HISTORICAL FICTION - THE RIVER BETWEEN US

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN 0803727356

2. PLOT SUMMARY
A young boy travels to his grandmother’s house in Grand Tower, Illinois by Model T Ford with his father. His grandmother Tilly spends time retelling the story of how two women of color from New Orleans came to live with her family during the beginning of the Civil war in 1861. He learns how his father was raised by four people, the racism, the war, and all of the struggles of that time period.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Peck opens his novel in 1916, with Howard Leland Hutchings narrating the story. Howard tells of his family trip to his grandmother’s house, and is transported back in time to the Civil War where his grandmother Tilly takes over the storytelling. She tells of women of color coming to town, and folk’s reactions to them as well as to the changes that are taking place because of the war. The reader will receive an authentic portrayal of history through the timelines, details of daily life on the farm, the language being spoken, and the wardrobe of the characters. Phrases such as, “She put some starch in my spine” and “Wrinkled like a walnut” give the reader an idea of the language that was used during that particular era in history. Themes of racism, war, and family are all intertwined throughout the entire novel.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCOTT O’DELL AWARD
HORN BOOK starred review: “The harsh realities of war are brutally related in a complex, always surprising plot that resonates on multiple levels.”
KIRKUS starred review: “A rich tale full of magic, mystery, and surprise.”
PUBLISHER”S WEEKLY starred review: “Readers will find themselves turning back to the beginning of the novel to uncover how seamlessly he has laid the foundation for the connections between people and across generations.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Will easily open discussions about the relationships and hardships during the Civil war.
*Other historical fiction books during the civil war:
Reeder, Carolyn. ACROSS THE LINES. ISBN 9780380730735
Stolz, Mary. A BALLAD OF THE CIVIL WAR. ISBN 9780064420884