Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

First Descent

by Pam Withers (Goodreads Author)

3.53 of 5 stars 3.53 · rating details · 100 ratings · 34 reviews

Montana-born Rex loves nothing more than to take his kayak out on a river, the faster and more powerful the better. When he gets the opportunity to tackle the well-named El Furioso in southwest Colombia, he is thrilled. He anticipates the river’s challenges, but finds himself in a situation where the real danger is human.

In Colombia, he meets Myriam Calambás, an indígena,...more

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published September 13th 2011 by Tundra Books

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Vampire Stalker by Allison van Diepen

Red Maple 2013

10th out of 10 books — 19 voters

You Just Can't Help It! by Jeff Szpirglas

The Secret Life of Money by Kira Vermond

Red Maple Reading Nominations 2013

17th out of 20 books — 1 voter

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 301)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 19, 2013 Sabreena rated it 2 of 5 stars

First Descent,
By Sabreena

Pam Withers’ latest novel The First Descent is an exciting action and adventure novel; published in 2011, with Tundra Books. Dealing with extreme sports and recreation this novel inspires young male readers to be more adventurous, outgoing, and to remain fit. Not only males, but stimulates young readers in general to never let anything get between them and their dreams, but to not go overboard with one plan even if it means ruining their claim to fame, as its outcome c...more First Descent,
By Sabreena

Pam Withers’ latest novel The First Descent is an exciting action and adventure novel; published in 2011, with Tundra Books. Dealing with extreme sports and recreation this novel inspires young male readers to be more adventurous, outgoing, and to remain fit. Not only males, but stimulates young readers in general to never let anything get between them and their dreams, but to not go overboard with one plan even if it means ruining their claim to fame, as its outcome can be pretty hazardous at times.

At the age of 17, Rex Scruggs is already a world renowned champion kayaker. Now he’s set his eyes on the hazardous Colombian river El Furioso; and has set his mind on claiming it as his own first descent. Only once before as the mighty Furioso been challenged and that by Rex’s grandfather, the legendary Malcolm Scruggs and his companions. Determine to carry on the family legacy and to prove his worth to his idol grandfather, Rex plans to leave for Columbia with his own two companions to claim the Furioso with the help of an Indigenas girl named Myriam Calambas.

Withers flips through emotions as people flip through a magazine; from frustration, to arrogance, to bravado, to affection, to humility. In some cases, varying emotions can cause the readers lack of concentration and interest; but in this, changing emotions just adds to that “edge of your seat” effect. Most of the characters such as the protagonists and antagonists are all dynamic characters; some starting out as superficial and ending out as concerned, some starting out as prejudice and ending up as open minded and more accepting. This novel opens up our minds to culture difficulties and world social problems that do not make news but should be known globally.

Overall, Pam Withers’ First Descent has succeeded in being a time worthy novel, and is suited for all ages, but specifically young readers. Internationally the average rating of this novel is a remarkable 4 (which indicates that it’s worth your time). Personally, I believe that Pam Withers could have put more work into her novel. Meaning; it seems as if she worked hard, and then just gave up and ended her novel abruptly, by ending it without the explanation that was needed. All in all, The First Descent like all books it does has it faults but is an enjoyable novel overall.
Written by Sabreena
(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 19, 2013 Khwahish rated it 4 of 5 stars

First Descent by Pam Withers
Done By: Khwahish

Pam Withers’ new novel, First Descent, has captivated readers everywhere into the amazing world of kayaking and a boy whose dream was to keep up his family’s legacy. This book was chosen to be one of the many nominees of the Red Maple Reading program of 2013; with high hopes that it will make it out as this years winner!

At the age of 17, the time comes when many teens are set on thinking about their prosperous future and getting into a good universi...more First Descent by Pam Withers
Done By: Khwahish

Pam Withers’ new novel, First Descent, has captivated readers everywhere into the amazing world of kayaking and a boy whose dream was to keep up his family’s legacy. This book was chosen to be one of the many nominees of the Red Maple Reading program of 2013; with high hopes that it will make it out as this years winner!

At the age of 17, the time comes when many teens are set on thinking about their prosperous future and getting into a good university or college. But for Rex Scruggs, that’s not the case. Rex is boy who dreams of only one thing; to do a first descent of the terrifying and extremely dangerous El Furioso River, and finish his grandfather’s age old kayaking dream. After getting his required sponsors, he sets off to Columbia and hires a beautiful 17 year old indígena guide, Myriam Calámbas, whose grandmother had helped Rex’s grandfather, the legendary and world-renown, Malcolm Scruggs.
Myriam is an aspiring and dedicated English learner who hopes to be a reporter to inform the world about the military and rights issues that are plaguing her country. Unfortunately, her family is too poor to support this decision and they refuse to let her go to the big city in Columbia to achieve her long desired education.
When Rex and Myriam’s worlds clash, something surprising and very unsettling unravels; until it has them and all the people they know trapped.
Pam Withers writes yet another thrilling novel with action, suspense, love, a boy’s dream to hold his family legacy and a girl’s dream to be set free.

First Descent was a great and riveting book that I could not put down! The suspense in some parts of this book were so intense, that it seemed to pull me right in, as if I was standing right in the scene! One of the many things that put me at the edge-of-my-seat were, “They came ever close. She opened one eye and could see the muzzle of a gun hanging from a soldier mere feet away. From the leather lace-up boot , she guessed he was a paramilitary. She held her breath.” Isn’t really cliffhanging?
One of the two things that were really weak and I didn’t like about the book were the confusing descriptions in some parts like, “The right bank was high and overhung, but a decent -sized eddy presented itself beneath an overhanging cliff that featured a canopy of roots. I plotted a route to that eddy, figuring I might even be able to lift and stash my kayak in the tangle of roots above it, a tangle that formed a sort of “cage” beneath the overhang’s ceiling of dirt.” That small paragraph was one of the few that I was puzzled about and could not picture in my head very well.
The second thing that I thought was not very well done in the book was the descriptions of kayaking terms like “eddy” and “spraydeck”. There were various places in the book that Pam Withers used the word “eddy” just like the small paragraph that I typed up above.

Overall, this was a great book that I would give 4 stars; which I think is definitely worth reading. You will fly through this book without the thought of putting it down. This new young adult novel is perfect for anyone with the love of extreme sports. I hope this book appeals to you just as it did for me!
(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Dec 02, 2011 Nicola rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reason for Reading: The plot sounded exciting and I am a fan of this publisher, trusting their book selection when I haven't heard of the author before.

Excellent. A superb adventure story that should especially touch reluctant male teen readers. This is an exciting rush of adrenaline from start to finish. 17-year-old Rex is an expert whitewater kayaker taking after his grandfather who raised him along with his mother. His grandfather was well-known in his day for making many first descents down...more

like · see review

Aug 28, 2011 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pam Withers sets the pace for her latest novel, “First Descent” (Tundra Books, 2011), with the opening sentence: “When the shot rang out, I leapt from my bed, lifted a corner of the bedroom curtain, and looked down on the river bend.” (It’s not what you think.)
At the age of seventeen, Rex Scruggs is already a world champion kayaker. Now, he is determined to descend the Furioso, a Columbian river that lives up to its name. Only one man has ever attempted to kayak the Furioso: his legendary (and...more Pam Withers sets the pace for her latest novel, “First Descent” (Tundra Books, 2011), with the opening sentence: “When the shot rang out, I leapt from my bed, lifted a corner of the bedroom curtain, and looked down on the river bend.” (It’s not what you think.)
At the age of seventeen, Rex Scruggs is already a world champion kayaker. Now, he is determined to descend the Furioso, a Columbian river that lives up to its name. Only one man has ever attempted to kayak the Furioso: his legendary (and thoroughly unpleasant) grandfather, Malcolm Scruggs. This is Rex’s chance to carry on the family legacy—and prove his worth to the gruff old man. His grandfather’s one request was that Rex find the Calambás family: a starving daughter, so the story went, had given him a necklace in return for an avocado sandwich. The necklace has become Rex’s good luck charm.
Once in Columbia, Rex meets the young woman who will be his guide along the river, Myriam Calambás, an indigenous Columbian who has lived along El Furioso her entire life. At this point, you may have deduced that Myriam has some connection to the necklace, but it’s not as far-fetched as you might imagine. In Myriam’s chapters, which more or less alternate with Rex’s, we learn that her community is beset both by the guerillas, who supposedly fight for the poor, and the paramilitary soldiers, hired by the rich landowners to fight the guerillas. Myriam dreams of attending college and becoming a journalist so that she can make others aware of the plight of her people.
Rex, who in many ways is like his grandfather—narcissistic, dismissive of others, and over-confident—soon learns that the real danger in this new world is not the river, but the guerillas and paramilitaries. Can he achieve first descent, and do right by the people he has come to care for?
Pam Withers is a former whitewater kayak instructor and raft guide, and her expertise shows. I’m not a kayaker, but the book’s whitewater passages are so full of strategy, muscle, and energy that you can almost feel the water’s spray as you hurtle down the page. .
In her effort to familiarize readers with Columbian life and culture, Withers sometimes explains the obvious. Most American readers, after all, will not need to be told that empanadas are “meat and cheese pastries.” But the occasional authorial intrusions are a minor quibble with what is otherwise a compellingly readable tale of courage, sacrifice, and adventure.

