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River Boy

Book Synopsis

Grandpa is dying. He can barely move his hands anymore, but stubborn as ever, refuses to stay in hospital. He’s determined to finish his last painting, ‘River Boy’, before he goes. A poignant story that explores the subject of grief and loss in an accessible and affecting way, Tim Bowler’s Carnegie Medal-winning book will take your breath away and is now available in this updated edition with cover artwork by Tom Clohosy Cole.

Our Review Panel says...

Winner of the prestigious Carnegie Medal, this profound novel is incredibly rich in descriptive language. It tells the story of swimming-obsessed Jess as she struggles to come to terms with the impending death of her grandfather, who insists on finishing one last painting before he dies. Jess meets a mysterious river boy and is faced with an ultimate challenge of her own to complete. This is a novel that deals with themes of life and death and is suitable for more mature or confident readers.

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