A throwback to family reads of yore, this epic follows a troubled boy and a host of hilariously vexed animals who must save a river before it's dammed, so they can save themselves.
Gabriel ("G" for short) is wasting away in the Abiddon County Juvenile Center when he's introduced to the Shongunk River by his dying uncle. The river valley—trash-heaped but chock-full of mysteries and fish—wins G over. But, as G has learned, good things can't last. The Shongunk is scheduled to be dammed by a local developer. In a matter of days, it will cease flowing, and all of the talkative creatures who live there in the river valley will be as homeless as G.
Just as G decides it's no time to accept his fate, so too do the animals. To inspire an uprising, a young trout is nominated to make a fateful journey up the river; a raccoon swears a violent oath against humans; and a newly sober buck leads his skittish flock out of harm's way. Together with G, they show that good can triumph and that there is power in all of us, even the smallest minnow.
Praise
? STARRED REVIEW! "At its heart, this is a story about a river and the people and creatures that surround it, exploring how our environment shapes, sustains, or wounds us, and ultimately helps us heal. …A recommended purchase for middle grade and young adult collections. Especially suited for readers who enjoy nature-centered fiction, gritty coming-of-age stories, and novels that explore the resilience of people and the natural world."
—School Library Journal
“Kirk Lombard’s The Shadow Stream is a book of great originality, a book like no other, propelled by brilliant storytelling and original thinking (and fish!) that will engage readers of all ages—a perfect family book.”
—Mark Kurlansky, author of Cod and Salt and World Without Fish
“The Shadow Stream is a book that will change your mind: brilliantly told, it is an odyssey and an oddity, a tale that defies expectations and redefines the notion of hero.”
—Annie Barrows, bestselling co-author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and author of the Ivy & Bean series
“This ambitious 1997-set eco-fantasy from Lombard ... succeeds in offering an uplifting message about the interconnectedness of people, wildlife, and the landscapes they share.”
—Publishers Weekly
"A rather magnificent book and a rarity besides. Defies expectations."A Fuse #8 Production, Betsy Bird
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