where the hero of the story uses skills he didn’t know he possess to “save the day”.
Stars: 4
Reviewed By: Michèle Freese
Pages: 120
Summary: Twelve year old Ryan, who prefers to stay inside and experience life via video games, feels people compare him to his “hero” older brother Tanner. While on a reluctant river trip with his older brother Ryan proves how resourceful he can be.
Recommendations or Comments: An exciting adventure where the hero of the story uses skills he didn’t know he possess to “save the day”.
Stars: 4
Reviewed By: Michèle Freese
April 28, 2021
Twelve-year-old Ryan admits he'd rather play video games than sports, and he wasn't thrilled at the idea of joining his older brother on a kayaking camping trip. So when Tanner noticed the higher than normal river water and told Ryan not to worry, he couldn't have been more wrong. Faced with real, life-threatening, problems Ryan has to dig deep inside himself to save his brother and himself. Petersen creates a great character that pulls the reader in.
October 14, 2015
A twelve year old kid named Ryan goes on a camping trip with his "perfect" brother Tanner. If he had known this trip was going to turn out to be a nightmare he would have never gone. Ryan isnt the most athletic kid, but his brother on the other hand is very active.
Ryan has never faced a life or death situation, but he has in games. Ryan trys so hard to find help but fails many times but also accomplishes the big goal, to save his brother. What will he do next?
Ryan has never faced a life or death situation, but he has in games. Ryan trys so hard to find help but fails many times but also accomplishes the big goal, to save his brother. What will he do next?
January 11, 2018
My first 2018 read!
Honestly, I'm still trying to decide whether to rate it 3 or 4 stars, but I'm not sure. There were some parts I really liked about it, but some parts were really boring.
When I first discovered this book, I was excited to read it because it had brothers. The relationship between the brothers was nice but obviously, it was mostly about survival; how Ryan was trying to save his big brother, Tanner.
Near the ending I expected more between the brothers, though.
Honestly, I'm still trying to decide whether to rate it 3 or 4 stars, but I'm not sure. There were some parts I really liked about it, but some parts were really boring.
When I first discovered this book, I was excited to read it because it had brothers. The relationship between the brothers was nice but obviously, it was mostly about survival; how Ryan was trying to save his big brother, Tanner.
Near the ending I expected more between the brothers, though.
August 28, 2009
I think this new survival story (2009) will appeal to upper elementary boys. The hero is 12 year old Ryan whose favorite pasttime is playing video games. His older brother cons him into a kayaking trip and Ryan's feelings of inadequacy run rampant. An accident forces Ryan to draw upon strengths, both physical and mental, that he didn't know he possessed. Good action, plot moves quickly.
December 15, 2009
This book was more riveting than my first impression. The more I read, the more exciting it got. It is a story of a younger brother trying to save his older, "golden child" brother after they have a river rafting accident. He overcomes some major challenges than he never thought he was capable of.
March 2, 2015
I read Wild River by P. J. Petersen. It is about a boy named Ryan and his brother Tanner. They go on a river rafting and camping trip and things take a turn for the worst. This book is really exciting and has a lot of action. I would recommend this book to people who like adventure. I thought this book was really good.
December 4, 2015
super easy reading (3rd grade level), short and high action! Video game fanatic Ryan is forced along on an overnight canoeing adventure with his daredevil older brother. When rapids swamp them and injure the brother, Ryan must act on his scout training and what he has learned from playing video games to save him! Great for reluctant readers!
August 28, 2016
An adventure survival story for young readers. Can Ryan find help for his brother Tanner when he is injured during their kayaking camping trip?
Give this one to readers who are looking for something than Hatchet or Will Hobbs's books.
Give this one to readers who are looking for something than Hatchet or Will Hobbs's books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews