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Accross the Wide River

by Stephanie Reed (Goodreads Author)

3.97 · rating details · 32 ratings · 16 reviews

The red brick home of Rev. John Rankin is a beacon--the first northern stop on the Underground Railroad. Across the Ohio River in Kentucky, every slave knows to look for it. They have heard that if they reach that house, they will never be captured. "Across the Wide River" tells the true story of the selfless sacrifices one Christian family made to help runaway s...more

Paperback, 176 pages

Published November 25th 2004 by Kregel Publications

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Dec 29, 2011

Lisa Johnson rated it

I just finished reading a wonderful novel set prior to the beginning of the Civil War. This novel though is very unique because it is a story about real people who dared to live by faith in Jesus Christ in a way that could have cost them their very lives. The author did excellent research on a family by the name of Rankin, who served their Lord by saving at least 2000 lives. They risked their lives not for just anyone, but those who escaped slavery to be free. Wonder how?
Well, this fam...more

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Aug 26, 2011

Ann Saylor rated it

Across the Wide River is based on the true story of the Rankin family living along the Ohio River in the 1820s during the heightening tensions between slave owners and abolitionists. It’s the story of a young boy’s journey to free slaves by helping them on the Underground Railway. It gives readers a really good feel for the emotional, economical, spiritual and political debate around slavery. It is a powerful story of faith and courage, as the Rankin family sacrifices to do what is right and ...more

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Aug 19, 2011

Michele rated it

This is a story of the Rankin family (based on a real family and real events in history) and the important role they played in the pre-civil war underground railroad. Their brick house is the first stop on the northern side of the underground railroad just across Kentucky and the Ohio river into Ohio. Slaves from Kentucky would flee to Ohio seeking freedom and safety. The Rankin family helped slaves escape to the north.

In this story we meet young Lowry when he is nine years of age...more

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Aug 18, 2011

Molly rated it

Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Molly by: Kregel Books

I'm a huge historical fan. I love a good novel that captures the images, sites and sounds of days gone by. Stephanie Reed capture all these and so much more in her novel. I was instantly taken to back to a time and a place when freedom didn't always come free. While written to be a fiction novel, it's based on a real family and home. The love of God shines through each word, each page, each character.

The Rankin family. Wow. I admire them. They are family who risked their lives, thei...more

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Aug 18, 2011

Victor Gentile rated it

Stephanie Reed in her new book, "Across The Wide River" published by Kregel Publications takes us to Kentucky in the 1800's.

When I was in school one of the subjects that I excelled at was History. I enjoy learning about what was going on and I especially like American History. European History was always over there but American History was here and somehow seemed more alive. "Across The Wide River" is a fictionalized account of a real family in the 1800's living ...moreStephanie Reed in her new book, "Across The Wide River" published by Kregel Publications takes us to Kentucky in the 1800's.

When I was in school one of the subjects that I excelled at was History. I enjoy learning about what was going on and I especially like American History. European History was always over there but American History was here and somehow seemed more alive. "Across The Wide River" is a fictionalized account of a real family in the 1800's living in Kentucky and the actions they took against slavery.

Lowry Rankin starts off as a young boy learning from his preacher father about life and the differences between the whites and the blacks, something he doesn't really understand. During the course of the book he ages and he finds out lots about slavery, slave owners, the men that tracked the escaped slaves and the things they would do to the re-captured slave. In an effort to help these slaves reach freedom Lowry and his family set up their home as a stop on The Underground Railroad.

Stephanie Reed has written compelling history that can reach a wide audience at different levels. She brings to life a period in time through sights, smells and a great cast of characters. Sometimes we forget what actually happened or it was glossed over in class but "Across The Wide River" shows us the way things actually were. Ms. Reed has given us a book about history and just how precious freedom truly is. I highly recommend it.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Aug 17, 2011

Kat rated it

Shelves: christian-fiction, christian-historical-fiction, christian-inspirational-fiction, historical-fiction

Your freedom. How often do you think about it? Do you take it for granted? Are you willing to fight for it?

Lowry Rankin's family have been freedom fighters for quite some time. They are living in the midst of the war against slavery. While others think it's their God-given right to own one, the Rankin family is willing to risk their own lives to help slaves find freedom in whatever states in the US and Canada are willing to treat men as equals.

John Rankin is a minister. A min...moreYour freedom. How often do you think about it? Do you take it for granted? Are you willing to fight for it?

Lowry Rankin's family have been freedom fighters for quite some time. They are living in the midst of the war against slavery. While others think it's their God-given right to own one, the Rankin family is willing to risk their own lives to help slaves find freedom in whatever states in the US and Canada are willing to treat men as equals.

John Rankin is a minister. A minister that believes that we should treat all men as the Bible tells us to and isn't afraid to teach about it in his church. However he can't be all places at the same time, and when a childhood friend is whipped to the point of death, the family believes its time to move from Kentucky to Ohio and begin over again. There are too many people that believe that there is nothing wrong with owning a slave, while he believes they deserve the same freedoms his family does.

The Rankin's become one of the first families to use their home as a station for the Underground Movement. Just when Lowry thinks that his life has no point and school is unnecessary, his father has him help move men in the middle of the night to the next safe house. When a tortured and beaten slave by the name of David tells him during his rescue that he will forever remember Lowry, suddenly he feels a different calling in his life.

I received Across The Wide River by Stephanie Reed compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review and in the process learned about a true story in the process. This book just isn't a story about the Underground Railroad movement but about the story of the Rankin family and their role as abolitionists at the time. They too had much to fear if people found out they were helping slaves to freedom. She spent years researching the material for this book and in the process we can see just how difficult this time in history was for everyone involved.

This book is founded on the faith of Jesus Christ that is evident by the way they shared God with those that they helped along their journey to freedom. I rate this book a moving 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it!(less)

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Aug 17, 2011

Brenda Casto rated it

Across The Wide River is based on the Rankin family, a family who lived in Ohio that did their part to ensure that slaves made it safely to freedom.

We are introduced to young Lowry Rankin at the age of nine. He is content living in Kentucky and can't understand why his abolitionist preaching father would want to move to Ohio, but all that changes when Lowry witnesses his best friend Sherwood, a slave, being brutally beaten. He decides he can't wait to live in Ohio,a free state so that...moreAcross The Wide River is based on the Rankin family, a family who lived in Ohio that did their part to ensure that slaves made it safely to freedom.

We are introduced to young Lowry Rankin at the age of nine. He is content living in Kentucky and can't understand why his abolitionist preaching father would want to move to Ohio, but all that changes when Lowry witnesses his best friend Sherwood, a slave, being brutally beaten. He decides he can't wait to live in Ohio,a free state so that he will never have to see anyone suffer the way his friend Sherwood did. His first day of school in Ohio has him in a fight with a bully who makes fun of Lowry's Ky accent, causing Lowry to become self conscious and deciding to only speak when spoken to. He is rescued from the fight by Amanda Kaphart, and quickly becomes smitten with her. Lowry quickly is labeled as shy, so his father decides to give him some responsibility to help bolster his confidence. The responsibility is helping in the "family business" of the Underground Railroad. Lowry's father also hopes that perhaps Lowry will become a preacher as well, but that's the last thing that Lowry wants to do.Will Lowry follow in his fathers footsteps, and will he continue his work with the Underground Railroad?
I felt as if this was a coming of age story for young Lowry Rankin. We follow his life from the age of nine until he hits his twenties. Lowry was a young man that was so easy to connect with. He dealt with self esteem issues often wondering whether what he did really mattered, but many around him envied him for doing what he believed in. He was a brave young man that didn't realize just how brave he was. I loved the fact that he was rescued from a bully by a girl, and fell in love with that girl.

Based on the real life family of the Rankin's for me this book was easy to connect with because it takes place in areas that I am totally familiar with. It was easy to see that the author did her research with the story, and did an amazing job of bringing a tumultuous time in history to life inside the pages of this story. I am always in awe of the people who bravely did the right things to help slaves have a chance for freedom regardless of the danger of being caught. While I had never heard of the Rankin family before reading this book, I am certain I will never forget him or his remarkable family.
A must read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction based on actual fact set during the days preceding the Civil War.
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Aug 17, 2011

Karla rated it

I have recently finished reading "Across the Wide River" by Stephanie Reed and was immediately swept away. The story follows the Rankin family as they aid in the underground escape of slaves during the mid to late 1800's. I was captivated by their bravery as well as the historical background of the treatment of human beings.