I received an advance review copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewer program. This review was originally published in the News-Gazette on Sunday, August 28, 2011.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Nov 30, 2012 Randy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, canadian-author, nov12, red-maple

Rex heads for Columbia to be the first to kayak down the infamous El Furioso River. The river that thwarted his famous grandfather's attempts is his now, for the taking. When he arrives in Columbia he discovers that getting down the river will be more than he bargained for. There is the ongoing conflict between the guerilla soldiers and the para-military soldiers. There is the situation with the indigenous people who are fighting to survive. And of course, what would a YA book be without a hint...more

like · see review

Jan 23, 2013 Nigarsan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, mystery, february2013, red-maple-2013

First Descent by Pam Withers (Red Maple 2012-2013)
This book is about a young boy named Rex who is following his grandfather's dream of kayaking one of the world's unconquered wild rivers,El Furioso in Colombia,South America.With some help from friends in Brazil and a tour guide who knows everything about this river,he adventures to soon be the first to conquered it.Did you know that this river is somewhat real in our modern life?But,he faces trouble when the local village that the tour guide c...more

like · see review

Jan 05, 2012 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, action-adventure, psc-reviews, realistic-fiction, war, young-adult

Rex is a white water kayaker, just like his grandfather. However, his grandfather is famous for making the first descents down numerous rivers while Rex hasn't made any yet. There is one river in Columbia that stymied his grandpa and Rex is determined to make it his own success story and prove to himself and his grandfather that he, too, is capable of such feats. Rex sets off to what he thinks will just be a white-water adventure, but he ends up in the middle of a war-torn area with politics tha...more

like · see review

Oct 29, 2011 Naomi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Rex , a young kayaker from Alberta travels to Columbia to make his first descent kayaking down the El Furioso river to the Magdalena River. He hires a young girl Myriam as his guide. She comes from a family his grandfather used when he tried to kayak down the Magdalena river. Myriam Calambas is an indigena who wants to leave her country and become a reporter to expose how their people are treated. With Rex's help and skills as a kayaker he helps Alberto,a young guerilla and Myriam escape the par...more

like · see review

Nov 25, 2011 Martha rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read this book right after reading Now is the Time for Running and I thought it would never end. The main character does grow through the course of the book and becomes less self-involved, thank goodness. By the end I felt some compassion for him.
This story is told in two voices, one the self-involved American boy, the other, an Indigena girl from Columbia. Her story was very interesting.
My sister used to kayak and she wanted me to try it. I did but I really love the body surfing better. Since...more

like · see review

Apr 18, 2012 Cindyloo rated it 2 of 5 stars

Some things just didn't click in this story. For one thing, we are told that Rex worships his grandfather, but there is no scene in which I see that connection. In fact, there are so many ways in which Rex doesn't agree with his grandfather that being told Rex adores him is the only way I know it. The math didn't work either. If Rex is 17 and his mother was 17 when he was born then she was born 34 years ago, but later in the story we are told that Gramps was expecting her at the time he was on C...more

like · see review

Dec 19, 2012 OhWell rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: red-maple-fiction-2013

Main annoyances:

1. The timeline: completely off. Rex is seventeen. His mother was seventeen when she had him, so she is thirty four. Her father returned from Colombia just before she was born, so he was there thirty four (34) years ago. However, Rex makes two references to the fact that his grandfather's trip to Colombia was sixty (60) years ago. Same mistake with Abuela. She was seventeen when she met Rex's grandfather and had his child. That would have to make her fifty one (34 + 17) when the...more

like · see review

Jul 29, 2012 Handd51 added it

This is an unusual sports adventure that reminds me of Will Hobbs books. Main character Rex is a powerful world-class competitor in white water kayak who is determined to accomplish a first descent of a fictional Colombian river that his grandfather attempted in his youth. Rex is a little headstrong and unwilling to listen to or observe caution on most any front, and finds himself in deep in a country with uncertain politics that threaten his safety. There is a love interest, with a surprise twi...more

like · see review

Mar 22, 2012 Jenn rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the one with the main character who just made me want to reach out and smack him upside the head. Honestly, Rex was highly irritating to me for a good portion of this book. For someone so bright and supposedly well-traveled, he was pretty ignorant about the situation between the paramilitary and guerrilla organizations, and the dangers inherent to the First Nations people. I loved the character of Myriam as she struggled between helping her family and village and wanting to go away to un...more

like · see review

Jan 06, 2013 Sunshine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: red-maple-2013

A good book. Nothing that touched me really emotionally honestly. I dont usually like books based on real life events etc. But this book wasnt bad. The plot was interesting I admit. At times it was confusing as it kept changing POV's. It was a slower paced book in my opinion but neber the less good. I liked the chemistry between the two of them, and the shock of the real relationship between them I was not expecting. It had more of a bittersweet ending considering they probably would never see e...more

like · see review

Apr 13, 2013 Mansi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-50-book-challenge

What I loved about this book was the main character Rex had the commitment to go kayaking on the El Furioso, a river rapid that his grandfather once made halfway across. Now he hopes to take on after his grandfather and finish it off for him. But since then things have changed. The people that lived there changed, and now his life is on the line.

What I really didn't like about this book was the fact that Rex changed himself to impress the 'love of his life' Myriam. You should never change yourse...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Chenny Wu rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: red-maple-books-2013, adventure, february-2013

I feel like in my life, I have never read a book so boring. In my opinion, nothing happens in this book. I find it really boring especially when it talks about the conflicts between Indigena and the guerillas, to me that stuff is really boring and not really worth reading or I would've picked up a history book. And nothing exciting ever happens, like they go try to accomplish the river and then the other 2 boys gives up halfway, Rex likes Myriam but she's technically with Alberto. I find nothing...more

like · see review

Oct 19, 2011 Elizabeth B rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book has a great plot line and I am a sucker for adventure novels. Anything that helps youth travel somewhere new, face new experiences and/or locales is a wondrful addition to our small town library collection. Books, after all, can take us wherever we want to go, and this book is a prime example. I loved the background descriptions, the chosen setting and the "journey" throughout the book. Rex, the main character, was arrogant and almost impossible to like at the story's beginning but thi...more

like · see review

Dec 09, 2012 Sylvia McNicoll rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not being a kayaker, I was amazed at the high risks taken and survived by the main character. I always find adrenalin seeking junkies a tad selfish when they visit third world countries for their hits so I enjoyed the way the main character grew and developed empathy for the indigenous people. Loved the escape segment. Sad how "man's inhumanity to man" still provides the greater terror over rapids and whirlpools. Intense read.

like · see review

Dec 20, 2012 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rex wants nothing more than to out do his grandfather with a First Descent of the El Furioso River in Columbia. His bigoted opinions reflect his grandfathers until he experiences the danger of the Columbian Rivers, the guerrillas and the paramilitary attacks on the indigen people.

