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Take Me to the River
by
Will Hobbs
Fourteen-year old Dylan Sands has come all the way from North Carolina to Big Bend National Park, on the Texas/Mexico border, to paddle the fabled Rio Grande. His partner in adventure is a local river rat, his cousin Rio. As they’re packing their boats for ten days in the canyons, six Black Hawk helicopters appear overhead and race across the river into Mexico.
None of thei...more
None of thei...more
Hardcover, 192 pages
Published
February 15th 2011
by HarperCollins
(first published December 8th 2010)
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Take me to the river was about two boys who were addicted to the water. Not just normal water, they loved to go to the river and boat all day long. The book starts off with the main caricter who is a 14 year old kid named Dylan. He starts his journey from the great North carolina to the Big Bend national park. The park is located in-between the texas and the mexico boarder. His sidekick, or his cousin who's name is Rio is always there on his adventures. One morning as they get ready to hit the r...more
My daughter's middle school librarian gave me a copy of Take Me to the River to read as part of the school's Read It Forward project.
A good read! Hobbs almost lost me mid-book - I found a few chapters in the middle a bit slow and was losing interest - but he roared back with non-stop drama and action the entire second half of the book and I just couldn't put it down.
Hobbs' attention to detail in painting a picture of the landscape and life of southwest Texas was brilliant, though at times I felt...more
A good read! Hobbs almost lost me mid-book - I found a few chapters in the middle a bit slow and was losing interest - but he roared back with non-stop drama and action the entire second half of the book and I just couldn't put it down.
Hobbs' attention to detail in painting a picture of the landscape and life of southwest Texas was brilliant, though at times I felt...more
Take Me To The River is a book that is full of adventure, danger and one that will capture the attention of it's readers. Will Hobbs's vivid detail of the real life dangers along the US/Mexican border, a deadly hurricane, wild rapids, along with the dangers of not only being in the middle of a desert, but also throw in a kidnapping and coming face to face with one of Mexico's most wanted gave the story some heart pounding, adrenaline rushing moments.
I personally am a little torn on this review....more
I personally am a little torn on this review....more
Dylan sands is a boy who lives in North Carolina. He is going all the way up to the Texas/ mexico boarder to meet his cousin Rio. They are going to paddle in the river and when they get down to the river they see a helicopter. When they see the helicopter they race into the Mexico boarder. The helicopter people won't tell them what they are here for because they don't want them to know about it yet. Later on the boys find out there is gonna be a hurricane. Will they go on or will they leave the...more
In take me to the river Dylan flies from Carolina to Terlingua Texas to meet His uncle and his cousin, Rio. When Dylan arrives he finds out that his uncle is away in Alaska. 2 days later Rio and Dylan leave Terlingua to go to the Big Bend river they figure out that there is a secret mission along the Big Bend and that hurricane Dolly might hit the Big Bend. When they get onto the river everything is going well until they hear about a murder in a nearby village and the helicopter from the secret...more
I'm a Will Hobbs fan, but this one just didn't compare with Crossing the Wire, Downriver or the lighter Go Big or Go Home. I'm glad I read it; it was interesting to learn about Big Bend National Park and border issues, and it had plenty of action. What it didn't have, in my opinion, was suspense. This can sometimes be a problem with first person narratives because, well, obviously the person survives or they won't be narrating. Even with raging rivers, kidnappers, storms, and pistols I didn't fi...more
Dylan travels to Texas to go on a river trip with his uncle and cousin, but when he arrives he finds that his uncle has taken a job in Alaska, leaving the boys alone. They decide to take some trips on their own, and run into all sorts of problems, including a Mexican kidnapper who has a young boy hostage and a major storm. Like all of Hobbs' books, this has plentiful detail about adventurous circumstances, and Dylan and Rio must rely on their own skills to save not only themselves, but the young...more
What a ride. Dylan is going to visit his uncle and cousin in Terlingua, TX to float the Rio Grande. What happens is one exciting adventure. First when he arrives his uncle has left for Alaska so the river trip is going to be extremely short not the 10 day trip anticipated. Sensing his disappointment Rio, his cousin who is only one year older, decides they should go ahead with the trip as planned. Even though he realizes the danger involved Dylan agrees to the plan going so far as to keep the tru...more
The book is about 2 boy who go on a Rio Grande river trip and meet two people one man, one boy.i will just let it hang from there. I loved this book. The writing was beautiful and I felt as though I was really there.My only stink about it was that it was kind of predicable and(make it two stinks) the book hinted that it was really meant for children, but it wasn't . There were only 2 real conclusions and I think the author could have put some more surprise in there. I do recommend it and this wo...more
Cousins Rio and Dylan have planned for their paddle trip down the Rio Grande River at Big Bend for years and the fact that Rio's dad is unexpectedly called to take a job in Alaska to help make ends meet is not about to stop their dream trip that Dylan has traveled all the way from North Carolina to Terlingua, Tx to make. The cousins, however, face more than fierce waters as they begin navigating the mighty Rio Grande...encountering 15 inches of rain courtesy of tropical storm Dolly, tackling hig...more
Plans to paddle the Rio Grande with his uncle and cousin couldn't go more array. When he learns his uncle is in Alaska, the cousins decide to go the river alone. Hurricanes, Mexican drug cartel lords, innocent victims, and vicious water lead to a nonstop, nail-biting adventure.
