This book is about a young girl and her internal journey to accept her father's death at the river where they both went to and loved. While finding a way to cope with her father's death she meets a paraplegic former pilot who is really grouchy and irritable. They soon become friends and the young girl tries to get the gentleman to try and fly again.

This story follows the life of a young girl who has lost her father to the river. Her solstice was traveling up and down the river and observing all the wildlife around her. This book was an amazing read that introduced the reader to many new creatures and flora that live around rivers. I would use this book for older elementary students that enjoy novels rather than straight informational texts. ( )

Critique: This was a good example of realistic fiction, though the cat seems to talk to the girl, the book imples that she imagines this. The girl is a typical 3rd grader who goes to school, has a mom and a dad, and has neighbors and a mailman.
Characterization: The Bad Hads brothers are a great example of a foil because they were the exact opposite of Lily Star (the protagonist). While Lily Star was good, honest, caring, and loved animals and nature the Bad Hads were disrespectful, mean, abusive to their dog, etc.