Title: Lost in the River of Grass
Author: Ginny Rorby (site)
Published: Published March 28th 2011 by Carolrhoda Books
Pages: 264
Buy: Amazon / Book Depository
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis: "I don't realize I'm crying until he glances at me. For a moment, I see the look of anguish in his eyes, then he blinks it away and slips off into the water. I immediately think of the gator. It's still down there somewhere..."
A science-class field trip to the Everglades is supposed to be fun, but Sarah's new at Glades Academy, and her fellow freshmen aren't exactly making her feel welcome. When an opportunity for an unauthorized side trip on an airboat presents itself, it seems like a perfect escape—an afternoon without feeling like a sore thumb. But one simple oversight turns a joyride into a race for survival across the river of grass. Sarah will have to count on her instincts—and a guy she barely knows—if they have any hope of making it back alive.
Lost in the River of Grass takes on the classic survival genre using one of the country's most unique wild places as a backdrop. In this tense, character-driven thriller, Sarah must overcome prejudice and the unforgiving wilderness in a struggle to survive. (Goodreads)
Review: I loved the idea of someone being lost in the Everglades. I've read about being lost in jungles, deserts, and underground tunnels, but never the Everglades. This was a very absorbing, quick read. There was a tiny bit of romance and plenty of suspense and danger. While it was a bit MG, at no point did I feel like the author was talking down to me. This would be a great read for your little brother or nephew, not so great for your House of Night devotee of a cousin. The story is solid, the characters realistic, and the conclusion satisfying. The only thing that bothered me was the sudden introduction in the last chapter of the big R theme. She is snubbed by her classmates in the beginning and I assumed that this was because she was poor. It's not until the last chapter that I realized she was black and that her race was the cause of all of that. If racism is going to be a big theme in a book, I feel that the author should introduce it clearly at the beginning. The full implications of her love interest's father's confederate flag, for instance, went right over my head. I figured, "Ok, so he has to overcome his father's ignorance and she is disgusted by it" and not, "Oh crap, his father is going to hate her because of the color of her skin" which is clearly what I was supposed to get from that, judging by his father's actions at the end of the book. I just hate feeling like I've missed a big piece of the story. :(
Quick Review: This was a good read, solid and gripping. I would recommend it for your little brother or a school classroom.
