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Raft of Stars
When two hardscrabble young boys think they’ve committed a crime, they flee into the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Will the adults trying to find and protect them reach them before it’s too late?
It’s the summer of 1994 in Claypot, Wisconsin, and the lives of ten-year-old Fischer “Fish� Branson and Dale “Bread� Breadwin are shaped by the two fathers they don’t talk about.
One night, tired of seeing his best friend bruised and terrorized by his no-good dad, Fish takes action. A gunshot rings out and the two boys flee the scene, believing themselves murderers. They head for the woods, where they find their way onto a raft, but the natural terrors of Ironsforge gorge threaten to overwhelm them.
Four adults track them into the forest, each one on a journey of his or her own. Fish’s mother Miranda, a wise woman full of fierce faith; his granddad, Teddy, who knows the woods like the back of his hand; Tiffany, a purple-haired gas station attendant and poet looking for connection; and Sheriff Cal, who’s having doubts about a life in law enforcement.
The adults track the boys toward the novel’s heart-pounding climax on the edge of the gorge and a conclusion that beautifully makes manifest the grace these characters find in the wilderness and one another. This timeless story of loss, hope, and adventure runs like the river itself amid the vividly rendered landscape of the Upper Midwest.
It’s the summer of 1994 in Claypot, Wisconsin, and the lives of ten-year-old Fischer “Fish� Branson and Dale “Bread� Breadwin are shaped by the two fathers they don’t talk about.
One night, tired of seeing his best friend bruised and terrorized by his no-good dad, Fish takes action. A gunshot rings out and the two boys flee the scene, believing themselves murderers. They head for the woods, where they find their way onto a raft, but the natural terrors of Ironsforge gorge threaten to overwhelm them.
Four adults track them into the forest, each one on a journey of his or her own. Fish’s mother Miranda, a wise woman full of fierce faith; his granddad, Teddy, who knows the woods like the back of his hand; Tiffany, a purple-haired gas station attendant and poet looking for connection; and Sheriff Cal, who’s having doubts about a life in law enforcement.
The adults track the boys toward the novel’s heart-pounding climax on the edge of the gorge and a conclusion that beautifully makes manifest the grace these characters find in the wilderness and one another. This timeless story of loss, hope, and adventure runs like the river itself amid the vividly rendered landscape of the Upper Midwest.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 23, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,296 reviews
February 22, 2021
Andrew J Graff's makes a stunning debut with this classic piece of historical fiction, of adventure and trials in the wilderness, set in the summer of 1994 in the small town of Claypot, in the Land of the Beaver, Wisconsin. Two 10 year old boys, Fischer 'Fish' Branson and Dale 'Bread' Breadwin, have spent the last 3 summers together, becoming good friends, almost brothers. Fish's mother, Miranda, a Pentecostal praying woman, sent him to his grandfather, Teddy's farm for the summers after his father died, a loss that Fish has yet to come to terms with. Teddy has helped considerably, loving his grandson, teaching the boy about the farm and passing on wilderness skills. One night, Fish finds he just cannot walk away from the bruised and scarred Bread's home, Bread is regularly beaten by his alcoholic and abusive father, Fish fires a gun, and thinking this is murder, the scared boys decide to escape into the woods after gathering some supplies.
Looking to find and help the boys is Sheriff Cal, from Texas, who has subscribed to the idea that the Sheriff must never get close to people to do his job, leaving him feeling alone and lonely. Cal allows himself to be led by the man who knows this terrain like the back of his hand, Teddy, who has sought quiet and peace since his return from Korea. They are to be joined by the purple haired aspiring poet and gas station attendant, Tiffany, a woman with a sad, dreary and lonely past, and who has strong pent up feelings for Cal, she writes poetry on the poverty, lost hopes and banality of small town life. She allows herself to be led into the wilderness by Miranda in the canoe, a mother determined to save and protect her son. The two 'fatherless' boys find themselves excitedly facing the wondrous and ferocious sights of the Mishicot forest, with the wild and turbulent river, reveling in their adventures and abilities, fearful of the challenges and adversity that come their way. The boys do not know of the deadly dangers posed by the Ironsford Gorge, as they build their raft of stars and dreams to travel on the treacherous waters of the river, but the adults are all too aware as they race against time to get to them.
The time spent in the wilderness changes the boys and the adults, to develop and reshape their sense of identity and their place in the world, re-evaluate how they live, whilst re-connecting with the miracle, hope and blessing that is our natural environment, and forge life changing relationships, like Tiffany feeling that for the first time in her life she has a friend and begins to feel the warmth this engenders as she is cared for, and all, in their different ways, harbour secrets that come to be revealed. This is a beautifully written and atmospheric novel with such a superb sense of location, where you almost feel as if you are right there with the boys amidst the hailstones of the devastating storm on the river they experience. The characters are complex, feeling so real and authentic, developed so well and skillfully, holding my interest throughout, I particularly enjoyed the boys relationship, each grounding the other, heavily impacted by their fathers and the part they played in their lives. This is such a joy to read that I have no hesitation in recommending this highly. Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.
Looking to find and help the boys is Sheriff Cal, from Texas, who has subscribed to the idea that the Sheriff must never get close to people to do his job, leaving him feeling alone and lonely. Cal allows himself to be led by the man who knows this terrain like the back of his hand, Teddy, who has sought quiet and peace since his return from Korea. They are to be joined by the purple haired aspiring poet and gas station attendant, Tiffany, a woman with a sad, dreary and lonely past, and who has strong pent up feelings for Cal, she writes poetry on the poverty, lost hopes and banality of small town life. She allows herself to be led into the wilderness by Miranda in the canoe, a mother determined to save and protect her son. The two 'fatherless' boys find themselves excitedly facing the wondrous and ferocious sights of the Mishicot forest, with the wild and turbulent river, reveling in their adventures and abilities, fearful of the challenges and adversity that come their way. The boys do not know of the deadly dangers posed by the Ironsford Gorge, as they build their raft of stars and dreams to travel on the treacherous waters of the river, but the adults are all too aware as they race against time to get to them.
