IN THE SAME BOAT

After last year’s failure, 17-year-old Sadie Scofield is determined to successfully paddle the entire 265-mile length of the Texas River Odyssey.

Sadie narrates a tale combining the physical obstacles and exertions of a grueling two-and-a-half-day canoe race—from river source to coastal Seadrift—with equally entertaining strands revealing her memories, opinions, and, especially, her shifting feelings stemming from new insights. Sadie’s father was her teammate last year, but they were forced to withdraw when she was injured. This year, the family has prepared for Sadie and her 19-year-old brother, Tanner, to race together, carrying on a tradition of Scofield participation in the competition. Unexpectedly, Tanner deserts her for another team and underage Sadie’s only chance to race is to accept an offer from Cully Hink—the son of her father’s boating rival and friend-turned-enemy. Sadie and Cully had been best friends until their fathers’ feud; since then, they have treated each other badly. Over the course of her journey—and during a heart-to-heart with her father at its end—she revises earlier, false impressions, exhibiting real growth. This debut presents a convincing, resilient voice in Sadie, who expresses her thoughts on everything from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to sexuality and environmentalism. The story also offers well-researched details of the world of competitive paddlers, a portrayal of emotional abuse, a cast of interesting characters, and humorous touches. Main characters default to White.

An engaging story with an endearing narrator.