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The River Between Us by Richard Peck

Written by Ashley Hawn

Life in the Civil War era was very difficult; especially for women and young women. The book takes place between 1861-1914. It is about a family who grew up during the civil war and experienced all the hardships and more.

Tilly was a young women who lived a very plain life in Illinois with her mother, brother Noah, and strange sister, Cass. Tilly and her family lived in Grand Tower along the Devil's Backbone, which are many hills that look like a backbone. Cass was never ordinary. Cass could see the past and now she thinks she can see the future. This is what drew Tilly and the rest of her family away from the youngest child. One day Tilly and her family go to a dance at a local shop. All of a sudden, all the party goers hear a showboat coming in. Everyone rushes down the docks to see the beautiful, grand boat. Off the boat comes the most confident, elegant, rich, beautiful person anyone in Grand Tower has seen, Delphine, and with her is a colored "slave". Delphine and her "slave", Calinda need a hotel to stay but Tilly's mother offers her the extra room in their plain house. With a fancy woman living in a plain house who knows what could happen and with the war slowly approaching the household.

I really enjoyed this book because I had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. This book I finished in about three days because I enjoyed so much! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants adventure, loves history, or is interested in the Civil War from a women's point of view.

Last Updated: December 09, 2004
Yannis Grammatis