The time spent in the wilderness changes the boys and the adults, to develop and reshape their sense of identity and their place in the world, re-evaluate how they live, whilst re-connecting with the miracle, hope and blessing that is our natural environment, and forge life changing relationships, like Tiffany feeling that for the first time in her life she has a friend and begins to feel the warmth this engenders as she is cared for, and all, in their different ways, harbour secrets that come to be revealed. This is a beautifully written and atmospheric novel with such a superb sense of location, where you almost feel as if you are right there with the boys amidst the hailstones of the devastating storm on the river they experience. The characters are complex, feeling so real and authentic, developed so well and skillfully, holding my interest throughout, I particularly enjoyed the boys relationship, each grounding the other, heavily impacted by their fathers and the part they played in their lives. This is such a joy to read that I have no hesitation in recommending this highly. Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.
March 18, 2021
Fish and Bread are ten year old boys, best friends and both are carrying things that no one wishes on their young hearts. Of course, they stole my heart. In the small town of Claypot, Wisconsin something bad happens and the boys run away. A variety of other characters make it their mission to find them. Cal is the town’s temporary sheriff, with a big heart, at a crossroads in his life, dealing with a mistake in his recent past and questioning how he is living his life. Tiff, a young woman who’s had it tough, is trying to make a life for herself. Teddy, a grandfather who loves his grandson dearly carries his own grief and wartime mental scars. Miranda is Fish’s mother who is dealing with loss and wanting to ease that loss for her son. Every one of them is in need of healing. The ordeal of the boy’s harrowing journey through woods and rapids and the search for them was at times a bit dramatic, but this story is filled with heart and hope, love and care. I enjoyed getting to know these characters. This well written debut novel is more than a coming of age story story and I’ll look forward to what Andrew Graff may write next.
I received an advanced copy of this book HarperCollins through Edelweiss.
I received an advanced copy of this book HarperCollins through Edelweiss.
February 13, 2021
The summary of this book sounded like something William Kent Krueger would write, so I had to give it a try. And I’m so glad I did. This character driven story grabbed me. Fish is ten years old. For the last three summers, his mom has sent him to his grandfather’s farm in northern Wisconsin. Bread is his best friend there. Bread’s dad is alcoholic and abusive, and one day, the boys take matters into their own hands. And then they run off.
Four adults - the grandfather, the mother, the sheriff and a gas station attendant all set off looking for them. The story alternates between all the main characters, young and old. Each is flawed and each is keeping secrets, even Fish. But they were also strong people, people I’d want to know (even the mom who is an avid Pentacostal). The writing is vivid, making each scene easy to imagine. Graff makes the Wisconsin backwoods and the river characters in their own right. I just loved the ending and I shed more than a few tears.
I recommend this to fans of William Kent Krueger and Allen Eskens. Others have called this a coming of age story. But it’s more than that, as the adults grow as much as the kids.
My thanks to netgalley and Ecco for an advance copy of this book.
Four adults - the grandfather, the mother, the sheriff and a gas station attendant all set off looking for them. The story alternates between all the main characters, young and old. Each is flawed and each is keeping secrets, even Fish. But they were also strong people, people I’d want to know (even the mom who is an avid Pentacostal). The writing is vivid, making each scene easy to imagine. Graff makes the Wisconsin backwoods and the river characters in their own right. I just loved the ending and I shed more than a few tears.
I recommend this to fans of William Kent Krueger and Allen Eskens. Others have called this a coming of age story. But it’s more than that, as the adults grow as much as the kids.
My thanks to netgalley and Ecco for an advance copy of this book.
May 13, 2022
The audiobook of this story is simply wonderful!! The narration is pitch perfect and enjoyable.
Set in my home state of Wisconsin, I relished the way the beauty of the Midwest was described and I felt the small town atmosphere was authentic.
Briefly the plot:
Two young friends, “Fish� Fischer Branson and “Bread� Dale Breadwin are spending the summer of 1994 together as they have for many years. Fish lives in the small town of Claypot, but spends his summers at his grandfather, Teddy’s, farm. Fish has recently lost his father while Bread is always dealing with an alcoholic, abusive father.
The boys have learned a lot about surviving in the wilderness, hiking, hunting, fishing etc from Teddy.
On this fateful day, Fish, seeing for himself how Bread’s dad is beating and humiliating Bread, decides to take action. A shot is fired and the boys run into the woods. They believe that they have killed Bread’s father.
The rest of the book is taken up with the four adults who set off to find the boys. There is the new sheriff, Cal, local girl Tiffany, Miranda - Fish’s mom, and Teddy.
Wisconsin’s wild areas and rivers are described in their beauty and also their power. A horrific thunderstorm booms and lightning strikes, a river is raging with flood waters and Cal is not prepared for any of it. He’s a Houston boy and this is all new to him, riding a horse, dealing with biting insects, moving through dense woods, etc. The others race to find the boys by horseback and canoe. The other adults have their own demons and fears.
We are following the plight of the boys as they try to escape, building a raft, fighting the storm. They are achingly young and innocent and I just wanted to see them safely home!!
Graff’s writing is simply fantastic, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!!
Some compare his writing to Krueger’s “This Tender Land� but I saw a more striking resemblance to Leif Enger’s “Peace Like a River�. This author uses symbolism as does Enger, I won’t get into examples.
This was an adventure story, a growing and/or spiritual journey and just a terrific read.
Great characters, a wonderful, fast moving plot and a lot of heart makes this audiobook a winner for me.
Set in my home state of Wisconsin, I relished the way the beauty of the Midwest was described and I felt the small town atmosphere was authentic.
Briefly the plot:
Two young friends, “Fish� Fischer Branson and “Bread� Dale Breadwin are spending the summer of 1994 together as they have for many years. Fish lives in the small town of Claypot, but spends his summers at his grandfather, Teddy’s, farm. Fish has recently lost his father while Bread is always dealing with an alcoholic, abusive father.
The boys have learned a lot about surviving in the wilderness, hiking, hunting, fishing etc from Teddy.
On this fateful day, Fish, seeing for himself how Bread’s dad is beating and humiliating Bread, decides to take action. A shot is fired and the boys run into the woods. They believe that they have killed Bread’s father.
The rest of the book is taken up with the four adults who set off to find the boys. There is the new sheriff, Cal, local girl Tiffany, Miranda - Fish’s mom, and Teddy.
Wisconsin’s wild areas and rivers are described in their beauty and also their power. A horrific thunderstorm booms and lightning strikes, a river is raging with flood waters and Cal is not prepared for any of it. He’s a Houston boy and this is all new to him, riding a horse, dealing with biting insects, moving through dense woods, etc. The others race to find the boys by horseback and canoe. The other adults have their own demons and fears.
We are following the plight of the boys as they try to escape, building a raft, fighting the storm. They are achingly young and innocent and I just wanted to see them safely home!!
Graff’s writing is simply fantastic, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!!
Some compare his writing to Krueger’s “This Tender Land� but I saw a more striking resemblance to Leif Enger’s “Peace Like a River�. This author uses symbolism as does Enger, I won’t get into examples.
This was an adventure story, a growing and/or spiritual journey and just a terrific read.
Great characters, a wonderful, fast moving plot and a lot of heart makes this audiobook a winner for me.
February 18, 2021
Bread and Fish, are both ten years old. The boys met when Fish's mother brought him to spend summers at his grandfather's farm in Clay pot, Wisconsin. It's a rural town on the edge of the Wisconsin Northwoods. There the boys hike, fish, ride their bikes and create imaginary games in the woods. Breads father is an abusive drunk and one day when Fish decides to defend his friend, a shot rings out. The boys think they are murderers and decide to run away into the woods where the police can't find them.
Four people will set out to look for the boys, hoping they can find them before a further tragedy occurs. This is a coming of age story, an adventure story but most of all a story of friendship and caring. All these characters will change during this journey, finding out things about themselves they didn't know or didn't acknowledge. This was the part I liked the most, the character development and of course the two boys who have bigger trials than they can handle. There is also some humor concerning a horse and a wonderfully wily dog.
If you enjoy coming of age stories or the adventurous novel The River, I think you'll like this one.
ARC from Edelweiss.
Four people will set out to look for the boys, hoping they can find them before a further tragedy occurs. This is a coming of age story, an adventure story but most of all a story of friendship and caring. All these characters will change during this journey, finding out things about themselves they didn't know or didn't acknowledge. This was the part I liked the most, the character development and of course the two boys who have bigger trials than they can handle. There is also some humor concerning a horse and a wonderfully wily dog.
If you enjoy coming of age stories or the adventurous novel The River, I think you'll like this one.
ARC from Edelweiss.
November 30, 2020
I accidentally read this book because I thought it was another book but then I actually really got into it, which is weird because it's a suspenseful, wilderness coming-of-age book about boys and not really preferred genre. But I really liked it in the end. So maybe you will too.
April 28, 2021
3.5 stars.
It started off strong and I loved all the characters, especially the boys, Fish and Bread. Those nicknames didn't impress me, though. That type of thing with names always seems gimmicky to me. The boys run away after taking the law into their own hands, and it's off to the woods and a dangerous river to start their long journey. Soon half the town is in the woods or on the river looking for the boys. After a while I was drifting away from the story. It became repetitive and uneven; felt very YA. The ending came around a bit.
It started off strong and I loved all the characters, especially the boys, Fish and Bread. Those nicknames didn't impress me, though. That type of thing with names always seems gimmicky to me. The boys run away after taking the law into their own hands, and it's off to the woods and a dangerous river to start their long journey. Soon half the town is in the woods or on the river looking for the boys. After a while I was drifting away from the story. It became repetitive and uneven; felt very YA. The ending came around a bit.
March 25, 2021
Two boys involved in a shooting flee into the Wisconsin Northwoods and build a raft to escape down a raging river. At first I thought that this kind of story won’t be something I would enjoy because I’m not a big fan of YA novels but I was pleasantly surprised. This is a large-hearted debut novel about survival, courage and friendship that plays out in a wild, intriguing setting. The characters enter the woods broken and numbed but amid the wilderness they don’t lose themselves, nor do they turn against one another. Instead, they open up and cry, revealing their regrets, fears and needs. At the end they not only survive, but they all become bigger and better versions of themselves.
December 30, 2022
In brief - I was entertained by this however I found the story rather obvious maybe.
In full
This is the story of two young boys from a very small town in Wisconsin. They believe that that they have committed a crime and so flee into the woods locally. They stop off first at one of the boys granddad's farm to pick up supplies. Dale, the grandson collects essential supplies while his friend, Bread, leaves a note explaining things for Teddy, the granddad to find. The boys then leave for the forest. Fairly soon the local sheriff, Cal, and Teddy agree to go after the boys on horseback. Also on the scene, mentally or physically, are the fathers of both the boys. Miranda is Fish's mother and is desperate to find her son. The final real character in this is Tiff and she really is quite a character - gas station attendant and poet.
I really liked the start of this book. The boys dilemma is very clear as is their friendship. The main initial characters - Cal, Teddy and Tiffany - all are interesting and worked for me. The family backgrounds of the fathers particularly are well thought out and used - believable too. Having come from the city Cal's views on being a small town sheriff are nicely worked as well. This was set up to be a very appealing story.
However as the story developed it seemed to change in character for me. Some of the edginess left it and I often felt I had an idea what was going to happen next (and was usually right). At times it felt far more like a YA read than an adult one. I must stress that it would probably be a good YA read but it wasn't quite what I thought it would be.
There are good characters in an entertaining story here. There is some depth in it - the boys stories are quite powerful at times. The setting both small town and out in the wilds is nice. In the end I think this is a better YA read than an adult one maybe. This really is not a bad really but just not quite the one I thought it was.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
This is the story of two young boys from a very small town in Wisconsin. They believe that that they have committed a crime and so flee into the woods locally. They stop off first at one of the boys granddad's farm to pick up supplies. Dale, the grandson collects essential supplies while his friend, Bread, leaves a note explaining things for Teddy, the granddad to find. The boys then leave for the forest. Fairly soon the local sheriff, Cal, and Teddy agree to go after the boys on horseback. Also on the scene, mentally or physically, are the fathers of both the boys. Miranda is Fish's mother and is desperate to find her son. The final real character in this is Tiff and she really is quite a character - gas station attendant and poet.
I really liked the start of this book. The boys dilemma is very clear as is their friendship. The main initial characters - Cal, Teddy and Tiffany - all are interesting and worked for me. The family backgrounds of the fathers particularly are well thought out and used - believable too. Having come from the city Cal's views on being a small town sheriff are nicely worked as well. This was set up to be a very appealing story.
However as the story developed it seemed to change in character for me. Some of the edginess left it and I often felt I had an idea what was going to happen next (and was usually right). At times it felt far more like a YA read than an adult one. I must stress that it would probably be a good YA read but it wasn't quite what I thought it would be.
