Where the Water Takes Us
Where the Water Takes Us
As her grandfather drove through the night, Ava couldn’t help but feel that something horrible was going to happen to her mother. The thought never left her mind, even after the morning sun rose over the trees along the roadside.
The doctor said that her mother’s pregnancy had become complicated, that from now on Ava would be more of a burden at home than a help. Ava still couldn’t let go of the word. Burden. That’s what the doctor had called her while she was sitting in the tiny office holding her mother’s hand.
Her parents said otherwise. She could be as helpful as any eleven-year-old, but all the same, her grandfather arrived that weekend to take her to the lake. The far-off lake where her grandparents had a cabin on a remote island and where her father used to spend his summers. Burden. The world rang in her ears. (p. 2)
Eleven-year-old Ava Amato is struggling with her feelings. Her mother is pregnant with twins and has been having health issues. The doctor has called Ava a “burden” to her mother and possibly a danger to her health. Ava is devastated. “Some words had power. They had the power to change the entire direction of your life, if someone decided to say them aloud.” (p. 3)
Ava is sent to her grandparents’ cottage on a remote northern island for the summer. Although she loves her Nonna and Nonno, she cannot help but feel depressed and isolated. Nonna tries to help her deal with the situation and encourages her to explore the natural environment. Nonno lets her take the canoe to explore Deer Island where deer roam freely. A sudden storm causes Ava to land on the island to take shelter. After the storm, she finds a dead woodpecker killed by a fallen tree. When discussing the incident with Nonna, she is shocked to learn about a superstition related to dead birds. “It’s the same if a bird falls from the sky dead or dies at your doorstep. It’s like a curse being put on you. It’s a sign that a death will come to the family.” (p. 45) Ava now feels she is cursed by the woodpecker’s death.
On Ava’s canoe journeys, she meets Cody who is staying nearby with his father. This trip is a gift to Cody because his parents have recently been divorced. At first, Ava is wary of Cody. “He reminded her of certain boys at her school. The ones who talked too loudly and were always too excited about something.” (p. 24) She tries to avoid him, but, since they are the only two young people in the area, they inevitably see each other. When the two of them are exploring, they find two robin’s eggs on the ground. These eggs have been abandoned by their mother. Ava feels that, if she takes care of these eggs, she will eliminate the “curse” on her because of the woodpecker’s death.
Where the Water Takes Us is a well-written novel about two young people who are struggling with difficult circumstances. Ava’s mother is having a difficult pregnancy, and Ava is dealing with being a “burden”. Cody is struggling with his parents’ divorce. Both young people are deeply affected by the challenges they are facing. Both Ava and Cody are realistic characters who are spending the summer in nature. They encounter the wrath of nature when the storm kills a woodpecker, and they enjoy the bounty of nature when they care for the two robins’ eggs.
This book is beautifully illustrated by writer Alan Barillaro who has had a long career in animation. Each two-page layout has an illustration at the bottom which enhances the storyline. The colours are pale, muted, and reflect the action in the story. The discovery of the eggs shows up in the illustrations as does the hatching and the life cycle of the young birds. There are also several luminous full-page illustrations. These illustrations add to the enjoyment of the novel, and they are a reminder about the power and joy of reading actual books instead of just electronic copies.
Alan Barillaro’s first novel is compelling and vibrantly illustrated. His characters are well-crafted and realistically portrayed. Ava is a sensitive and courageous young lady who faces her deepest fears, and Cody learns a lot about himself as well. Where the Water Takes Us is a gripping read for both male and female readers who will learn about topics such as: family relationships, pregnancy, divorce, bird ecology, kindness, friendship, courage, and the natural world. Barillaro leaves readers with a memorable message about how humanity relates to the natural world. Nonna tells Ava, “Nothing in nature is ours to keep.” (p. 149)
Myra Junyk, of Toronto, Ontario, is a literacy advocate and author.