Rivals on the River

Title: Rivals on the River
Author: Katrina Hoover Lee
Series: Brady Street Boys, book 5
Major Themes: Fishing, Autism, Mississippi River, Iowa
Synopsis: In their quest to locate the doctor who amputated Gary’s leg, the Brady Street Boys head to Iowa, enter a fishing competition, and try to figure out what is fishy about the competition.

I was excited to receive the newest book in the Brady Street Boys series, and started reading it as soon as I could. Yes, I know it’s a children’s book, and I know my children want to hear it, too—but I need to get a review written and up on my blog as soon as possible, right? So, I had the perfect excuse to whiz through Rivals on the River quickly. I’ll go back and read it to the children as soon as we finish another book I’m reading to them, and I’ll be able to say no to any requests for extra chapters, because I already know what’s happening. (Like I’ll always say no…I’m quite a sucker for “just one more chapter.”) Can you tell I enjoyed this book?

Terry, Gary, and Larry are still on their quest to locate the doctor who amputated Gary’s leg when Gary had cancer several years ago. Gary wants to talk to him and find out for sure that it was the necessary thing to happen—but the doctor has disappeared and Gary’s medical records have gotten lost. The boys found a Post Office box address for Dr. Jefferson in Lansing, Iowa, and Uncle Aaron has agreed to drive them out to look for clues to the doctor’s whereabouts. They arrive just in time for the annual fishing contest, and enter, hoping to win enough money to continue the search.

The boys make friends with an autistic boy at the house in which they rent a room, and are surprised to learn that Dr. Jefferson lived here for a short time last year. He even left a forwarding address! However, the address is locked inside a safe, and the combination for the safe is missing. How can the boys get into it? And when something about the fishing competition seems, well, fishy, can they discover the truth? And, who along the way displays this week’s Fruit of the Spirit, gentleness, best? Some of the twists taken by this story are pretty fun!

Please, don’t miss out on reading the Brady Street Boys series. I think Rivals on the River is one of the best yet. I really like the respect the boys have for their parents, and the way they obey and respect Uncle Aaron, who is in charge of them on this trip. They work together well and try to do what is right, and treat others the way they want to be treated. This series is one that I can wholeheartedly recommend for all children, especially boys.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

No warnings!

——————
Related posts:

Trapped in the Tunnel Facing the Fugitive Noise in the Night Tricked on the Tracks