There are good characters in an entertaining story here. There is some depth in it - the boys stories are quite powerful at times. The setting both small town and out in the wilds is nice. In the end I think this is a better YA read than an adult one maybe. This really is not a bad really but just not quite the one I thought it was.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
April 20, 2021
“I suppose I’ll get in there now,� said Bread. His shakes had nearly stopped. “Seems quiet.�
“Okay,� said Fish. He felt himself swallow.
They were always awkward about parting when Bread had to go home. � Bread laid his bike in the weeds and stepped up the concrete porch. He looked small and dried up, like those turtles looked. � And Fish felt dried up and weak for abandoning him again. He hated it.
The door to Bread’s house rattled tight, and Fish pedaled as hard as he could down the gravel street. Every time he left Bread, he’d race his bike back to his grandpa’s farm, trying to pray for help, or trying not to, until the quiet of the fields and fireflies offered solace again. This time, though, something different happened inside him. This time, from somewhere or something, a reply seemed to come from all that stillness and sky.
Fish clenched his fists on his handlebar tape. He wasn’t going to leave Bread this time, and the bravery of that thought seemed so foreign to him it was almost as if it belonged to someone else. � Something deep in his gut, something bright and dangerous and match-like, made him stop on that road.
Fish looked out toward the marshes. Then he looked back at Bread’s house. The moon witnessed the decision. Fish turned his bike around.
This story opens with two ten-year-old boys saving some baby snapping turtles who are crossing a road headed for a parched field where they would surely die. The boys carry them to a marsh and release them into the water where they will have a chance to survive. This serves as the theme for this book. For as the boys have just saved the baby turtles, who will save these young boys. And in this story they are not the only ones that need to be saved.
The book delivers a sense of the bond that can form between two young boys as they become friends. It shows the excitement as these two boys travel the woods during the daytime pretending to be woodsmen and the sense of the frightening darkness of the woods when they find themselves alone at night. It shows the desperate love of a mother for her child as she tries to save and protect him. There is also the thoughtful portrayal of the futile, forlorn attempts of two young adults as they attempt to make a romantic connection with each other.
This is not the best novel I have read recently but I did enjoy it and not just because it involved a man and his dog. I loved the characters and the story peels away in layers in an engaging way. There is plenty of drama to keep me involved and waiting to find out what happened next.
The book is laid out with short sections following each set of characters. This made it easy to set down and pick up. I found myself excited to get to the next section when I saw it was going to be about a certain character or characters.
But I was disappointed in the end. There were a few too many heroics for these two young boys. The dream sequence was fine and understandable. However, I did not feel there was any resolution to any of the characters at the end of this book.
Fish felt accusation rise in his heart, guilt, shame. He closed his eyes and opened them. Forget it, he told himself. At least for now. That’s something his mom used to tell him when he couldn’t sleep and worried about not sleeping. You have permission to forget it, she’d tell him. Just for a minute, just enjoy your pillow, just rest, let it go. Close your eyes and sail away from troubles on a raft made of stars.
May 18, 2021
Less believable Huck Finn, circa 1994, in Wisconsin.
Boys' names of Fish and Bread with them being out on the water and the mom being a hardcore Pentecostal -- about half too clever for my taste.
Sheriff's dog named Jacks, and he asks someone to watch him......did Andrew J. Graff really invoke "The Weight" there? Or is that me, being of a certain age and most definitely _not_ Midwestern?
Couldn't empathize or sympathize with any of the characters, except maybe the dead grandma.
Thought the kids spoke, acted, and reacted in manners way too mature for their chronological ages (and I say this as someone who spends a lot of time around boys ages 5 to 12-and-a-half). Basically, middle-aged white male authors a coming of age story in which he romanticizes that wonderful pre-adolescent stage of life and gives his main protagonists all the skills and attributes he wishes he had had at that age, is my take.
Read The Adventures of Huck Finn by Mark Twain instead, if you have not already. And Tom Sawyer.
Boys' names of Fish and Bread with them being out on the water and the mom being a hardcore Pentecostal -- about half too clever for my taste.
Sheriff's dog named Jacks, and he asks someone to watch him......did Andrew J. Graff really invoke "The Weight" there? Or is that me, being of a certain age and most definitely _not_ Midwestern?
Couldn't empathize or sympathize with any of the characters, except maybe the dead grandma.
Thought the kids spoke, acted, and reacted in manners way too mature for their chronological ages (and I say this as someone who spends a lot of time around boys ages 5 to 12-and-a-half). Basically, middle-aged white male authors a coming of age story in which he romanticizes that wonderful pre-adolescent stage of life and gives his main protagonists all the skills and attributes he wishes he had had at that age, is my take.
Read The Adventures of Huck Finn by Mark Twain instead, if you have not already. And Tom Sawyer.
March 19, 2021
It's the summer of 1994 in Clayport, Winconsin, and the lives of ten year old Fischer ''Fish'' Branson and Dale ''Bread'' Breadwin are shaped by the two fathers they don't talk about. One night, tired of seeing his friend bruised and terrorised by his no - good dad, Fish takes action. A gunshot rings out and the two biys flee the scene, believing themselves murderers. Four adults track them into the forest, each one on a journey of their own.
The cast of characters is small but they all had rolesw to play in each others lives. Fish and Bread go on a journey of survival, freedom, friendship and they have to face their own fears as they head down the river on a raft. This is a heartwarming story of childhood friendship and trust. This is a well written debut novel.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HQ and the author #AndrewJGraff for my ARC of #RaftOfStars in exchange for an honest review.
The cast of characters is small but they all had rolesw to play in each others lives. Fish and Bread go on a journey of survival, freedom, friendship and they have to face their own fears as they head down the river on a raft. This is a heartwarming story of childhood friendship and trust. This is a well written debut novel.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HQ and the author #AndrewJGraff for my ARC of #RaftOfStars in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2020
Well written, but really should be in the category Young Adult rather than Literature.
April 17, 2021
3.5 Stars
May 1, 2021
Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff was a delightful book which I thoroughly enjoyed from the first page until the last. The prologue piqued my interest immediately. The scene was set via a note from two young boys who were running away. My first thoughts were that they seemed like good young boys, full of innocence as they head out on an adventure. One sentence later I was shocked to read their admission that they didn't mean to kill the father of one of the boys. Naturally this was an unexpected turn of events and I couldn't wait to find out what had lead to this event and what would happen next.
The book was populated with six main characters plus the shadow of the man whose death the boys were running from. All characters seemed realistic to me, certainly not perfect, but complete with flaws, weaknesses and vulnerabilities and I found them very likeable. Fish and Bread (Fischer & Dale Breadwin) were ten years old and my heart went out to both these young boys. I could readily relate to the anxiety and desperation felt by Miranda (Fish's mother) and Teddy (his grandfather). The other two characters were Sheriff Cal and local girl Tiffany.
The story unfolded as the boys fled, building a raft and taking to the river with Teddy and Sherrif Cal in hot pursuit on horseback. Initially Miranda and Tiffany were manning the home post, waiting & hoping for the boys return. After receiving some unexpected news they too took to the chase, paddling a canoe. Thus there were three separate adventures taking place on or beside the river. Each of these increased the tension as they experienced the brute force of nature. Not only did they face the dangers of the river and a ferocious storm but there was wildlife to contend with and tough life lessons as they endured fear, exhaustion, hunger, sickness and injury. Throughout it all some of the chacters had some harsh self realisations and life changing moments.
The more immersed in the story I became the more it brought to mind This Tender Land, a book I loved, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a classic I read probably 40 years ago. The comradeship between Fish and Bread; the difficulties they'd each grown up with, the essential goodness of them and their need to flee, all of which becames pivotal to the storyline.
This was a debut novel for Graff and I look forward to seeing what he will produce in future. My thanks and congratulations to him for Raft of Stars. Thanks too to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.
4.5 stars on ŷ
The book was populated with six main characters plus the shadow of the man whose death the boys were running from. All characters seemed realistic to me, certainly not perfect, but complete with flaws, weaknesses and vulnerabilities and I found them very likeable. Fish and Bread (Fischer & Dale Breadwin) were ten years old and my heart went out to both these young boys. I could readily relate to the anxiety and desperation felt by Miranda (Fish's mother) and Teddy (his grandfather). The other two characters were Sheriff Cal and local girl Tiffany.
The story unfolded as the boys fled, building a raft and taking to the river with Teddy and Sherrif Cal in hot pursuit on horseback. Initially Miranda and Tiffany were manning the home post, waiting & hoping for the boys return. After receiving some unexpected news they too took to the chase, paddling a canoe. Thus there were three separate adventures taking place on or beside the river. Each of these increased the tension as they experienced the brute force of nature. Not only did they face the dangers of the river and a ferocious storm but there was wildlife to contend with and tough life lessons as they endured fear, exhaustion, hunger, sickness and injury. Throughout it all some of the chacters had some harsh self realisations and life changing moments.
The more immersed in the story I became the more it brought to mind This Tender Land, a book I loved, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a classic I read probably 40 years ago. The comradeship between Fish and Bread; the difficulties they'd each grown up with, the essential goodness of them and their need to flee, all of which becames pivotal to the storyline.
This was a debut novel for Graff and I look forward to seeing what he will produce in future. My thanks and congratulations to him for Raft of Stars. Thanks too to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.
4.5 stars on ŷ
April 25, 2021
There was a lot of potential in this book but so much back story continually interrupts the flow. Even one of the characters says he’s tired of remembering. Me too. I think it could have been a really exciting, page-turning adventure in the forests, on the rapids - 2 women, 2 boys, 2 men on parallel journeys� but I cringed so much at some of oversentimentality, repetition, personal philosophy, etc.
May 24, 2022
Triggers: Child Abuse, Death of a Parent, Gun Violence, Survival Mode (i.e. eating, drinking, wildlife, etc.) Existential Crises & Religion (just a pinch)
This book is completely nostalgic. A little bit of Goonies, Stand By Me & Of Mice and Men with the bones of Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn. Even vague glimpses of Lord of the Flies. The writing style is very reminiscent of Mark Twain or John Steinbeck with a more modern flow. Beautiful imagery. The series of events & misunderstandings that occur to bring these pairs together is at times comical but also heart wrenching & determined. At its bare bones, it's very much human vs nature, human vs human culminating in self vs self. Each person experiences their own metamorphosis as major life realizations & events continually unfold. I highly recommend you read this when you're searching for a genre/categorical neutral. This is what they mean by 'literary fiction'.
This book is completely nostalgic. A little bit of Goonies, Stand By Me & Of Mice and Men with the bones of Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn. Even vague glimpses of Lord of the Flies. The writing style is very reminiscent of Mark Twain or John Steinbeck with a more modern flow. Beautiful imagery. The series of events & misunderstandings that occur to bring these pairs together is at times comical but also heart wrenching & determined. At its bare bones, it's very much human vs nature, human vs human culminating in self vs self. Each person experiences their own metamorphosis as major life realizations & events continually unfold. I highly recommend you read this when you're searching for a genre/categorical neutral. This is what they mean by 'literary fiction'.
July 27, 2021
3 stars
Two young preteen boys - Fish and Bread - take to the woods after believing they killed a man. The unfolding story is about the search party and rescue of the kids. Besides the two boys, the other main character is the Sheriff and the story details how he changes during this rescue effort.
For me this was an okay book. It was simple, superficial and a contrast to the historical or nonfiction books that I have been reading. Reading this caused little effort, really made no statement or influence in any way. Not a bad book, just inconsequential.
Two young preteen boys - Fish and Bread - take to the woods after believing they killed a man. The unfolding story is about the search party and rescue of the kids. Besides the two boys, the other main character is the Sheriff and the story details how he changes during this rescue effort.
For me this was an okay book. It was simple, superficial and a contrast to the historical or nonfiction books that I have been reading. Reading this caused little effort, really made no statement or influence in any way. Not a bad book, just inconsequential.
March 23, 2021
Raft of Stars is a dark and dazzling historical coming-of-age debut full of wild imagery of the rural Wisconsin landscape and characters with real heart. It’s the summer of 1994 in Claypot, Wisconsin, and the lives of ten-year-old Fischer “Fish� Branson and Dale “Bread� Breadwin are shaped by the two fathers they don’t talk about. After the death of his father, Fish, who hasn't at all comes to terms with his devastating loss, has spent the last three summers on his loving and supportive grandfather Teddy’s farm where he has taught the young ’un all about the toil involved in looking after the farm and passed down the survival skills useful for the wilderness and taught to him by his father, such as hiking, fishing and hunting. When Fish is not enjoying time with his grandfather he would while away his spare hours getting up to all sorts of adventures with his best friend, Bread, whose father, Jack, is an abusive drunk. One night, tired of seeing his best friend bruised and terrorized by his no-good dad, Fish takes action. A gunshot rings out and the two boys flee the scene, believing themselves murderers. They head for the woods, where they find their way onto a raft, but the natural terrors of Ironsforge Gorge threaten to overwhelm them.
Four adults track them into the forest, each one on a journey of his or her own. Fish’s mother Miranda, a wise woman full of fierce faith; his granddad, Teddy, who knows the woods like the back of his hand; Tiffany, a purple-haired gas station attendant and poet looking for connection; and Sheriff Cal, who’s having doubts about a life in law enforcement. This is a compulsive and absorbing read with plenty of action, drama and surprises along the way and Graff's passion for the Wisconsin landscape, where he grew up, is plain as day and provides many vivid and beautifully evocative descriptions of the ruggedness and the atmosphere. His characters are full of heart and come alive one by one as you read; in some ways, the wild wilderness is a character in itself. The narrative is laden with emotion, danger and rich, nostalgic moments that had me remembering my childhood days with a resolute fondness. This is at once a compelling plot-driven wilderness adventure and a resonant coming-of-age tale told from shifting viewpoints and filled with rich detail of childhood friendships sliding between the boys' idyllic future hopes and dreams and the reality of having to run for their lives. A stunning and refreshingly original novel. Highly recommended.
Four adults track them into the forest, each one on a journey of his or her own. Fish’s mother Miranda, a wise woman full of fierce faith; his granddad, Teddy, who knows the woods like the back of his hand; Tiffany, a purple-haired gas station attendant and poet looking for connection; and Sheriff Cal, who’s having doubts about a life in law enforcement. This is a compulsive and absorbing read with plenty of action, drama and surprises along the way and Graff's passion for the Wisconsin landscape, where he grew up, is plain as day and provides many vivid and beautifully evocative descriptions of the ruggedness and the atmosphere. His characters are full of heart and come alive one by one as you read; in some ways, the wild wilderness is a character in itself. The narrative is laden with emotion, danger and rich, nostalgic moments that had me remembering my childhood days with a resolute fondness. This is at once a compelling plot-driven wilderness adventure and a resonant coming-of-age tale told from shifting viewpoints and filled with rich detail of childhood friendships sliding between the boys' idyllic future hopes and dreams and the reality of having to run for their lives. A stunning and refreshingly original novel. Highly recommended.
April 11, 2021
Wiping away tears as I finished this incredible adventure....Huck Finn meets This Tender Land - epic journey of two young boys in the woods and on a raft in the Midwest . Loved it and full review to come!
April 1, 2021
This is a Coming of Age story with two young boys at the heart of it. The boys are easy to care about. The hardships they endure were heartbreaking...a little fantastical...but heartbreaking as they set out on their earnest journey of running away. The writing was very descriptive. Usually that is a huge plus for me, but here it made this one drag a little and it just seemed long. But the last quarter was gripping. I was glad I stayed with it.
I liked too that most of the adults in this one were also on a journey of their own as they confronted the reality of their present life as well as shadows of the past.
I know many readers have loved this one. I wish I had been one of them. This wasn't quite 4 stars for me, but I have to round up because I got all choked up over the ending. The author can drive home the emotion with some intense drama. So 4 stars.
I liked too that most of the adults in this one were also on a journey of their own as they confronted the reality of their present life as well as shadows of the past.
I know many readers have loved this one. I wish I had been one of them. This wasn't quite 4 stars for me, but I have to round up because I got all choked up over the ending. The author can drive home the emotion with some intense drama. So 4 stars.
June 3, 2021
Andrew J. Graff debut is an exciting ride! I went in with no knowledge or research about what I'd be reading. . .and I very nearly put the book down at the beginning, it heading to places that were darker than I generally consider. Very soon, however, there was sunlight shining through those thick trees and a very cool atmosphere was conjured: something between "My Side of the Mountain" and "Light in the Forest", with a light dose of a kind of innocent "Deliverance" if it was toned down to 2 10-year olds, but still navigating a thousand year old river. Bottomline: I'd turned completely. I was engrossed.
Exciting to me to the very end - I don't want to ruin anything for anyone - a book I will be recommending to family and grandkids. Many have said in reviews (read after I was done reading) that they thought this should be rated more "YA" than "General Fiction" - I'm not sure I agree. A YA rating engenders more limitations, self-selecting than leaving it wide open. This isn't just for kids - they are not the only ones who learn something in this book. The adults also have big takes-away. . . .and if I'm honest, if this was YA I probably wouldn't have picked it up. I like YA, but mostly nostalgic-stuff-from-my-day-as-a-YA more than current. (I say that today. I could totally be on the other side of the fence tomorrow.)
A great read. There is one thing though. . . and it was the thing that started me down the dark road at the beginning - there is a lot a water in this book - people falling into the water, going under the water, rapids, under rocks. . .oy. My darling 14-year old brother died on the Snake on a boy scout trip, with my poor father watching - white water canoeing. Our family has triggers when it comes to underwater stories that result in drowning. There's a lot of water in this story. I'm glad I made it through, but if you are triggered. . . beware.
Still 5 shiny stars from this girl. My brother would have LOVED it.
Exciting to me to the very end - I don't want to ruin anything for anyone - a book I will be recommending to family and grandkids. Many have said in reviews (read after I was done reading) that they thought this should be rated more "YA" than "General Fiction" - I'm not sure I agree. A YA rating engenders more limitations, self-selecting than leaving it wide open. This isn't just for kids - they are not the only ones who learn something in this book. The adults also have big takes-away. . . .and if I'm honest, if this was YA I probably wouldn't have picked it up. I like YA, but mostly nostalgic-stuff-from-my-day-as-a-YA more than current. (I say that today. I could totally be on the other side of the fence tomorrow.)
A great read. There is one thing though. . . and it was the thing that started me down the dark road at the beginning - there is a lot a water in this book - people falling into the water, going under the water, rapids, under rocks. . .oy. My darling 14-year old brother died on the Snake on a boy scout trip, with my poor father watching - white water canoeing. Our family has triggers when it comes to underwater stories that result in drowning. There's a lot of water in this story. I'm glad I made it through, but if you are triggered. . . beware.
Still 5 shiny stars from this girl. My brother would have LOVED it.
