Blackwater

Thirteen-year-old Brodie is unhappy with his cousin, Alex, even before he arrives to stay for the holidays. One morning Bodie takes Alex down to the pond which abuts the tumultuous Blackwater River. He sees his girlfriend Pauline with another boy. Jealousy takes over and Brodie tries to drag Pauline into the water. Unfortunately both she and Otis fall into the river .Brodie races down river to try and save them but to no avail. When he in turn is rescued he finds Alex has doctored the truth and Brodie is touted as a hero and Brodie never seems to find the right moment to tell the truth himself until a friend who has also witnessed the accident convinces him to do so.

What a tension-filled story. Most issues were resolved at the end... but not all. The reader has to wonder what happened with the cousin in the end.

Blackwater could be used for 6th grade or 7th grade as a read aloud or group book. This book deal with difficult subjects, such as death, killing, and tragedy. Due to the difficult themes it is important to be able to talk to others about the events. This book could be used to teach theme, the major theme of the book is about telling the truth and how it is more difficult to keep a lie. This theme is apparent through the end of the book and could be used to help teach theme and how to determine it. This book could also be used to teach plot, the book happens in the midst of only a few days. There are major events that change the course of the story along the way, as well as a mystery to be revealed.

Unrealistic conversations from characters. A bit moralistic.