Hobbs, W. (2011). Take me to the river. New York, NY: Harper.
Awards/reviews: Booklist 02/01/11; School Library Journal 04/01/11; Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 06/01/11
Curriculum connections: Water theme; man vs. nature...more
Hobbs, W. (2011). Take me to the river. New York, NY: Harper.
Awards/reviews: Booklist 02/01/11; School Library Journal 04/01/11; Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 06/01/11
Curriculum connections: Water theme; man vs. nature...more
5/6th
Not for the faint of heart- headless bodies have been found in the area, the teen protagonist hitchhikes, there are local drug smugglers, and a ruthless kidnapper who is not shy with a gun, etc- but that will probably appeal to the target audience.
The main character is wry and funny, both boys are admirable and realistic and there is enough action to keep a motivated reader engaged- especially the last third of the book.
It was not quite my style (hence 3 stars), but feel free to add a star...more
Not for the faint of heart- headless bodies have been found in the area, the teen protagonist hitchhikes, there are local drug smugglers, and a ruthless kidnapper who is not shy with a gun, etc- but that will probably appeal to the target audience.
The main character is wry and funny, both boys are admirable and realistic and there is enough action to keep a motivated reader engaged- especially the last third of the book.
It was not quite my style (hence 3 stars), but feel free to add a star...more
Will Hobbs' Take me to the River, has the character Dylan Sands is heading to Mexico to go on a trip through the Rio Grande with his cousin Rio. Everything is going smoothly until they see three black hawk helicopters fly by. Although this slightly worries them, the continue on. Until they see a man and a seven year old boy. The man says his name is Carlos and begs for help and the boys do all they can. But the man is ungrateful because the boys refuse to give them a ride. As they ride on, Hurri...more
Fourteen year old Dylan Sands has traveled from North Carolina to run the Rio Grande river with his uncle, an experienced river guide, and his cousin, Rio. Dylan only knows his uncle and cousin from pictures in Christmas cards and he is looking forward to getting to know them better. But, the trip is dicey from the very beginning. He isn't picked up at the hotel where he is supposed to wait from them. Instead, his cousin tells him to hitch-hike his way down to Terlingua Ghost Town, where he live...more
Take Me To The River is a book that is full of adventure, danger and one that will capture the attention of it's readers. Will Hobbs's vivid detail of the real life dangers along the US/Mexican border, a deadly hurricane, wild rapids, along with the dangers of not only being in the middle of a desert, but also throw in a kidnapping and coming face to face with one of Mexico's most wanted gave the story some heart pounding, adrenaline rushing moments.
I personally am a little torn on this review....more
I personally am a little torn on this review....more
14-year old Dylan travels from North Carolina to Big Bend National Park in Texas to visit his cousin, Rio, and uncle. Even when he finds out that his uncle is in Alaska running a raft trip for the month, Dylan joins Rio in on a plan to "run the river" by themselves. A ten-day river rafting adventure is planned and interrupted by a Mexico/USA manhunt for a kidnapper and young hostage boy from Mexico. Add a massive hurricane to the mix and you have all the ingredients for adventure.
Dec 30, 2011
Heather
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
lonestars-12-13,
action-adventure
3.6 stars
Dylan is headed to West Texas for the best canoe trip of his life. He will be out on the Rio Grande with his cousin, Rio, and uncle for ten days. But as soon as he arrives in Terlingua, he finds that the trip is turning out to be something very different. As he and his cousin head out on the river alone, they encounter numerous obstacles that you just can't prepare for. Will they make it on their own? Read this fast paced, action adventure page turner to find out.
Dylan is headed to West Texas for the best canoe trip of his life. He will be out on the Rio Grande with his cousin, Rio, and uncle for ten days. But as soon as he arrives in Terlingua, he finds that the trip is turning out to be something very different. As he and his cousin head out on the river alone, they encounter numerous obstacles that you just can't prepare for. Will they make it on their own? Read this fast paced, action adventure page turner to find out.
