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24th out of 73 books
—
49 voters
River Boy
by
Tim Bowler
Fifteen-year-old Jess's grandfather has just had a major heart attack, but he insists he finish his painting, "River Boy." At first, Jess cannot understand why this painting is so important to her grandfather, especially since there doesn't seem to be any boy in it at all. But while swimming in the river herself, Jess begins to feel the presence of a strange boy. Could thi...more
Mass Market Paperback, 160 pages
Published
January 1st 2002
by Simon Pulse
(first published October 9th 1997)
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This is a heartfelt story of a 15 year old girl and her deep love for her grandfather who has just had a serious heart attack. The grandfather insists that the family travel to his boyhood home on the"river" so he can finish his painting, River Boy. Jess helps her unwell grandfather with his painting. She becomes mesmerized by the scene he is painting. She also becomes aware of a strange presence or aura in the river. It is a bou who needs her help and challenges her to swim to extreme lengths....more
This was a freebie library give-away, and it was a little treasure.
I probably should have given it 5 stars, and I suspect I have given 5 starts to a lesser book in the past. But at the end I just wanted a little something extra and magical. There was a slight magical feel to it, which is why I dubiously put it in the paranormal section, but felt there could have been more.
This story is about Jess, a teenage girl who swims, whose grandfather is dying. She is very close to him and is taking it har...more
I probably should have given it 5 stars, and I suspect I have given 5 starts to a lesser book in the past. But at the end I just wanted a little something extra and magical. There was a slight magical feel to it, which is why I dubiously put it in the paranormal section, but felt there could have been more.
This story is about Jess, a teenage girl who swims, whose grandfather is dying. She is very close to him and is taking it har...more
I read this book a number of years ago and was reminded of it today as I drove along a road which follows the river Usk. As I gazed at the river I experienced my usual longing to be in the water swimming. I have only once actually tried swimming in a river and I remember how this book drew me in with its tale of a young girl who finds it perfectly natural to swim in rivers and who is well equipped to do so.
The general storyline is lovely, very real and believable and the surreal/supernatural ele...more
The general storyline is lovely, very real and believable and the surreal/supernatural ele...more
Utterly underwhelming. Jess's grandfather is dying and she meets this mysterious boy swimming about in this river. He becomes more and more visible as her grandfather's health fails while he paints a river. All very metaphorical and everything isn't it?
Sigh. Let's do this in list form.
PROS of the book:
1. Convincing aura of spirituality
2. Themes run deeper than one thinks
CONS of the book:
1. Written very VERY prosaically
2. Cripplingly obvious plot twists
3. Utterly boring, half-baked characters
4. N...more
Sigh. Let's do this in list form.
PROS of the book:
1. Convincing aura of spirituality
2. Themes run deeper than one thinks
CONS of the book:
1. Written very VERY prosaically
2. Cripplingly obvious plot twists
3. Utterly boring, half-baked characters
4. N...more
An okay book. Bowler does a wonderful job at telling a captivating story, but his characters lack the personality and voice. Without these his stories lack a magical feel that I enjoy when reading. With that said, I still feel like this book has a lot to offer. It tells the story of a girl who loves swimming. When her grandfather suffers a heart attack they go back to the place of his youth were he has one last painting to complete. It is in a small cottage near a river that the protagonist disc...more
I think that this is one of a kind book that's going to be hard to copy, for any of you guys that are looking to write books.
Jess's grandfather, a painter, is a strong-spirted person, that has everything his way, and hardly ever takes no for an answer. So when he has a heart attack and is in the hospitable, it looks as if he won't be back in time to go on the vacation that Jess, an avid swimmer, and her parents planed. To everyone's dismay he checks himself out of the hospitable, insiting that h...more
Jess's grandfather, a painter, is a strong-spirted person, that has everything his way, and hardly ever takes no for an answer. So when he has a heart attack and is in the hospitable, it looks as if he won't be back in time to go on the vacation that Jess, an avid swimmer, and her parents planed. To everyone's dismay he checks himself out of the hospitable, insiting that h...more
Fifteen year old Jess's grandfather has just had a heart attack.but he insist he finish his RiverBoy painting. At first, Jess cannot understand why this painting is so important to her grandfather, especially since there doesn't seem to be any boy in it at all. But while swimming in the river herself, Jess begins to feel the presence of a strange boy. Could this be the same one ailing grandfather struggles to paint? And if so, why has he returned
Highly recommend for teens, tweens, and even good middle readers. Winner of the 1998 Caregie Medal. This is a quick read: part mystery (though not truly scary), part family study, part lesson in dealing with death. The simple writing style isn't phoenomenal and I found myself critiquing the prose from time to time. But the mystery engaged me about 1/2 way through and held me to the poetic, strong finish. My 13 yr-old really liked this book, especially the ending.
In this touching tale by Tim Bowler, a young girl must accept her grandpa is taking his last breaths and find a way to live without him. Whilst swimming with the mysterious 'river boy' and saying her good byes, only then will she realise her grandpa's destiny and know how he felt when finishing of his portrait, 'river boy'...