It is also a coming-of-age story as the oldest son, Lowry, must decide to continue down the path his father has chosen as a well spoken anti-slavery minis...more

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Aug 15, 2011

Jori rated it

I received a copy of ACROSS THE WIDE RIVER by Stephanie Reed from Kregel Publications. It is an historic novel for teenagers, about the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. I love historical fiction and this book didn’t fail to live up to my expectations. What is better, it is based on a true story. The Rankin family really existed.
The story centers on Lowry Rankin. He begins as a child, but quickly matures. His family leaves Kentucky to live in Ohio, where they participate as...more

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Aug 19, 2011

Renee rated it

At the tender age of eight, Lowry Rankin experiences the horror of slavery firsthand when he witnesses the beating of his best friend by a stranger who hates abolitionists like Lowry’s father John Rankin. He hadn’t known such cruelty existed in the world and wants only to run far away from it. Soon after that event, his father moves their family to Ripley, Ohio. However, instead of making his escape, Lowry discovers that he has landed right in the middle of the conflict—because his new home is ...moreAt the tender age of eight, Lowry Rankin experiences the horror of slavery firsthand when he witnesses the beating of his best friend by a stranger who hates abolitionists like Lowry’s father John Rankin. He hadn’t known such cruelty existed in the world and wants only to run far away from it. Soon after that event, his father moves their family to Ripley, Ohio. However, instead of making his escape, Lowry discovers that he has landed right in the middle of the conflict—because his new home is an important stop along the Underground Railroad.

Against this abolitionist backdrop, Lowry’s entire coming of age story plays out–his boyhood struggles with shyness, bullies, and first love, his increasing awareness of the far-reaching evils of slavery, his stubborn refusal to follow in his father’s footsteps, and his realization that God has been preparing him for a special ministry all along.

Across the Wide River by Stephanie Reed is geared toward young readers and is simply written enough to appeal to a wide age range. The book immerses you in the time period as it leads you from one of Lowry’s adventures to another. The author creates an absorbing picture of how a faith-filled family would deal with the dangers, successes, and responsibilities of working at an abolitionist hot spot.

I believe God puts each one of us in a certain place and time period in order to carry out His work. I appreciate how the Rankin family embraced their purpose and saved so many lives. Thanks to author Stephanie Reed for sharing their story.

I’d put this book high on the list of recommended reading for young people. It would also make a great addition to a homeschooling curriculum!

This book has a great historical tie-in because it’s based on the life of a real family. John Rankin was an active conductor on the Underground Railroad and his writings have been noted as having influenced abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison, Henry Ward Beecher, and Harriet Beecher Stowe (author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin). From 1825 to 1865, John Rankin and his wife Jean, along with their Brown County neighbors, aided more than 2,000 slaves escaping to freedom, sometimes having as many as 12 escapees being hidden in the Rankin home at one time.

Rankin’s house became a beacon that attracted slaves escaping across the Ohio River. At night a lantern would be raised to the top of a 30′ tall flag pole in his front yard. This was a signal to the runaway slaves that it was safe to cross and that there would be people waiting to help them. Follow this link to read about touring the Rankin House

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Aug 15, 2011

Debbie rated it

Shelves: historical

"Across the Wide River" is a novel for young adults and adults based on an actual family's biography. It's a historical novel (with a romance) that's rich in historical detail and set starting in 1825. Lowry, the main character, was presented as a complex, realistic young adult who wanted to help the runaway slaves but who also resented the hard work involved in helping them.