Although slow to start the pace quickens as the imminent descent of the river develops more dangers. Some concern may exist regarding the bias against first nations and indigen populations. Rex and Myriam's escape rings...more

like · see review

Dec 20, 2012 Paula rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good adventure! Rex is a likable seventeen-year-old obsessed with making a first descent on a killer river in Columbia. Along the way he learns more about himself than he bargained on under increasingly dangerous conditions. The extreme kayaking sequences are fun. Myriam, Rex's indigena guide, is full of surprises. And Rex wishes she'd surprise him with a smile. Or a kiss.

like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Yonina rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought this was a very cool book.It gave me a little more understanding on what a first desent really was and was filled with detailed charaters.I thought it was really funny how Rex was showing his abs to Myriam.This is a good book to sit down with a cup of tea with.Overall great book

like · see review

Feb 20, 2013 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

i thought this was a good book. i liked the plot and how they made everything connected. but it sometimes made me confused which threw me off. but other than that its a good book.i thought that this book was good enough for me to read it again. but i would change some things in the book but i still thought it was a great and well thoughted out book.

like · see review

Jul 18, 2011 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Won this on a First Reads Giveaway!

*UPDATE: This is a young adult book and was written as such. I think it is an excellent read for children of that age. For an adult, you want a little more in depth into the issues it discusses and character development, but it wasn't written for an adult so you really can't ask for more than you got. It was a quick paced and interesting story. It kept you engaged and interested in what was happening.
SPOILER: I did enjoy reading it, although I found the whole...more

like · see review

Jan 25, 2013 Jordan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Great adventure book!The main character Rex a seventeen year old boy who is an enthusiastic kayaker trying to Finnish what his grandfather started, kayaking a river in Columbia.There was an interesting twist at the end.This a great book and very interesting and suspenseful.

like · see review

Apr 25, 2013 Stone He rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: redmaple13, realistic-fiction, adventure, apr13

This story is about a 17 year old boy named Rex trying to conquer the El Furiso rapids that his grandfather had left of. On his way he encounters Myriam, a girl from a village in the mountain who had a dream to going into university. But in that area of where Rex was going, there was a non-stop conflict between the paramilitary and the guerrilla and the land was filled with land mines. Rex had travel companions but they left early so that Rex had to go in the rapids by himself which was not what...more

like · see review

Jan 30, 2013 Celina rated it 3 of 5 stars

it was intresting. Near the end it felt like it went by to fast. It was almost as the author just wanted to finish the story. it could of had more detail at some points. It was a good adventure story though. If you like adventure stories I'd recomend it.

like · see review

Nov 08, 2011 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This was one of those unusual action-adventure books for teens that contains a lot: history, geography, love story, current politics, sports. I enjoyed the fast pace and especially the twist about the people the young boy meets...

like · see review

Feb 22, 2013 Shelby rated it 3 of 5 stars

i really liked this book it has a lot of information that i didn't already know. I loved the idea of First descent and if i had the guts i would go on one myself.This book is not a waste of time and in my opinon great book.

like · see review

Oct 21, 2012 Rachel Seigel rated it 3 of 5 stars

The story had a lot of potential, but the author tried to do too much. The material about the political strife in Columbia took away from the story, and wasn't fleshed out enough to be useful. The elements about the first descent are what will grab kids here.

like · see review

Aug 18, 2011 Loony Gryphon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, owned-books, read-non-manga, read-post-graduation

I got this through Goodreads' First Reads. I don't usually read first-person pov stories, but I am finding myself slowly being sucked into the story. I'm only a few chapters in, but I am thoroughly enjoying each page.
Now that I've finished the novel, I can safely say that after the first 50 or so pages that it took to get used to the first-person pov that it is primarily written in, I was quickly entranced by the story and finished reading it within four hours.
Fast-paced with twists and turns th...more

1 like · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (2)

Genres

Adventure

8 users

Young Adult

7 users

Realistic Fiction

2 users

Action

2 users

See top shelves...

About Pam Withers

Pam Withers has written 13 sports and adventure novels for teens, all bestsellers and three nominated for awards, plus a biography. Her work includes the Take it to the Extreme series and three other high-action novels. Pam lives in Vancouver, Canada, spends up to a week per month in Seattle, and tours North America extensively.

More about Pam Withers...

Books by Pam Withers

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About First Descent

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: First Descent
avg rating	preview: First Descent Goodreads rating: 3.53 (100 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10422467-first-descent?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344220331l/10422467.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10422467-first-descent?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]First Descent by Pam Withers[/url]

First Descent

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (2)

Genres

About Pam Withers

Books by Pam Withers

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About First Descent

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)