The Stream [Hardcover]

H. Steven Robertson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 2006

With a style resembling Hemmingway and a theme echoing Melville, The Stream narrates a young boy's internal and external battle with society and nature. Set in a time before technology wooed teens away from their love of outdoors, the tale merges images of one adolescent's fear, maturity and courage with a dynamic account of a lost-at-sea saga.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: High-Pitched Hum Publishing (December 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977729079
• ISBN-13: 978-0977729074
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just another "coming of age" story, April 10, 2007

By 

William Webb "Bill" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Stream (Hardcover)

This is one of what I've come to think of as Robertson's "coming of age" series, and in a sense it is the typical young-man-on-a-quest story. It's more than that, though. The author weaves his love of the sea and fishing, his encyclopedic knowledge of both, and -- most importantly -- his deep understanding of young men from his years as a teacher and coach, into a tale that is reminiscent of Conrad and Hemingway but that is, in the end, pure Steve Robertson. A good read for all ages.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steve does it again, April 14, 2007

By 

Anne A. Berkey (St.Augustine, Fl USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Stream (Hardcover)

Steve has done it again with another coming of age page turner. Having worked with middle schoolers for
years, and being an avid fisherman himself, he uses both experiences to create a memorable young adult
book that is suitable for all ages. I liked Sandy because he showed a depth of character that isn't always apparent in other YA books. The book doesn't get bogged down in details, but manages to put you
directly into the story from the first page. I have recommended this to many of my middle school readers,
and every one of them has come back with positive remarks.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Stream by H. Steven Robertson, April 12, 2007

By 

asianstoryteller (malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Stream (Hardcover)

The Stream

Good stories are, by nature, meant to entertain; but, what can make a story great is the added bonus a reader gets when the tale teaches a reader something new; The Stream is a great story. What, you may wonder, did I learn from reading this great tale? I must admit that initially, it was with a little trepidation that I approached this novel. Fishing? What do I know about fishing? I thought. It is neither a hobby of mine and really, I could not very well identify with a story about a youth who gets lost at sea when he goes out fishing. But, I was wrong and in for a treat.

I was hooked from the moment I completed reading the Prologue. The main protagonist, Sandy, is in some form of danger and I found that I immediately wanted to know what happened. This desire to know what happened was sustained throughout the tale and is testament to Mr. Robertson's craftsmanship. The remaining chapters chronicle the events of Sandy's life and experiences in the two weeks prior to this incident. It is an honest, heart-warming and yet funny account of this teenager's life in the sea-side town of Mayport, Florida.

In this story, Mr. Robertson has introduced various themes from the preservation of family values, teenage romance, boy-growing up and a rescue mission. To his credit, Mr. Robertson has managed to intertwine all of these themes and the end result is a tale which is seamless and flows beautifully. The language is neither too flowery nor is it too simple - indeed, Mr. Robertson has struck a balance to ensure that the tale is told with great aplomb. There is much humor in this story and it comes across in the many descriptions that Mr. Robertson has given to the characters and places. For instance, `Watermelon-on-legs' and `Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum' immediately create images that makes any further description of these people superfluous. Also, what was intriguing was that Mr. Robertson has succeeded in writing dialogue that is so true and original that it was refreshing.

It is often said of novels that words should be enough to sufficiently convey a tale. When illustrations are included, something does not seem right and more often than not, a reader may become frustrated with the fact that the illustrations do not eventually tally with the description in the book. However, in the case of The Stream, it is the exact opposite for Mr. Robertson's words already conjure up images that are most vivid and when the strategically placed illustrations presented themselves, I found myself thinking, "that's exactly how I saw it"- indeed, the illustrations are beautiful and they add to rather than detract from the tale told.

As I started with the idea that readers should learn something new when reading a tale, I think it fitting that I end this piece with what I've learned about fishing by quoting what is my favorite passage in the book:

Actually, Sandy already knew that the tide would be low because he kept up with the charts. Good fishermen always considered several natural occurrences when fishing. The tide was one. Sandy liked an incoming tide. The temperature of the water was significant, the phase and location of the moon was another factor. The presence and location of baitfish in an area was also important. The moon would be setting about the time the sun rose, which was perfect. The water was very warm around the inshore reefs and there were lots of baitfish swimming there.