Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards

Told through multiple narrators, this book tells the story of how one flood, on one day, changed the course of people’s lives forever.

The character that is introduced first and whose voice we hear most is Celestia. She comes from a successful family yet finds herself in love with another voice we hear, Peter, a working boy at South Fork Fishing and hunting club. This is where several of the high socialites go during the summer. Celestia’s decision concerning this relationship will either tear her family apart, or draw them closer together.

I had never even heard of the Johnstown Flood prior to reading this novel. Since I love learning about history, that was a welcome bonus.

Three Rivers Rising reads very quickly since it is written in poems. I’ve only read one other book written this way. The more I read books written in such a way, the more I like them. Richard’s writing in this book is clear, and the imagery is great. It is so easy to imagine how everything happened. The new voices in this story are added in such a way that makes the stories flow together evenly, like two rivers joining.

This book will be released on April 13, 2010 and was reviewed as part of One ARC Tours.

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