River of Our Return

By: Gladys Smith

Narrated by: Stephanie Brush

The homestead hidden in Idaho's Salmon River Canyon had been a paradise, until the river claimed the life of her husband. Now, lonelier than she ever thought possible, Hattie Clark finds Toby, an eight-year-old runaway. An unspeakable secret has driven the boy into the wilderness to search for his great-uncle, Afton McCabe, Hattie's cantankerous gold-mining neighbor.

The river promises great riches to McCabe but delivers heartbreak, and Afton resents Toby's intrusion. When a devastating illness nearly kills the boy, Afton and Hattie decide they must brave the wild river to return him to his father. The journey casts them together against the untamed will of the wilderness, and challenges Toby to keep his new family together.

©1998 Gladys Smith (P)2002 Books in Motion

Solid read

River of Our Return is a great story well told. This is a novel of struggles: parents and children, pioneers and the elements, humans and nature, good and evil - all against the backdrop of the Snake River winding through turn of the century Idaho. Obviously the author knows the history of the area and loves its beauty. I recommend this for people who like their historical fiction inspiring without being sappy or unbelievable.