Plot Summary: The River Between Us begins in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. William Hutchings and his three sons are going on a trip in a Model T car to visit family in Grand Tower, Illinois. Fifteen year old, Howard Leland Hutchings is telling the story. On the way, his father describes his hometown. He tells them a story about a ghost that has been seen crossing the road on dark nights. When they arrive at the old home place, they are greeted by the first Dr. William Hutchings, his grandfather, Grandma Tilly, Great-uncle Noah, and Great-aunt Delphine. There is a flashback to 1861 when Grandma Tilly begins telling Howard the family history. As the Civil War was approaching Grandma Tilly’s mother was trying to survive without a husband. Cass was very sickly because she saw visions of dreadful incidents from the past and in the future. One d ay when a seam boat arrived with Delphine and Calinda from New Orleans, their lives were changed forever. Delphine, with her fancy ways, helped this family to learn to stand up for themselves. Calinda, who was believed to be a servant, read cards in the same way that Cass saw visions. The townspeople did not trust the new mysterious ladies. Grandma Tilly’s mother stood by her decision to allow them to board at her house. The harsh realities of the Civil War are described as Dr. William Hutchings and Grandma Tilly and Noah and Delphine fall in love. Dr. Hutchings and Noah join the war for the North. Grandma Tilly and Delphine nurse the wounded, including Noah. Back in Grand Towers, Grandma Tilly’s mother walks into the river when she thinks Noah is dead. The novel ends in 1916 when Grandma Tilly explains the ending of the family story. On their way home, Howard’s father tells him about his parents. He also explains that he will be going to war. His son understands his decision just as he understood the “ghost woman with flying gray hair who darted across the road and into the Mississippi”.

Readers will enjoy The River Between Us. The plot is strong, interesting, and believable. The story takes place in 1916 when Tilly begins telling her family history from 1861. The setting and time periods are described through the actions of the characters. The steamboats and the trains as well as the descriptions of the characters’ clothes and activities allow the reader to understand life in 1861. The story is built around life during the Civil War. The harsh realities of war and its effect on families in this novel are convincing to the reader. The actions of the characters are very realistic. Customs from New Orleans are described through Delphine’s and Calinda’s characters. For example, the issue of race and laws preventing interracial marriages are discussed. Cass’ visions and Calinda’s card reading add to the mystery of the novel. The characters come from a variety of backgrounds and family structures.
The story begins and ends in 1916, with the fifteen year old grandson, Howard, as the narrator. The main story is told by Grandma Tilly as she tells him the family story that goes back to 1861.Conversation is also used to understand the characters. In describing Delphine, Grandma Tilly’s mother told Tilly, “She put some starch in my spine.” In addition changes were seen in Tilly and Cass after the arrival of the mysterious ladies. The reader also noticed a change in Noah and Dr. Hutchings after the Civil War. The dialogue was suited to the time period. Words like et and seegars were used. Delphine, who was from New Orleans, used French terms. The mystery was not solved until the end of the novel. Townspeople thought that Delphine and Calinda were spies. The ghost story was presented at the beginning of the book. However, it was not until the end of the novel before everything came together. The point of view allowed a young person to understand family, customs, and the effects and harsh conditions of the Civil War. The split between the North and the South and the turmoil that families faced are evident in this novel. A surprise ending of Howard finding information about his real grandparents helped the reader understand the serious laws of the time. A River Between Us is a great story woven around the events of the Civil War.

It took some time to really get into the book. However, once I got into the book, I couldn't put it down. ( )

“The River Between Us” is a historical novel set in a small town located in southern Illinois. Fifteen year old Howard Leland Hutchings begins the story describing his father, a doctor in St. Louis, and the model T Ford in which they are about to make a trip. Howard, his five year old twin brothers, and his father are going to visit his father’s parents and aunt and uncle in a little town called Grand Tower. When they arrive at the “home place” they are greeted by his elderly grandmother, Tilly, and his grandfather on the porch. A third elderly, one armed gentleman is working in the garden and his wife is confined to bed in an upstairs bedroom. Howard notices the paper was loose and peeling on the walls. He wondered if “these old people were ever young” and “how quiet you would have to be to hear the voices of those times” in the old house. The story suddenly fades many years into the past and we hear the rest of the story from a fifteen year old Tilly. Tilly gives an account of what Grand Tower was like in the few weeks prior to Illinois becoming a part of the Civil War. As the war comes to them by way of the river so do two mysterious and captivating travelers. The two travelers take a room in Tilly’s home. These strangers become an important part of Tilly’s and her brother’s survival of a war that changes all their lives forever.

This story has a way of telling about the effects of the Civil War on the people that is not the typical Civil War tale. The story of the culture of a small Illinois town and its people during the mid 1800’s and how the war changed them is told from the perspective of a young girl who had no experience of any thing outside her little settlement. The author gives a fascinating description of the origin and the customs of the free women of color in New Orleans. Her notes indicated many of these customs vanished after the war as well as many of these beautiful people. The author’s use of actual events during the Civil War period was so well woven into the story I felt the story was a historical biography and not historical fiction. The book includes graphic descriptions of the “regimental hospitals” where the wounded soldiers were left to either die or, if strong enough, survive not only their illness but the horrendous conditions. I could feel the heartache at looking at the once proud boy, who left home anxious to be a soldier, and who now lay wasting away in his own filth and too weak to care. I felt this book was well written and enjoyed the view from a different perspective as well as the history of a culture that has been lost.

In the classroom a teacher could use the book to support information on the history of the different people during the Civil War time. The children could discuss the difference in how they fix their meals, how their houses have indoor plumbing, and how they are entertained at theatres in contrast to the life style during the time period of the book. The teacher could use the book to support a lesson on the origin of many of the old folk songs. The children could be taught a song from the time period of the book and then asked to tell what they think the song meant during the Civil War period.

“The River Between Us,” by Richard Peck is a historical novel set during the Civil War. It focuses on the relationship between a young teenage girl, her family, and two remarkable strangers who visit their small town.

ALA Notable Books for Children 2004, ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2004
National Book Award Honor for Young People's Literature 2003, Scott O'Dell Award 2004