My Name Is River

by Wendy Dunham

Overview

It's 1983, and twelve-year-old River Starling's life is anything but normal. She was adopted on a whim and came without a birth certificate. Her adoptive parents gave her up to her grandmother when she was only two, but River is certain her parents will come back.

River's hopes fall apart when Gram uproots them from their farmhouse and decides to move to Birdsong, West Virginia, the most miserable town River has ever seen. There she makes an unlikely friendship with an unusual boy and learns about acceptance, hard work, forgiveness, and the love of Jesus.

Discover the unforgettable story of one girl's search for a place to call home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780736964623
Publisher:	Harvest House Publishers
Publication date:	10/01/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	144
File size:	444 KB
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

About the Author

Wendy Dunham is an award-winning inspirational children's and middle grade author, a registered therapist for children with special needs, and a blessed mamma of two amazing grown-up kids. She is the author of two middle-grade novels: My Name is River and its sequel, Hope Girl. She has a series of early-readers titled The Tales of Buttercup Grove. And with Reagandoodle and Little Buddy: The True Story of a Labradoodle and His Toddler Best Friend (to be released October, 2018), Wendy writes as the voice of Reagandoodle.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This tween book is an excellent read for our young people who are searching for their own identity. There are some things in life that are most important, such as a person's relationship with God through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Wendy cleverly and tenderly weaves this eternal truth into her story to challenge the reader to draw closer to God no matter what's happening in his/her life."
—Marsha Hubler

Editorial Reviews

"This tween book is an excellent read for our young people who are searching for their own identity. There are some things in life that are most important, such as a person's relationship with God through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Wendy cleverly and tenderly weaves this eternal truth into her story to challenge the reader to draw closer to God no matter what's happening in his/her life."
—Marsha Hubler

From the Publisher

2015-07-22
Twelve-year-old River worries that her missing parents might not know where to find her when she and her grandmother move away from their home, but it has been 10 years, and her grandmother is determined to move forward, leaving old memories and pain behind. Their new life quickly proves her grandmother's sentiment that new things are not necessarily better or worse, just different. River meets Billy, a good-hearted son of a local preacher, who teaches her about love, forgiveness, and kindness all while introducing her to the surprising world of birds. River's grandmother is equally inspired by their relocation, giving up smoking, starting physical therapy, and agreeing to attend church. Everything seems idyllic in Birdsong, West Virginia. But when tragedy strikes, River and her grandmother witness firsthand what true love and forgiveness look like. River's calm strength and openness in the face of her difficult life make her a genuine heroine. And her kooky grandmother's colloquialisms, energy, and obvious love add a dose of humor. While there are occasional moments of overearnestness, the overall effect is successful, a genuine portrayal of a young girl following a life of faith in a world marred with tragedy. An honest look at faith and love. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews