Raft of Stars

A Novel

De: Andrew J. Graff

Narrado por: Lincoln Hoppe

“A rousing adventure yarn full of danger and heart and humor.” (Richard Russo)

An instant classic for fans of Jane Smiley and Kitchens of the Great Midwest: when two hardscrabble young boys think they’ve committed a crime, they flee into the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Will the adults trying to find and protect them reach them before it’s too late?

It’s the summer of 1994 in Claypot, Wisconsin, and the lives of 10-year-old Fischer “Fish” Branson and Dale “Bread” Breadwin are shaped by the two fathers they don’t talk about.

One night, tired of seeing his best friend bruised and terrorized by his no-good dad, Fish takes action. A gunshot rings out and the two boys flee the scene, believing themselves murderers. They head for the woods, where they find their way onto a raft, but the natural terrors of Ironsforge gorge threaten to overwhelm them.

Four adults track them into the forest, each one on a journey of his or her own. Fish’s mother Miranda, a wise woman full of fierce faith; his granddad, Teddy, who knows the woods like the back of his hand; Tiffany, a purple-haired gas station attendant and poet looking for connection; and Sheriff Cal, who’s having doubts about a life in law enforcement.

The adults track the boys toward the novel’s heart-pounding climax on the edge of the gorge and a conclusion that beautifully makes manifest the grace these characters find in the wilderness and one another. This timeless story of loss, hope, and adventure runs like the river itself amid the vividly rendered landscape of the Upper Midwest.

©2021 Andrew J. Graff (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Nice morality adventure tale

Very nice book to listen to with a slow but comfortable reader. North woods tale part coming-of-age, part suspenseful adventure, and part imperfect wisdom of experience. The pace was good and the story engaging. Sure, (like one overly bitter Wisconsin native reviewer complains) there was some mild “stretching” of the Wisconsin wildlife to fit the story but nothing unreasonable to make the narrative flow. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end.

Great writing / great story!

Did not dislike one single word One of the best books I’ve read this year! The story and the characters are memorable!

Loved it

Suspenseful. Good storytelling. Storylines were enjoyable and heartfelt and descriptive. Hope there's another book!

Needs closer editing

It was a good story, all in all, about the strength of friendship and an indomitable spirit, but could have been told well in less space. A sweet story, though.

Pleasant Listen

Good clean adventure! I am ready for another book by Andrew J. Graff whenever he is ready! Meanwhile, I will just listen to this one again!

Entertaining

Well written, easy to follow,easy to understand, and well read. Couldn’t wait to get back to it throughout my workday.

Highly unlikely, really foolish, choices by characters propel this story

I appreciated the descriptions of different key characters fighting for their lives against a fierce and wild river. Vivid!
But way too much of this story rests on characters making highly unlikely, really foolish, decisions. I didn’t believe people would act that way. So the story didn’t ring true, seemed implausible.
In this Audio version, I didn’t like the narrator’s usual soft, conspiratorial, voice.

Fantastic Story

Great story with a wonderful narrator. Lincoln has a great reading voice. I found myself always wanting to listen "just a little longer", sitting in my car in my driveway after I got home from work.
Highly recommend this book!

My kind of story!

Adventure, wilderness, wildlife, coming of age, good guys bad guys, love, spirit world, altogether wonderful story well told and well read. I loved every minute

A possible family read

Lots of spiritual overtones, and not just Christian if you're really paying attention. If you have middle schoolers this would be a good book you could both read together. Themes of innocence lost and found, facing down ones past, 'happy accident' relationships. A lovely journey overall.