Into the Rapids - by Ann Braden (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Sometimes even a girl who likes to rely only on herself needs to be brave enough to ask for help.

When a superstorm hits Addy's mountain town, knocking out the bridge and cutting her home off from the main road, she worries that she won't be able to get to the survival camp she's been planning to attend. The camp's the place where her parents met, and where Addy plans to hone her skills and honor their legacy. But now there's no power and her mom's been triggered by the raging river and bad memories of a similar storm. The two of them are feeling particularly alone as they've never bothered to befriend any neighbors. But now Addy keeps running into her classmate Caleb on the hill above her house where they both go to get cell service. Caleb's frantic about a missing neighbor, and Addy's amazed to see how he's able to connect with folks to get help.

Then Caleb offers to help Addy get to camp--but can she trust him? She always thought of him as an enemy--but maybe she was partially to blame for his frostiness? The storm has brought so many questions swirling to the surface and has made Addy realize it's time to take some leaps of faith. When she agrees to travel with Caleb by canoe, it sets off a remarkable string of events and a huge test of her survival skills. More importantly, it sets Addy on a road to understanding that she's not in this adventure of life alone--and that's a good thing.

Review Quotes

"Braden successfully explores the inner determination and strength of her characters, accomplishing in under 200 pages what many longer books fail to achieve. Each sentence holds a nugget of wisdom that will touch the reader. But don't blink, or you'll miss details that will take you through the rapids to a satisfying conclusion." --Booklist

"Addy adores her mother, and the duo take pride in their ability to be self-sufficient. However, Addy's mother struggles with grief, anxiety, and panic attacks, and Addy worries about dealing with those mental health issues alone. She looks at the townspeople's connections with one another and wonders what it would be like if she were a part of their community. . . . Multiple traumatic events, including a superstorm reminiscent of the one that took her dad's life, as well as an unexpected friendship with a childhood nemesis, encourage Abby to branch out as she learns to trust other people and accept them in her life. Addy is a likable character who readers will identify with and want to succeed. Her outdoor activities are presented in an exciting and interactive way that is utterly engaging. Friendships are genuine and relatable, and Braden powerfully expresses the importance of relationships and community. The depiction of mental health struggles will be helpful for young readers, and practical strategies are offered to understand and manage them. A heartfelt, feel-good story about the importance of emotional connections set against outdoor adventures." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Ann Braden (AnnBradenBooks.com) is also the author of Hijacked by Goats, Opinions and Opossums, and Flight of the Puffin. She writes books about kids trying to stand up for themselves even when things are tough. Her debut middle grade novel, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, was an NPR Best Book. Ann founded the Local Love Brigade, which sends love postcards to those who are facing hate. She also founded GunSenseVT, a grassroots group that helped pass landmark gun violence prevention legislation. Ann has been a middle school teacher, the co-host of the children's book podcast Lifelines: Books That Bridge the Divide, and co-organizer of #KidsNeedMentors. Ann lives in southern Vermont with her husband, two children, and two insatiable cats.