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Eva of the Farm #2
After the River the Sun
Will Eckhart find the courage to rise from his past—and climb to his future? This quest for home is a stunning companion to Eva of the Farm.
When Eckhart Lyon arrives at Sunrise Orchard, all he wants to do is play video games and read about King Arthur’s knights. Anything that helps him forget that his parents drowned in a river, forget his own cowardliness. Eckhart doesn’t want to clear the dead orchard, or explore the canyon, or do anything else that stern Uncle Al asks. After all, Uncle Al is only taking him in on trial, and Eckhart can’t imagine the orchard ever becoming his real home.
Then, up in the canyon, he meets Eva—a girl with a wild imagination and boundless hope who knows all about King Arthur’s knights. With her help, Eckhart sees that he is on a knightly quest of his a quest for home and courage. But what if he’s forced to choose between a new home and his most treasured possession—a gift from his mom?
In this companion to Eva of the Farm , author Dia Calhoun shows that with friendship, determination, and the grace of nature, we can overcome tragedy and rise toward the sun.
When Eckhart Lyon arrives at Sunrise Orchard, all he wants to do is play video games and read about King Arthur’s knights. Anything that helps him forget that his parents drowned in a river, forget his own cowardliness. Eckhart doesn’t want to clear the dead orchard, or explore the canyon, or do anything else that stern Uncle Al asks. After all, Uncle Al is only taking him in on trial, and Eckhart can’t imagine the orchard ever becoming his real home.
Then, up in the canyon, he meets Eva—a girl with a wild imagination and boundless hope who knows all about King Arthur’s knights. With her help, Eckhart sees that he is on a knightly quest of his a quest for home and courage. But what if he’s forced to choose between a new home and his most treasured possession—a gift from his mom?
In this companion to Eva of the Farm , author Dia Calhoun shows that with friendship, determination, and the grace of nature, we can overcome tragedy and rise toward the sun.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2013
About the author
Dia Calhoun
10 books40 followersAuthor, essayist, and poet Dia Calhoun won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature for her novel Aria of the Sea. Three of her eight novels are American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. Calhoun’s contemporary novel Eva of the Farm was a Hornbook Magazine Best Verse Novel. Reviewing Calhoun’s most recent book, After the River the Sun School Library Journal wrote—“Lovers of gaming and Arthurian legends will thoroughly enjoy this one.” Calhoun’s 7:30 BELLS blog essays explore creativity and inspiration.
Calhoun is a cofounder of the literacy social media project, readergirlz, recipient of the National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize. Calhoun has taught at Seattle University and the Cornish College of Arts. She currently offers private coaching in writing to kids and adults. Calhoun lives beside the wild Nisqually River in Washington state. Not only does the natural world inspire her writing, it’s also the basis for her new work as a sculptor.
Calhoun is a cofounder of the literacy social media project, readergirlz, recipient of the National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize. Calhoun has taught at Seattle University and the Cornish College of Arts. She currently offers private coaching in writing to kids and adults. Calhoun lives beside the wild Nisqually River in Washington state. Not only does the natural world inspire her writing, it’s also the basis for her new work as a sculptor.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 4, 2014
I really liked this book because it is written in poem type, and it goes by fast because of the short pages. This book is about a kid named Eckhart (The main character) who only reads and imagined about Knights. Also who's parents died in a canon while rafting, he gets put into trial with a bunch of different family's but fails them. After a while of the same thing happening, his only uncle accepts him for a trial, he is challanged to nature and accept his parents death. Then meets a girl named Eva and starts to like her, and in his mind now he has now accepted that his parents death was not his fault.
August 19, 2022
Though it is a book written for youth, and I am a senior citizen, I loved the book and am looking forward to giving it to my grandchildren when they are older (and reading). I think it teaches a great deal about self reliance, dreaming, working hard and making hard decisions.
October 18, 2018
After losing both of his parents, Eckhart is being sent to his uncle's...who he has never met. He is not only dealing with his grief but a sense of guilt over what happened to his parents.
July 8, 2021
About the transformation of a boy from the city to orchard living and the growing bond from an uncle.
March 3, 2014
As a kid, my best friend and I would act out books we had read. Nancy Drew in "The Secret of the Old Clock," meant solving a made-up mystery and climbing the neighborhood church bell tower. "Banner in the Sky" meant freezing water on our steep backyard hill and chiseling our way up "Mount Everest." (My best friend still bemoans the ruin of her Swiss army knife hammering it into ice.) The Narnia Chronicles meant sword fights, choking down clam chowder (we were at sea and had to suffer), and suffocating in a coat closet during the heat of summer trying to wish the back of it would transform into an alternate world with fauns and witches. Acting out books was great fun and I got grounded a few times. My best friend rarely got in trouble and I remember asking her mom why as an adult. "I thought it was healthy that you both were using your imaginations." This story has Eckhart and Eva using their imaginations by acting out King Arthur stories, pretending they are knights on a quest. In reality, Eckhart is trying to deal with the tragedy of losing both parents in a rafting accident. He feels guilty over their deaths and must find the courage to forgive himself.