March 31, 2021
Book Reviewed on
Raft of Stars is a heartwarming story of love, friendship, loyalty, family, and trust wrapped up in an adventure story set in 90s Wisconsin town, Claypot, and the surrounding wilderness.
The plot’s focus is on two best friends, ten-year-olds Fish (Fischer Branson) and Bread (Dale Breadwin). Every summer Fish comes to stay with his Grandpa. His friend Bread lives down the road with his violent father. One night after witnessing Bread getting a beating from his old man, Fish enters the house to help. He picks up a gun and shoots hitting Bread’s father.
The boys scared and confused do the only thing they think they can and after obtaining some items to help them on their journey they enter the woods where a violent river rushes through, four-legged beasts roam, and menacing men prey.
This is a story that took me on a journey via different characters. I was expecting the book to mainly be about the boys and their travels through the woods but it was so much more and the boy’s stories are just one part of the book. We get to meet Fish’s Grandpa, Teddy, who has seen all kinds of atrocities during his time in the military and likes the quieter life but will stop at nothing to find the boys.
We also get to meet the local police officer, Sheriff Cal who feels out of his depth as the only shooting around there is farmers shooting animals. His journey in the book is an awakening about what he truly wants from his life. We also meet Fish’s mother who is grieving and is a very religious woman (Pentecostal) who waits for signs from God before she does anything including looking for the boys.
This is a story of people coming to terms with their choices in life, their pasts, and their futures by coming together to help find the boys. It is a powerful book that had me gripped throughout, especially as the boys got deeper into the woods on their makeshift raft and didn’t understand the dangers that they were in.
Raft of Stars is a beautiful story that was joyous to read and played with my emotions. Each page is easy to imagine with its rich descriptions of the surroundings and characters that have been written superbly and with a lot of consideration to their different plights in life and their ages. It has been well researched and is definitely one book you need to pick up this year.
Raft of Stars is a heartwarming story of love, friendship, loyalty, family, and trust wrapped up in an adventure story set in 90s Wisconsin town, Claypot, and the surrounding wilderness.
The plot’s focus is on two best friends, ten-year-olds Fish (Fischer Branson) and Bread (Dale Breadwin). Every summer Fish comes to stay with his Grandpa. His friend Bread lives down the road with his violent father. One night after witnessing Bread getting a beating from his old man, Fish enters the house to help. He picks up a gun and shoots hitting Bread’s father.
The boys scared and confused do the only thing they think they can and after obtaining some items to help them on their journey they enter the woods where a violent river rushes through, four-legged beasts roam, and menacing men prey.
This is a story that took me on a journey via different characters. I was expecting the book to mainly be about the boys and their travels through the woods but it was so much more and the boy’s stories are just one part of the book. We get to meet Fish’s Grandpa, Teddy, who has seen all kinds of atrocities during his time in the military and likes the quieter life but will stop at nothing to find the boys.
We also get to meet the local police officer, Sheriff Cal who feels out of his depth as the only shooting around there is farmers shooting animals. His journey in the book is an awakening about what he truly wants from his life. We also meet Fish’s mother who is grieving and is a very religious woman (Pentecostal) who waits for signs from God before she does anything including looking for the boys.
This is a story of people coming to terms with their choices in life, their pasts, and their futures by coming together to help find the boys. It is a powerful book that had me gripped throughout, especially as the boys got deeper into the woods on their makeshift raft and didn’t understand the dangers that they were in.
Raft of Stars is a beautiful story that was joyous to read and played with my emotions. Each page is easy to imagine with its rich descriptions of the surroundings and characters that have been written superbly and with a lot of consideration to their different plights in life and their ages. It has been well researched and is definitely one book you need to pick up this year.
November 13, 2020
Move over This Tender Land, you have competition for one of my favorite books of all time.
The Raft of Stars will take you on an adventure through the Northwoods of WI that you can not begin to imagine. It is a coming of age story where two ten-year-old boys, Fish and Bread, share an unbreakable bond of friendship. The boys are not the only ones who are tested as they run away from the murder that Fish committed in order to save Bread from his abusive father. The adults in the story: Sheriff Cal newly arrived from Houston and not at all familiar with anything other than an urban setting, Tiffany a young waitress who has had a rough life and sees little hope for improvement. Miranda, Fish’s mom, who is still mourning the death of Fish’s dad 3 years earlier. And Teddy, Fish’s grandfather, who just wants peace and quiet all show a side of themselves that they did not know existed as they try to find and save the boys. The writing evoked such vivid imagery I could almost feel the mosquitos biting, sense the river tossing the raft back and forth, and hear the explosive force of the rapids. Once can only wish to know boys as profoundly good as Fish and Bread and to experience the kind of friendship that they have. Raft of Stars is sure to become a classic that should be read by the young and adults alike.
The Raft of Stars will take you on an adventure through the Northwoods of WI that you can not begin to imagine. It is a coming of age story where two ten-year-old boys, Fish and Bread, share an unbreakable bond of friendship. The boys are not the only ones who are tested as they run away from the murder that Fish committed in order to save Bread from his abusive father. The adults in the story: Sheriff Cal newly arrived from Houston and not at all familiar with anything other than an urban setting, Tiffany a young waitress who has had a rough life and sees little hope for improvement. Miranda, Fish’s mom, who is still mourning the death of Fish’s dad 3 years earlier. And Teddy, Fish’s grandfather, who just wants peace and quiet all show a side of themselves that they did not know existed as they try to find and save the boys. The writing evoked such vivid imagery I could almost feel the mosquitos biting, sense the river tossing the raft back and forth, and hear the explosive force of the rapids. Once can only wish to know boys as profoundly good as Fish and Bread and to experience the kind of friendship that they have. Raft of Stars is sure to become a classic that should be read by the young and adults alike.
January 11, 2021
What a joy to start off the year with a book this good! When 10-year-old Fish shoots the abusive father of his best friend Bread, the two boys go on the run in a vast forest outside the small northern Wisconsin town of Claypot. Four adults have gone after them: Cal, the sheriff, a recent transplant from Texas; Teddy, Fish's grandpa, a tough Korean War vet and farmer; Maureen, Fish's mother; and Tiffany, a young gas station worker and poet who ends up in the chase almost by accident. The young fugitives have good wilderness skills and build a raft to carry them down a river, away from the sheriff they believe is coming to arrest them. They encounter natural phenomena both beautiful and terrifying on this journey that will change their lives forever.
