Withers, Pam First Descent

Withers, Pam      First Descent     

 Tundra Books      2011  265p  19.99 978-1-77049-257-8  

ms/hs E-BN  Conflict     

    Rex hopes to make a first descent while kayaking an infamous river in Columbia. As he sets out to prove himself to his grandfather, he finds himself caught up in the conflict between guerrillas, paramilitary and indigenous people who live along the river. Gr. 7+.   

    Written in such a way that the intense art of kayaking in Class III to Class V rapids grips the reader from the start and then quickly evolves into a tension filled escape of Rex and two indigenous people from the guerrilla and paramilitary forces that hunt them.  The presentation of the struggles of indigenous peoples in South America and the intrusion by paramilitary forces who wish to take their land to grow cocoa plants for drug production is an integral plot device. The reader comes to understand the perils of kayaking as well as the struggles of a native people who just want to live their lives in peace. After reading this book many readers will want to learn more about the plight of indigenous people in South America who live in remote jungles. The imagery of isolation, peril from nature, and fear are palpable and will linger with the reader. Rex learns that his grandfather had a connection to these indigenous people and he feels an attraction to a young woman who he comes to learn is his cousin. Rex grows as a young man as he struggles to come to terms with his image of the man who is his grandfather who unsuccessfully kayaked the same river. Outstanding action adventure with plenty of tension from page one to the end of the book.               Kayaking and Indigenous Peoples     Lois McNicol