Where the river takes us by Lesley Parr

Welsh schoolboy, Jason, lives with his 19 year-old brother, Richie; recently orphaned, they are trying to survive on their own. Richie is valiantly trying to work to earn enough money to keep a roof over their heads, but he has made an unwise choice under duress, and this has put the boys under further pressure. Jason has a few good friends, but grieving is hard, and now he is really worried about the future. A plan to make some extra pounds from the local paper by catching a photograph of an elusive big wildcat wandering through the Welsh countryside sets Jason and his three friends on an adventurous trek. Avoiding local bullies, and a rampaging bull, the children discover true friendship as they battle cold, danger and their own fears, and demonstrate resourcefulness as they pursue the prize.

This is another heart-warming story from Lesley Parr, a writer who is not afraid to explore tough issues, but does so with gentleness and warmth. Set in the 1970s, it is during a time of industrial struggle that impacts local miners and cuts income, and all families must struggle with limited access to power and an uncertain future. Because of the Welsh setting, she also scatters Welsh language through  the text. This will confuse some Aussie readers, but it is lovely to see the consonant-rich words, and also the rich vernacular words (eg lush = great/awesome). I used an online translator to assist on several occasions. If young readers aged 9-12, can get past this occasional use of Welsh, they will grow in appreciation of other cultures and language, other histories, and the painful struggle of hardship. The grief of the central character is revealed with understanding, and the reactions and support of his friends is occasionally uncomfortable. This is a ‘show-don’t-tell’ guide to how to support someone dealing with intense grief. This makes this a powerful story on many levels. The choices that Richie makes that get him into trouble are not given any glory – quite the opposite - crime doesn’t pay at all. The characters in this story are all delicately developed and I absolutely loved the huge Tam – the Rugby-loving, gentle giant with a faith-influenced view of conflict resolution, but who also struggles with how he should support Jason.

Themes: Orphans, Financial hardship, Family, Friendship, Wales, UK – 1970s.

Carolyn Hull