This may seem confusing but it has a one of a kind plot and ending. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good, quick read.
This may seem confusing but it has a one of a kind plot and ending. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good, quick read.
Jess doesn't only like swimming, It's her passion. When her grandfather gets a heart attack, she's confronted with the sad death of this much loved person. Jess goes on a trip to the place where Jess' grandfather spent his childhood, The natural surroundings and especially the river near her holiday cottage help her by doing so and by understanding how to cope with such a dolorous situation. She has to finish a painting that her grandfather started call The River Boy.
I am trying to add more young adult literature to my reading. This book is about a young girl accepting the death of her grandfather. I think I had a hard time reading the book because I am used to much more complicated plots. I forget that youth literature is often a little more simple and straight forward. The main character is an avid swimmer and the writer did such a good job describing the girls love of swimming that it made me want to swim some laps.
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135 pages
Another beautiful story about an elderly man who had a strong connection with his grand daughter. I loved the family bond that was in the story and the goals/ ambitions of the girl in the story. I loved the mystery of the riverboy throughout the story and the twist do who that boy was at the end I the book. Great read for all.
Another beautiful story about an elderly man who had a strong connection with his grand daughter. I loved the family bond that was in the story and the goals/ ambitions of the girl in the story. I loved the mystery of the riverboy throughout the story and the twist do who that boy was at the end I the book. Great read for all.
The story of a teenaged girl who has a gift for swimming and a special relationship with her grandfather.
When her grandfather becomes ill, he asks to be taken to his childhood hometown. It is here that our main character explores a river and its mysteries that teach her something about her grandfather.
When her grandfather becomes ill, he asks to be taken to his childhood hometown. It is here that our main character explores a river and its mysteries that teach her something about her grandfather.
It was not what I expected. I was expecting something a little more magical. There was no magic to the book. However, I liked the book because of how it ended. I realized that the whole book is about death and the lost of a loved one. I think the words at the end do a great job of expressing true grief and I think that's why I liked it.
This one was a lot like Frozen Fire, also by Bowler. It is about yet another mysterious boy, and ends with a smiliar case. It kept me going with adventure and mystery, and it was an interesting tale. It isn't one of my favorites though.
I don't know. I know there is a lot of praise for this book, but I did not enjoy a single moment of the reading. The story is very static, and the descriptions are plainly boring. It was one of those books I had to read on with patience.
I cannot believe there's such few reviews. It's a great book. with bit fantasy.
It's like nothing I've read. I've read this book 5 years ago and still it's one of most memorable book. What can I say?, it's one of the best books I've read
It's like nothing I've read. I've read this book 5 years ago and still it's one of most memorable book. What can I say?, it's one of the best books I've read
All about a girl coming to terms with her Grandpa dying. Amazing approach to death for children and young adolescents. And if you teach English, it is full of some wonderful phrases and similes that jump out of the page at you!
Generally quite a boring book in my opinion, the only exciting bit was really 30 pages before the end. I am 13 and read it in school, and I think it would be for for a 10 year old to year, if you are an adult I don't reccomend.
tim bowler is one of my favorite authors because his style is undeniably unique. he really pulls you into his stories in a way that i've rarely come across before. super refreshing!!!
It was okay. It was wonderfully written. But it was predictable and some parts just went on and on when they didn't need to and I felt like that just made reading it tiring.
it was the story of dream, wish, love. very warm tale. i wanted to have the time to think of me. myself, and my family.
Really quick children's read. Pretty good story. Recommended for teenagers.
Sep 25, 2009
Holly Short
is currently reading it
I am reading this for independent reading in class... Any opinions?
Short book, interesting story.
awsome
Not bad but rather good for the youngers.
I gave this book, 4 stars because it was really good but not the best I have ever read. This book was realistic fiction and I really like those kinds of books. I could relate to all of the stuff that happened in this book. That’s why it was so good. It was one of my favorite books because all the stuff that happened in the book probably would have happened to me. I think you should read this book because it was so good.
I couldn't finish this because I was a snobby 16 year old who was doing English in sixth form and for some reason the language in this book isn't as standard as in his other books. My heart cracked ever so slightly every time he used a conjunction at the beginning of a sentence and I couldn't take it after a while. The twist is explained on the back of the book so I'm not really arsed that I won't see the ending.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anybody here? | 3 | 15 | Feb 24, 2013 09:15am | |
| What's The Name o...: Grandfather is a Painter, boy swims in the river near the end of the book [s] | 3 | 36 | Mar 18, 2012 08:30am | |
| What's The Name o...: Middle Grade Fiction, Grandfather is a painter, ruins painting [s] | 5 | 32 | Feb 07, 2012 06:38am |
Tim Bowler is one of the UK’s most compelling and original writers for teenagers. He was born in Leigh-on-Sea and after studying Swedish at University he worked in forestry, the timber trade, teaching and translating before becoming a full-time writer. He lives with his wife in a small village in Devon and his workroom is an old stone outhouse known to friends as ‘Tim’s Bolthole’.
Tim has written t...more
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Oct 26, 2012 11:22am