The story ended a bit abruptly. While several things about Lowry's future were resolved, several oth...more

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Aug 19, 2011

Brooke (i blog 4 books) rated it

Across the Wide River is a great fictitious retelling of the Rankin family's life in Ohio helping slaves escape to freedom. Told from Lowry's perspective, this is a great story of how even the youngest can be used to do great things. Stephanie Reed weaves in details about the period that make the book more authentic. A few chapters turned a bit more "history lesson" and - while interesting - didn't seem to add much to Lowry's story. However, young teens will enjoy this book for the inc...more

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Aug 15, 2011

Kevin Sorensen rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction

What a delightful book. I’ll start out, before saying anything else about this book––get this book and read it. If you have young children, get this book and read it to them. If you have “tweens” (children between ages 9–12), have them read Across the Wide River. Even older teens will benefit from reading this book. It will challenge them to think of how they are serving God (or not; perhaps how they are running from Him). Across the Wide River will also give them a good, solid slice of life in ...moreWhat a delightful book. I’ll start out, before saying anything else about this book––get this book and read it. If you have young children, get this book and read it to them. If you have “tweens” (children between ages 9–12), have them read Across the Wide River. Even older teens will benefit from reading this book. It will challenge them to think of how they are serving God (or not; perhaps how they are running from Him). Across the Wide River will also give them a good, solid slice of life in America when slavery was “just a part of the culture.” My oldest daughter is a middle and high school history teacher and I’m highly recommending this book for her classes. It would make a very good source for some type of a writing assignment on that segment of American history in the early 1800s.

Stephanie Reed did an excellent job of creating a very believable main character, Lowry Rankin. Based upon historical facts, research and a great imagination, Reed has given us a young boy who knows the right thing to do, but is torn by how immensely difficult that is when it seems the vast majority of people stand against you. Lowry is greatly impacted by an incident as a young boy, living in Kentucky. This will forever shape his view of slavery and gives him a measure of empathy for his father’s efforts to help bring an end to the trade and ownership of slaves. (This description, while not being overly graphic, is so realistic, it might disturb some of the youngest of readers.)

When the Rankins move across the river into Ohio, a “free state,” this doesn’t lighten the burden Lowry feels; in fact, it exacerbates it. The tension Reed builds into Lowry’s life, his decisions, his fears, all bring his character out like a 3-D movie might onscreen. How this gets resolved is part of what makes this a solid read, not a Disney film.

If you enjoy this book, you’ll want to get a hold of the sequel, The Light Across the River, which follows the story of one of Lowry’s youngest brothers. Jonathan wants to follow in his father’s and his older brother’s footsteps in helping the slaves escape to the free North. His enthusiasm, as well as his willingness, are challenged greatly by his tremendous battle to “keep his mouth shut” –– a vital part of the success of the Underground Railroad.(less)

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Aug 15, 2011

Sara rated it

Shelves: reviewed

From the Publisher:

Lowry Rankin knows all too well the cost of freedom; after all, his family’s red brick home is the first stop on the Underground Railroad north of the Ohio River.

He’s seen friends beaten for the color of their skin. He’s watched simple farmers make a difference. He’s even risked his own life transporting escaped slaves to the next "station". But will Lowry be able to conquer his greatest fear when he’s called to speak out?

My Take...more

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Aug 15, 2011

Allie rated it

I admire the Rankin family and their stand against slavery. I appreciate the risks that they took and the hardships they endured to be a part of the Underground Railroad. I even learned some interesting facts about why so-called Free states could still be dangerous places for runaway slaves, the reasons why the Underground Railroad led to Canada. But, I was really glad this was a short book. The storytelling was lacking; the characters (even though based on real people in many cases) were underd...more

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Jul 25, 2009

Elaine rated it

Lowry witnesses the cruel whipping of slaves and is ashamed that he did nothing to assist the abused. He makes a vow to God that he will become an abolitionist minister like his father and others that he respects. He comes face to face with many who are pro-slavery and who will stop at nothing to put a stop to abolition.

While this book mentions "young readers" on the back, it is perhaps more appropriate for youth who are a little more mature. I won't even venture an ag...more

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About Stephanie Reed

I write books about real-life Christians who changed history. I love bringing their exciting stories to life for readers like you.

ACROSS THE WIDE RIVER: When I was in elementary school, my family used to drive from Dayton, Ohio to my grandparents' farm in Kentucky. On each trip, we drove through Ripley, Ohio, where I saw the Reverend John Rankin's home, a former station of the Undergro...more

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