LitPick Review
Three Rivers Rising, by Jame Richards, takes place in the summer of 1889. Celestia is a sixteen year old girl from a wealthy family who vacations with her family at a fancy resort on the edge of Lake Conemaugh, held in by a dam. She has a desire for a life beyond the restrictive one her parents have planned out for her. Paul lives with his father in the village below the dam and works at the resort. He too wants something more out of his life. When they meet, a romance blossoms between them that is undeniable. It's also one that could have Celestia disowned and have Paul fired. When the dam collapses, the town below the dam, Johnstown, floods. The flood throws the town into ruin and disease begins to spread rapidly, leaving the characters of the novel to try and piece their lives back together.
Opinion:
This is a very well-written novel. The verse style makes it easy to read and the way it is told from multiple perspectives enriches the plot. Paul and Celestia are likable characters that the reader roots for throughout the novel. Their romance is believable and heart-warming. The other characters all fit into the story well and are all interesting. Of the supporting characters I found Estrella and the girls' father most realistic and enjoyable to read about. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a novel with some romance or a historical novel. The ending seemed to come up quickly in this readable novel but was satisfying for the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I think many others will too.