Part coming-of-age tale, part adventure novel, this book has it all. In alternating points of view that move quickly, Graff creates multidimensional characters who are endearing (the boys) and frustrating (the adults). There are echoes of Mark Twain as the boys float down the river, dizzy with freedom yet afraid to be on their own. Cal is struggling with his decision to leave the Houston police. Teddy and Maureen are enigmatic characters who are each carrying their own burdens of sorrow and loss. Tiffany is looking for love and security. All are united by their desire to save the boys and survive the journey.
This is also a book about nature � its beauty and its power. A Wisconsin native, Graff immerses the reader in the Northwoods, with its towering pines, rugged landscape, and wild animals. The story unfolds almost as an extension of its setting.
Raft of Stars is a moving, hopeful story with broad appeal, in the tradition of William Kent Krueger or Leif Enger. I’ll be recommending it to lots of people this winter!
Part coming-of-age tale, part adventure novel, this book has it all. In alternating points of view that move quickly, Graff creates multidimensional characters who are endearing (the boys) and frustrating (the adults). There are echoes of Mark Twain as the boys float down the river, dizzy with freedom yet afraid to be on their own. Cal is struggling with his decision to leave the Houston police. Teddy and Maureen are enigmatic characters who are each carrying their own burdens of sorrow and loss. Tiffany is looking for love and security. All are united by their desire to save the boys and survive the journey.
This is also a book about nature � its beauty and its power. A Wisconsin native, Graff immerses the reader in the Northwoods, with its towering pines, rugged landscape, and wild animals. The story unfolds almost as an extension of its setting.
Raft of Stars is a moving, hopeful story with broad appeal, in the tradition of William Kent Krueger or Leif Enger. I’ll be recommending it to lots of people this winter!
April 6, 2021
I think I just read a Christian novel. Or maybe it was a YA novel. It could be both, I'm sure there's crossover. I'm not partial to either genre, but I didn't mind "Raft of Stars," even if it's about two ten-year-old boys named . . . yep . . . Fish and Bread who encounter no small number of . . . yep . . . miracles when they run away from their small Wisconsin town after Fish fires a gun at Bread's father to save his friend from a severe beating. But outside of the ridiculous character names, the Christianity isn't heavy-handed: the book is more about how to be a good person and perform good works than it is about convincing readers that everyone who doesn't accept Jesus as their personal savior is going to Hell. The YA part - in addition to the plucky little outdoorsmen, there's a puritanically chaste chaste romance between the county sheriff and gas-station attendant and "cussing" which is mentioned but never spelled out - is pretty vanilla, reminding me of the bland adventure books I ignored as a kid in my quest for novels with dirty bits. But unlike most of the YA I've read this millennium, "Raft of Stars" doesn't feature any Cute Bad Boys or lovelorn teenage vampire zombie wizards, which makes it kind of refreshing. Maybe the best reason to read "Raft of Stars" is the depth and detail of Mr. Graff's description of the northern Wisconsin wilderness. If you like camping, canoeing, hiking, etc etc, this might be a good winter read.
September 1, 2021
This book has a local connection (set in WI) and it is a debut. I was excited to read it and it did not disappoint! Actually, I listened to it. The narrator (Lincoln Hoppe) was very good about changing his voice for different characters and being consistent. Two ten year old friends, Bread (Dale) and Fish (Fischer), get themselves into a fix and run away from home. They are encountering nature and showing great respect for it...I love that. Their interactions, while they are on the lam, take their friendship to a whole new place. There are two other "pairs" in the book. There is Miranda (Fish's mother) and Tiffany (gas station attendant) and while they are chasing down Fish and Bread they become friends and learn about life from one another. The other pair is Sheriff Cal and Teddy (Fish's grandpa; Miranda's father). They, too, are chasing down Fish and Bread. They are kind yet conflicted men. All of these characters were people that I liked and I was rooting for...they were sensitive and strong. Author Richard Russo praised this book and that was enough for me to know that it would be wonderful! The final words of the book were very poignant...how a childhood friendship can buoy and strengthen us for our entire life...so truthful!
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June 2, 2021Raft of Stars is a lyrical and moving story of two young boys on the run after an unplanned accident occurs.
Bread is a local boy living in a small upstate town in Wisconsin, while Fish spends the summers there with his grandfather. Ten years old, they spend the days working on the grandfather’s farm and exploring the world around them. Tired of the abuse Bread's father commits, the boys take matters into their own hands and then flee. Searching for the boys are Fish's grandfather, Cal, the local sheriff, Tiffany who works at the coffee shop and Miranda, Fish's mother. Each person has their own reason why this is personal to them and their stories unfold as the search goes on.
Part nature tale, part childhood drama, the novel explores what people want out of life, what they settle for and what they are willing to do to change. It also reminds the reader of what families are and how we sometimes make our own. The writing is beautiful and descriptive and the characters are well developed. You will come to know all the characters and feel as though you are part of the story. A really well done novel worth reading. � Jennifer C.
Bread is a local boy living in a small upstate town in Wisconsin, while Fish spends the summers there with his grandfather. Ten years old, they spend the days working on the grandfather’s farm and exploring the world around them. Tired of the abuse Bread's father commits, the boys take matters into their own hands and then flee. Searching for the boys are Fish's grandfather, Cal, the local sheriff, Tiffany who works at the coffee shop and Miranda, Fish's mother. Each person has their own reason why this is personal to them and their stories unfold as the search goes on.
Part nature tale, part childhood drama, the novel explores what people want out of life, what they settle for and what they are willing to do to change. It also reminds the reader of what families are and how we sometimes make our own. The writing is beautiful and descriptive and the characters are well developed. You will come to know all the characters and feel as though you are part of the story. A really well done novel worth reading. � Jennifer C.
May 15, 2021
Very meh all the way through. Didn't connect with any of the characters. Never felt the need to keep reading and find out what happens. My only motivation for finishing was so I could get onto the next book on my TBR.
March 30, 2021
I expected more from this book than it delivered. It had potential with a plot aimed at the heart featuring vulnerable young boys, the Northwoods of Wisconsin and uneasy domestic lives. It aimed but missed for me as the writing was uneven. I did finish it, of course, as I could not leave two young boys stranded in harsh wilderness conditions on the run after a shooting. I guess I would classify it as ok for junior high audience. A pull on the heartstrings morality tale.
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