Eckhart Lyon is taken in by his uncle Albert after spending four months in foster homes after the death of his parents. Uncle Al says he'll take Eckhart on a trial basis. Al and his sister, Eckhart's mom, did not get along and Eckhart doesn't even know Al. Eckhart likes to play video games and is not an outside person so moving to Uncle Al's house is not easy with its lack of T.V., Internet, and other modern comforts. Eckhart has to work on Uncle Al's orchard farm and it takes some getting used to. He misses his parents desperately and keeps his mom's violin that she played in the Seattle symphony close at hand to remind him of her.
Uncle Al is dealing with grief like Eckhart although his tragedy happened three years earlier. Eckart discovers why Al and his sister no longer spoke to each other although there must be more anger to it because Al didn't even go to the funeral of his sister. With the help of Eva, Eckhart decides to go on a quest like Sir Gaiwan in the King Arthur books and find a home and find the courage to face his fears. He must decide whether or not he wants to live with his uncle who is not the most open and welcoming man. In an exciting climax Eckhart learns what sacrifice means and finds hope for his future.
When a relative of mine died tragically, the family would light a candle in his memory at significant events or holiday gatherings. Memories of the person swirled with smells of turkey and gravy while the candle flame bent and twisted by the unseen air currents on the table. While our hearts were heavy, this ritual somehow lightened the heaviness inside me. When Eckhart builds the Tower of Troth and describes his feelings, it reminded me of our memory candle and raw grief. Uncle Al is dealing with grief as well and is an interesting contrast to Eckhart. In an interesting twist, the adult seems to be dealing with his loss in a manner less healthy than Eckhart.
The characters are well developed in Eckhart and Eva. Uncle Al is harsh, bitter, and withdrawn at the start. He has a chip on his shoulder toward his sister that makes him angry at Eckhart. He's dealing with guilt over his loss like Eckhart, but the reader isn't privy to his point of view. He angrily chopped down an orchid three years earlier and it would appear he is still mad. That is why his transformation of accepting Eckhart at the end seemed a bit sudden. While he is healing from grief and shows some internal changes as he begins to write stories again and smile more often during the day, his actions at the end and use of alcohol suggest that there may be some deeper issues he must deal with in his grief. The fact that Al's actions just about killed Eckhart, made me expect more from the resolution. It's fine, but felt a little incomplete.
The plot is straightforward and not too complex. The author has nice pacing with giving out information that keeps up the tension while the reader pieces together what happened on the river with Eckhart and his parents. At 350 pages long, this novel-in-verse can be read fairly quickly. The violin twist and use of music as a way to sooth also adds to Eckhart's emotional journey of learning to accept the tragedy. An excellent grade 4-5 story.
Eckhart Lyon is taken in by his uncle Albert after spending four months in foster homes after the death of his parents. Uncle Al says he'll take Eckhart on a trial basis. Al and his sister, Eckhart's mom, did not get along and Eckhart doesn't even know Al. Eckhart likes to play video games and is not an outside person so moving to Uncle Al's house is not easy with its lack of T.V., Internet, and other modern comforts. Eckhart has to work on Uncle Al's orchard farm and it takes some getting used to. He misses his parents desperately and keeps his mom's violin that she played in the Seattle symphony close at hand to remind him of her.
Uncle Al is dealing with grief like Eckhart although his tragedy happened three years earlier. Eckart discovers why Al and his sister no longer spoke to each other although there must be more anger to it because Al didn't even go to the funeral of his sister. With the help of Eva, Eckhart decides to go on a quest like Sir Gaiwan in the King Arthur books and find a home and find the courage to face his fears. He must decide whether or not he wants to live with his uncle who is not the most open and welcoming man. In an exciting climax Eckhart learns what sacrifice means and finds hope for his future.
When a relative of mine died tragically, the family would light a candle in his memory at significant events or holiday gatherings. Memories of the person swirled with smells of turkey and gravy while the candle flame bent and twisted by the unseen air currents on the table. While our hearts were heavy, this ritual somehow lightened the heaviness inside me. When Eckhart builds the Tower of Troth and describes his feelings, it reminded me of our memory candle and raw grief. Uncle Al is dealing with grief as well and is an interesting contrast to Eckhart. In an interesting twist, the adult seems to be dealing with his loss in a manner less healthy than Eckhart.
The characters are well developed in Eckhart and Eva. Uncle Al is harsh, bitter, and withdrawn at the start. He has a chip on his shoulder toward his sister that makes him angry at Eckhart. He's dealing with guilt over his loss like Eckhart, but the reader isn't privy to his point of view. He angrily chopped down an orchid three years earlier and it would appear he is still mad. That is why his transformation of accepting Eckhart at the end seemed a bit sudden. While he is healing from grief and shows some internal changes as he begins to write stories again and smile more often during the day, his actions at the end and use of alcohol suggest that there may be some deeper issues he must deal with in his grief. The fact that Al's actions just about killed Eckhart, made me expect more from the resolution. It's fine, but felt a little incomplete.
The plot is straightforward and not too complex. The author has nice pacing with giving out information that keeps up the tension while the reader pieces together what happened on the river with Eckhart and his parents. At 350 pages long, this novel-in-verse can be read fairly quickly. The violin twist and use of music as a way to sooth also adds to Eckhart's emotional journey of learning to accept the tragedy. An excellent grade 4-5 story.
