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yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Alastair and Fiona used to be friends when they were younger. When their parents drifted apart, so did they. Now Fiona has turned up on Alastair's doorstep, asking him to write her biography. She tells him a fantastic story, about traveling to the land of Aquavania, where stories are born, and about the Riverman who has taken the other children and wants to steal her soul. Is Fiona crazy, or is she in real danger? As Alastair works his way through the layers of her story, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her. How can he figure out what is real? The first of new trilogy. Recommended for grades 5 - 8.
crizzle's review against another edition
3.0
I wouldn’t recommend this as middle grade fiction but as young adult, even though the protagonist is 12 years old. There is violence and mild sexual references... not to mention it’s creepy and would scare my 11 year old. This is the first in a series and unless it’s Harry Potter, I have very little patience for series so I won’t go on, although I’m curious about what happens. Those who love YA series with a touch of fantasy & the paranormal will like this one. (Here’s looking at you, Barry and Linzaloo!)
shogins's review against another edition
4.0
This is an original, interesting book that I will be thinking about for a while, but it definitely reads YA, not middle grade, to me.
abookdork's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a bit to get into "The Riverman" it is definitely a book that makes you feel uneasy. I didn't really get into the story until about halfway through. I really enjoyed the second half of the book but the ending left me confused.
I do not plan on reading the other books in "The Riverman Trilogy" but maybe my confusion will lead to intrigue.
I do not plan on reading the other books in "The Riverman Trilogy" but maybe my confusion will lead to intrigue.
rouver's review against another edition
2.0
This was a frustrating story. It clearly is meant for young adults, since the main character is a 12 year old boy, but the content was more mature than what I would want my daughters exposed to. The language & thought processes were more of a 30 year old. I know that people are cruel and mean, that boys can be sexual predators, but I don't want to have my kids reading those sorts of stories simply for entertainment purposes. This book wasn't about teaching morals or having empathy for others.
The story is about kids who enter into a magical world where all their dreams come true, except the true wishes of the heart; friendship, knowledge, love, acceptance. Each child's world is separated from the others, but kids can cross the barriers with some effort. Hunting the children through this world is a mysterious monster named The Riverman. After he sucks the soul from the child, they go missing in the real world & are never seen again.
Alistair learns about this world from a friend of his, Fiona. She is fearing for her life and worries the Riverman will take her next. Also featured in the story is Alistair's neighbor Charlie, and his older brother Kyle. Although Charlie is cruel, mocks girls for their looks or weight and makes weird sexual comments about the girls in his class, the book makes it clear that the reason his classmates don't like him is because he let his older brother's cool tree house fall into disrepair.
The book has themes of teen suicide, rape, teen pregnancy (one of the older teens specifically mentions she was pregnant at 14, but is presented as a role model), and suggests that it's a betrayal to protect someone by revealing their secrets.
"[Kyle] was a badass of the old mold. Wore a cigarette behind his ear, carried a butterfly knife, kept his van stocked with a stack of blankets and a candle in a jar and a jug of something sweet and alcoholic to ease things in his direction."
It was written in 2014, but was set in 1989. The story would be great, if it were for high school kids and adults. But with a 12 yr old main character? ...the themes didn't make sense for that age.
The story is about kids who enter into a magical world where all their dreams come true, except the true wishes of the heart; friendship, knowledge, love, acceptance. Each child's world is separated from the others, but kids can cross the barriers with some effort. Hunting the children through this world is a mysterious monster named The Riverman. After he sucks the soul from the child, they go missing in the real world & are never seen again.
Alistair learns about this world from a friend of his, Fiona. She is fearing for her life and worries the Riverman will take her next. Also featured in the story is Alistair's neighbor Charlie, and his older brother Kyle. Although Charlie is cruel, mocks girls for their looks or weight and makes weird sexual comments about the girls in his class, the book makes it clear that the reason his classmates don't like him is because he let his older brother's cool tree house fall into disrepair.
The book has themes of teen suicide, rape, teen pregnancy (one of the older teens specifically mentions she was pregnant at 14, but is presented as a role model), and suggests that it's a betrayal to protect someone by revealing their secrets.
"[Kyle] was a badass of the old mold. Wore a cigarette behind his ear, carried a butterfly knife, kept his van stocked with a stack of blankets and a candle in a jar and a jug of something sweet and alcoholic to ease things in his direction."
It was written in 2014, but was set in 1989. The story would be great, if it were for high school kids and adults. But with a 12 yr old main character? ...the themes didn't make sense for that age.
shinysquares's review against another edition
5.0
I read this so long ago, but I still think about this series all the time.
stenaros's review against another edition
1.0
Read for Librarian Book Group
This had a great opening chapter and then went downhill from there. I had problems with the plot, with the alternate world, with the characters. Probably good for middle school readers who like semi-creepy science fiction. There's a boy main character.
This had a great opening chapter and then went downhill from there. I had problems with the plot, with the alternate world, with the characters. Probably good for middle school readers who like semi-creepy science fiction. There's a boy main character.
quietjenn's review against another edition
5.0
4 1/2? I had quibbles and I'm just learning here that it's the first book of a trilogy, which sort of bums me out. Because I like kinda-weird-with-ambiguous-ending and I suppose a lot of that ambiguity is going to be dissipated with two more books. But, whatever. It's very strong and meaty and compelling and thorny and, yes, dark. But not in the way I expected it to be, so hooray for that. (I like being surprised and having my expectations subverted. It doesn't happen enough.)
s_hay's review against another edition
4.0
I am glad I saw that this is part of a trilogy as I am now feeling better about the ending of this book. I had really enjoyed until the ending left me horribly confused. So, now I am just a bit annoyed it is not a stand alone. Overall I liked it, it is weird and different, and leaves the reader questioning everything. The age range is 10-14, but I would definitely skew this higher. Several references to drugs, sex, and distraught teens with guns.