• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Camp Clearwater on the Starling River is home to best friends Nate, Owen and Mercy, but the summer they turn sixteen an incident forces the camp to close its doors.

Mike Elliot, the river guide who taught the teens everything they know, is lost to the rapids. A tragic accident, everyone agrees. Except for Nate. Mike was the best kayaker he’d ever met. The smartest. The safest. He respected and loved the river, and as far as Nate is concerned, the river loved Mike back. If his instructor was pulled under by the Starling, then Nate is sure foul play was involved. To find the truth, Nate must face his greatest fears as he retraces Mike’s final run through the Black Hole, the most treacherous waters on the Starling.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

M.J. McIsaac's profile page

• Commended, Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection

M.J. McIsaac is the author of several books for young people, including Underhand from the Orca Sports collection. She has a master’s degree in writing for children from the University of Winchester in the UK. M.J. currently lives with her family in Whitby, Ontario.

"An exciting page-turner...Readers will have success in completing the book, and it will satisfy their thirst for the thrill of adventure and achievement."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“M. J. McIsaac has created clear characters, and good dialogue within a simple and straightforward plot. For those who have an interest in the outdoors, and especially paddle sports, this is a satisfactory read, and hopefully the first of many from McIsaac.”

Resource Links

“A very good book for struggling and reluctant readers. Full of adventure, action, and suspense and will keep readers on the edge of their seats.”

Must Read Literature