March 17, 2017
Splitting up your
sentences does not
a verse novel
make
sentences does not
a verse novel
make
December 31, 2013
After his parents die in a rafting accident, Eckhart Lyon has nowhere else to go but the orchard of his mother's brother, a distant uncle who lives in eastern Washington. Both of them are grieving in their own ways, and both blame themselves for various losses. In Eckhard's case, he is convinced that he should have been able to reach out for his mother's hand as the water swirled her away. But really, at the heart of the book, what he is longing for is acceptance, forgiveness, and a place to call home. While he works hard in the orchard and follows his uncle's rules, he also makes friends with Eva, a creative, imaginative neighbor girl who is just as familiar with the stories of King Arthur as Eckhart is. Like him, she longs for a friend and someone who can really understand her. As Eckhart becomes stronger in every way and even succeeds in some of the goals he has set for himself, tragedy strikes his uncle's orchard, and he faces an impossible choice. I enjoyed the references to King Arthur, quests, and knightly duties as well as the lovely passages about the beauty of the land that surrounds Eckhart, but I considered the change in his uncle to come all-too-fast. While I was relieved when he finally offered his nephew a home, I wondered about the swiftness of his change in attitude. I also found myself pondering the resentment he must have held toward his sister because so much financial support went into nurturing her musical dreams while not so much seemed to have gone into supporting the writing aspirations of Eckhart's uncle. Ah, the cost of one dream left unresolved so that another one's dreams could be realized! This is an interesting meditation on the different ways individuals grieve and heal from the losses in their lives.
August 9, 2014
I read this book a few days ago and have read some others since then. I find that I am having a hard time remembering it now. I think that speaks volumes.
The book is described as a novel in verse, but once again, I fail to find the elements of poetry I expect--the figurative language, tight imagery, etc. Eckhart's story is a moving one--a young boy sent to live with an uncle he'd never met after the tragic deaths of his parents. Eckhart feels responsible for their deaths, but now his main concern is what it will take to have a permanent home. His uncle is irascible and haunted by his own past tragedy and loss of family. The two are occupying the same house, but they are definitely not making a home together.
It is an OK book; I think I would have liked it better had the author not pretended to be writing poetry.(0,1,0)
The book is described as a novel in verse, but once again, I fail to find the elements of poetry I expect--the figurative language, tight imagery, etc. Eckhart's story is a moving one--a young boy sent to live with an uncle he'd never met after the tragic deaths of his parents. Eckhart feels responsible for their deaths, but now his main concern is what it will take to have a permanent home. His uncle is irascible and haunted by his own past tragedy and loss of family. The two are occupying the same house, but they are definitely not making a home together.
It is an OK book; I think I would have liked it better had the author not pretended to be writing poetry.(0,1,0)
October 20, 2014
Gorgeous writing. Really beautiful. Storyline is also excellent, but there are a few downfalls for me - two, actually. Uncle Al's turnaround towards Eckhart is just too sudden. A 360-degree turnaround practically overnight? I know he'd had the revelation of Eckhart's bravery, but only a few hours before this turnaround he wouldn't even look or speak to the boy? I don't care how much this adult was suffering, other personality traits didn't jive with his actions. And the second, for me personally, there was too much King Arthur. I know much of the book's premise was following the King Arthur story, but it was too much for me. It would be great for the King Arthur lover. Oh, and one more thing? $500,000 for a violin? I'm with Uncle Al on that one!
March 19, 2018
Eckhart Lyon is about 12 years old and has been traveling through foster homes for a few months. He lost his parents to the river through Hell's Canyon after they wen river rafting and Eckhart blames himself. His mom's violin is the only thing he is able to keep. Finally, Eckhart is sent to his Uncle Al on trial where he meets Eva, a 12 year old girl. Both Eva and Eckhart love knights and quests so Eva slowly pulls Eckhart out of his "cave" with a couple of quests. Eckhart is able to finally have a home at Sunrise Orchard but will he be able to keep it this time?
January 23, 2014
I loved this story, written in verse, about a young boy trying to come to terms with his parents’ death and his guilt for not trying to save his mother. After bouncing around in foster care, he goes to live with his estranged uncle, who is dealing with the sorrow of his daughter’s death 4 years ago. The story is beautifully written, but slow moving. I question how wide an appeal it will have for kids.
August 5, 2014
I loved this story written in verse! Because of that, it was a fast read, and I wanted to keep reading to find out how things would work out for Eckhart, the main character. His parents have died, and he is looking for a home. It's a good read for a middle school student.
December 28, 2013
One Sentence Review: Rather lovely and a nice take on how grief affects different people different ways.
December 26, 2013
Not necessarily a sequel, but a partner book to Eva of the Farm.
March 2, 2014
This book is set in Washington and tell the poignant story of a boy's rediscovery of his roots and his love for nature. This is a great book for kids in Washington.
July 2, 2016
Tender story about a young man who has lost his parents in a tragic accident. I liked the prose style of writing, but felt it was a little predictable.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews