River Friendly, River Wild
by Jane Kurtz
illustrated by Neil Brennan
About the book
In searing, personal poems, Jane Kurtz explores what it’s
like to struggle through a flood and pull your life together afterward. Inspired
by Kurtz’s own flood experience this tale is realistic and unforgettable. Not
just a moving story of girl’s courage, River Friendly, River Wild is a tribute
to everyone who’s ever faced great loss.
Pre-reading:
What do you think the title of the book means? Can a river
be both friendly and wild? What do you think might happen in the book? When do
rivers become wild?
Discussion Guide:
- Read the author’s note. How can something in real life
inspire a piece of art? Do you think Ms. Kurtz would’ve ever gotten the idea
for this book if she hadn’t gone through this experience? Why or why not?
- What things do the kids like to do near the river?
What would be your favorite thing to do? Why?
- Describe the blizzard. Why does snow and ice affect
the river’s level? What do the kids do?
- What is the author describing in the poem
“Sandbagging”? Is there a rhythm to certain types of work? What other types
of tasks have a kind of rhythm to them like this one?
- Why is the narrator worried in the poems “River Wild”
and “Just in Case?” What are dikes? How do they protect people’s homes?
- Where does the family escape to? Why? What’s it like
there? What catches on fire?
- What oceans of feelings would you have if you, like
the narrator, were waiting to find out about your home? What would be the
hardest part for you?
- How can every pile of garbage be someone’s story on
Lincoln Drive? Describe what the narrator finds at her home. What doesn’t
she find?
- How do strangers help the family? How can anyone help
when a disaster strikes? What can you do?
- What makes mom say, “It’s hard to throw out
memories?” What would be the hardest thing to lose for you? What would be
the most difficult things to lose for your parents or siblings?
- Why is the narrator angry? Do you think her friend,
Sarah, is angry too? Do parents get angry too? Is it alright to get angry
sometimes?
- What will the new dike do? Why? Is it fair?
- What happens to Kiwi? How did she survive the flood?
How is it an example of the terrific neighborhood that once was?
- What has the narrator learned about memories? How has
this story changed the way you think about rivers? Predict what will happen
between the narrator and her best friend, Sarah.
- Which illustration is your favorite? Why? Why do you
think the illustrator picked the palette (or color choices) that he did?
Activities:
Language Arts:
Write letters and create pictures for children somewhere in
the world who have recently suffered a natural disaster. Have a drive for
clothes or toys or art supplies for them too and send it along with your wishes.
Art:
Create a collage based on the story. You can use pictures
from magazines, the internet or create your own. On the back of the artwork,
explain why you chose the pictures that you did.
Drama:
Write the scene between the narrator and her friend Sarah
when they reunite. Or, write a different scene between two other characters on
Lincoln Drive.
Social Studies:
Research what types of natural disasters are most common in
your landscape or climate. Create a list about what people should do and
supplies they should have should an emergency happen. Create an emergency supply
kit and keep it handy!
Science:
Study the life of rivers. How do they change over time?
What animals live in and around them? How do humans try to control rivers? How
successful are they? Create a poster about one of these river topics and share
it with your class.
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