Voices of the River: Adventures on the Delaware [Paperback]

Jan Cheripko (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

The history, beauty, mystery, and magic of one of America's greatest rivers is revealed in this exciting account of a 215-mile canoe trip down the Delaware. "An engaging personal account."--School Library Journal. Color photos.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9-An engaging personal account of a 215-mile canoe trip from the start of the Delaware River in Hancock, New York, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although neither 14-year-old Matt Smith nor the 40-year-old author is a seasoned rower (Matt writes of his apprehension in a short forward), they studied the route and prepared well. A map shows their daily progress and there are several interesting historical tidbits about the sights and stops along the way. Not all ran smoothly; short tempers caused arguments and the canoe had to be towed for the last six miles, but, still, the trip was deemed worthwhile. While his prose is somewhat pedestrian, Cheripko does capture the emotional and physical impact of such an arduous undertaking. He explains the formation and risks of Class I, II and III rapids, and conveys the feeling of being in a small craft on a big, powerful river. Peter Lourie's Hudson River (Caroline, 1992) recounts a similar trip, but without the appeal of a teen participant. An attractive format with plenty of clear, colorful photos makes this a good choice for outdoorspeople planning their first canoe trip.
Kathleen McCabe, East Meadow Public Library, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. Canoeing enthusiasts will enjoy Cheripko's breezy account of his 10-day, 215-mile trip down the Delaware River with 14-year-old Matt Smith. Both Cheripko and Smith were novice canoeists and expected the rapids, weirs, and dams along the river to present a real challenge to their skills. Cheripko includes information about the history of the Delaware, the construction of bridges and dams, and the efforts of conservationists to preserve the river, as well as descriptions of the pair's adventures. Although Matt was invited along so Cheripko could "show what canoeing the Delaware was like for a teenager" and appears in most of the photographs (he also provides a brief introduction and an epilogue), the book would have been even more interesting--and perhaps more appealing--had he collaborated with Cheripko in writing the text or if more of his thoughts on the day's occurrences had been included. Full-color photographs illustrate every page. Chris Sherman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Pr (August 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563976226
• ISBN-13: 978-1563976223
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,819,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Travel > United States > States > Delaware

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