Rising Water [Hardcover]

P.J. Petersen (Author)

Book Description

Kevin, who was arrested for stealing a car, is assigned to volunteer at an animal rescue agency as part of his release agreement. Luke, one of the other volunteers, is happy to have Kevin's help, but Luke's sister, Tracy, is annoyed by the newcomer's attitude.

Then heavy winter rains cause the levee to break, and the unruly river floods the town. Luke and Tracy, who have a boat, set out to help the neighbors who are fleeing their homes, and Luke asks Kevin to accompany them.

The trio's attempt to do good becomes a perilous adventure when they spot looters in an empty house. In trying to identify the thieves, Luke is captured, and the burglars shoot a hole in the boat. Battling both the elements and their fears, Tracy and Kevin must figure out a way to save Luke -- and themselves.

In a riveting adventure on the water, P. J. Petersen combines action with human relationships to create a novel as gripping as his award-winning White Water.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grades 6-9--Kevin is assigned to an animal-rescue agency as a part of the public-service hours he must serve for stealing a car. He learns the ropes from a volunteer named Tracy and her older brother, Luke. Unimpressed by the "jailbird," Tracy finds the fellow freshman a bit like a wild animal in need of taming. When persistent rains cause a river to break through the levee, the teens are asked to take food out, by boat, to a stranded black Lab. The rapidly rising water adds to the urgency of their mission but the group encounters a more dangerous situation when they suspect burglars are ransacking an unoccupied house. The story unfolds rapidly as Kevin and Luke investigate the property and spy on the armed thugs. Kevin narrowly escapes as he and Tracy dodge a bullet that puts a hole in their boat. The pair must resolve their differences in order to survive and return for Luke. The chapters alternate point of view between Tracy and Kevin, exposing their emotions and vulnerabilities. Both personalities are well developed and their evolving friendship is cemented by the end of the story. Background details of animal rescue and floodwater problems add realism, and the author effectively ties these elements to the characters' resourcefulness in solving their dilemma. This suspenseful adventure will be a sure hit with reluctant readers.

Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-12. Kevin, a young car thief assigned to community service at an animal rescue agency, finds more than he bargained for when a flood compels him and fellow teenage workers Luke and Tracy (Luke's sister) to embark on a rescue mission. When looters kidnap Luke, Kevin and Tracy must overcome their mutual dislike in order to save Luke and nab the culprits. Petersen tells the story through the alternating perspectives of the teens, with each chapter combining suspenseful, quickly paced adventure with character insights. This is formula fiction nicely done, with Petersen keeping words and gestures true to each character. The dialogue sounds genuine, and the emotions are clear but never stereotypic. The suggestion of a future romance is an enticing addition to a story about courage and triumphing over personal shortcomings. Roger Leslie
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689841485
• ISBN-13: 978-0689841484
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,715,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rising Water by Jordan in Ms. Corners class, March 1, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Rising Water (Aladdin Fiction) (Paperback)

"Rising Water" is about three kids whose names are Tracy, Luke, and Kevin. Although these 3 teenagers are very normal they will experience something different from most other kids. It began one day in the animal shelter during a flooding rainstorm when a lady came to the shelter and asked Luke to take his boat out to her house and feed her dog who was trapped at the house because of the flood and if he did this she would reward him with money for the animal shelter. So out of common courtesy he accepted the offer and all three of them went to her house in the gut-wrenching weather experiencing many fun and different things on the way. After they fed the lady's dog and began their journey back to the non-flooded land. They fortunetally managed to catch 2 burglars in the act of steeling some family's stuff from their house. After trying to stop them Luke was kidnapped and held hostage after being beatin by the burglars. Now its up to Tracy and Kevin to save Luke. But,should Tracy and Kevin leave to go and get help or try and fight the kidnappers/burglars on there own? Read the book and find out what happens in the end.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rising Water by P.J Petersen, February 4, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Rising Water (Aladdin Fiction) (Paperback)

I really liked this book. It tokk me a while to get into it but once i got to the 3rd chapter i was hooked like i fish! This book will really keep you in suspense through most of it. Let me give you a hint... dont stop reading it after the first couple chapters.. just give it sometime and it gets really good!

4.0 out of 5 stars rising water, December 18, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Rising Water (Aladdin Fiction) (Paperback)

Rising Water is about a car thief that isn't the sort of person you'd expect to find helping out an animal shelter. But to make up for his crime, Kevin is sent to help Tracy and her brother, Luke- and none of them knows what to expect. When heavy winter rains cause the town's levee to break, the teenagers are forced to skip orientation and help with the rescue effort. Within moment they're in a powerboat pack with sandwiches and supplies and out on the water. Their mission runs smoothly until armed thieves, caught in the act of stealing from a flood home, kidnapped Luke. In a heartbeat, the rescue effort turns toward Tracy's brother- and unless she and Kevin can band together, there's no way for survival.