Raft of Stars

A Novel

By: Andrew J. Graff

Narrated by: 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.

Feel good

I’m so tired of reading ugly stories full of hate and violence. What’s wrong with a cast of characters you can care about, worry about? Nothing. This is an optimistic story. One adventurous tale that leaves you feeling good when it’s over. Sure, it’s a bit far fetched, but who cares? Just enjoy it and have fun. Feeling good isn’t a crime.

Modern Huckleberry Finn story.

Good story. I enjoyed the many characters. good narration. Only a couple of cuss words..that's always nice!

You won’t be sorry!

What a wonderfully written story. Well developed characters and a thoughtful and beautifully written book. I loved this so much I will be buying the hard back book as gifts!

fantastuc

I absolutely loved this book.
The narration is fabulous. it's a must read or listen.

Great coming of age story

I really enjoyed the story but I was immensely disappointed by all the Christian and new windows. if you're going to promote Christianity and it's beliefs you should be sure to warn readers. some of us are pagans.

Great adventure story

I enjoyed listening to this adventure story of Bread & Fish escaping into the woods with the adults who care about them trying to find them.

Wonderful

Raft of Stars is an engrossing coming of age story It tell the tale of two boys who battle life and the wilderness. It also tell the tale of the people who care about the boys and how events challenge and change them. The story is well written and preformed. I was completely engaged and will miss the characters now that I’ve finished it

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!