The River Between Us, by Richard Peck

The River Between Us, by Richard Peck
Juvenile, 2003

from fantasticfiction.co.uk: The year is 1861. Civil war is imminent and Tilly Pruitt's brother, Noah, is eager to go and fight on the side of the North. With her father long gone, Tilly, her sister, and their mother struggle to make ends meet and hold the dwindling Pruitt family together. Then one night a mysterious girl arrives on a steamboat bound for St. Louis. Delphine is unlike anyone the small river town has even seen. Mrs. Pruitt agrees to take Delphine and her dark, silent traveling companion in as boarders. No one in town knows what to make of the two strangers, and so the rumors fly. Is Delphine's companion a slave? Could they be spies for the South? Are the Pruitts traitors? A masterful tale of mystery and war, and a breathtaking portrait of the lifelong impact one person can have on another.

Guest Reviewer, Gardening Granny:


Like a holiday surprise, this is a story within a story. And the story within is much more delicious than the shell surrounding it. It was thought provoking, and I loved it. Richard Peck writes with versatility and relevance. Nothing inappropriate, however, probably for ages 12/13 and up.
Graded an A-.