Another great survival adventure by Hobbs. Plenty of descriptions of rafting and canoeing so I could visualize what was happening, but I wasn't overburdened by details. Readers who want a bit of suspense tossed in will be pleased here with the part about the Mexican kidnapper. It adds tension to the story that already had plenty with the boys fighting the river. Loved the ending and I know there's another story featuring Rio and Dylan waiting to be told. I, for one, would love it!
This could have been a bit longer story because it has all the elements of a great thriller - danger, criminals, nature at its worst, danger, young boys taking a risk, danger... As a mom I could only think of all the times in this book that the boys could have been killed and my stomach dropped out but as a reader I think guys will eat this up. Will Hobb's book reminds me of other adventure stories by Jack London, Gary Paulsen and Roland Smith.
Take me to the river is a good book. The story is a bit like Storm Runners Dylan and Rio have to get away from a deadly hurricane and they getting chase by mexican gangster that kidnapped child and kill then if the parent does not pay them. They have to do this by riding down a river. I thank the book is good but painting from the cave, Storm Runners, and hunger games. but it good and if anything it better then forgotten door.
Not superb writing, but a good story for boys. I'd probably give it 3 1/2 stars if I could, but not quite 4. It would be a great book to use as a tool for discussing how reality is different than fiction - - I wouldn't want my son to read it without this discussion and the understanding that it is NOT ok for a 14 year old to hitchhike or to take a 10-day river rafting trip without an adult, even if it works out ok in the book.
One of my new students gave me this book. It's his favorite and he cannot wait for me to share it with him. Not surprising at all, he's a child full of adventure and spirit, just like the boys in this novel. This is a book like Hobbs is known for - fast paced, full of adventure. Two cousins take off down the Rio Grande and run into a hurricane and a Mexican criminal who has a boy with him that he's kidnapped. A fun read.
Apr 19, 2013
Terry
added it
Big Kid Reaction: To me, the blurb on the back cover said "page turner." Unfortunately, the story itself fell flat. The initial impression of Dylan's ncle is that he is not stable / good provider. So when Dylan arrives in Texas and Uncle Alan is gone, I thought this was a scam and that he had ulterior motives. It left me uncomfortable and I disnegaged from the characters the rest of the way.
Pros: Adventure and mystery lovers will enjoy this combination of an action-packed river trip and the case...more
Pros: Adventure and mystery lovers will enjoy this combination of an action-packed river trip and the case...more
Exciting adventure story about a boy who goes to visit his cousin and uncle to take a rafting trip on the border of Texas and Mexico. But when he shows up and his uncle is off fishing in Alaska, the two boys decide to go down the river anyway, despite a dangerous criminal on the loose and a potential hurricane. Action-packed. Unrealistic, but that's sort of besides the point. ;)
Jun 08, 2012
Laura W.
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
truman-prelims-2012,
2012-overall
I personally felt like some of it was a little unbelievable. Adults not communicating, adults being totally willing to drop two teens off despite the current circumstances on the river. Once you get past that, I feel like it was a good story, one that teen/tween readers could really enjoy. I'm giving this one a 3 personally, but for the book review I'm doing for a nomination list, I'm giving it a 4. I feel like middle grade readers aren't going to get as bogged down in the details at the beginni...more
A good adventure story for boys, especially, who enjoy river sports. This story is packed with scenic information about the Big Bend area in Texas, the Rio Grande River, and fraught with danger from a fugitive on the run. Great descriptions of running the rapids, storms and flooding from a hurricane, with a side helping of tarantulas crawling on you while you sleep. Great stuff!
You truly can't go wrong with Will Hobbs. This is actually a battle of the books book so even tho the boys chose not to compete this year they wanted to read some of them. We read it out loud as a family and everyone loved it - got grumpy if we had to miss a night. Would recommend this book and any of the books that he has written to anyone with a reader looking for kids adventures.
Another great adventure by Will Hobbs--a young teen travels to southern Texas to visit his uncle and cousin. When he arrives and finds his uncle has suddenly left for Alaska for the summer, he decides to stay in the small ghost town with this cousin he's never met. The two of them find themselves in the middle of adventure and danger because they never want to show fear.
Even though they know outlaws are making trouble at the border and a hurricane is brewing, Dylan and Rio embark on the exciting river trip they had planned. The trip turns out to be more than exciting as they find their lives endangered by an armed fugitive who has a child held hostage.
A survival story boys and girls alike will enjoy!
A survival story boys and girls alike will enjoy!
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WILL HOBBS is the author of seventeen novels for upper elementary, middle school and young adult readers, as well as two picture book stories. Seven of his novels, Bearstone, Downriver, The Big Wander, Beardance, Far North, The Maze, and Jason's Gold, were named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. ALA also named Far North and Downriver to their list of the 100 Best You...more
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