The Secret River
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3.0 • 5 Ratings
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
From the literary iconic author of The Yearling comes an enchanting tale that transcends decades and generations. The Great Depression has hit, and Calpurnia and her family do not have enough. Not enough money, not enough food, not enough fish for Daddy to sell at the market. With the aid of a wise forest friend, Calpurnia discovers a secret river that provides an abundance of fish, which her community desperately needs. But when she returns the next day for more, she learns there is an important distinction between need and greed.
Set during a time of want, The Secret River overflows with riches: marvelous language, mystical happenings, and wondrous, awe-inspiring artwork from legendary team Leo and Diane Dillon that brims with symbolism. Both timely and timeless, this lavish picture book is a classic in the making.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The Dillons (Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears) bring new life to Pulitzer Prize winner Rawlings's (The Yearling) absorbing story, first published post-humously in 1956, when it received a Newbery Honor. Calpurnia's father's fish-selling business is failing, so she goes to Madame Albirtha, "the wisest person in the forest," for advice. "Will you tell me where I can catch some big fish," she asks, "so that hard times will be soft times?" Calpurnia's day at the secret river produces a groaning load of catfish, but the big predators of the Florida scrub want their share, too. Sensitive, cheerful, and full of courage, Calpurnia survives every threat, brings home her prize, feeds the town and discovers an unexpected facet of Madame Albirtha's wisdom. Mesmerizing patterns and colors distinguish the Dillons' spreads, which balance large, captivating panels with smaller vignettes clustered around the text. Their acrylics are a foray into magical realism (when Calpurnia invents a poem about befriending bees, her hair becomes a tangle of purple flowers thick with the insects), and their portraits are always true to Rawlings's imaginings. Not to be missed. Ages 4 8.
