This winter was snowy this spring brought a terrible blizzard and now the river is rising. Sandbags dont stop it the dikes dont stop it and late one night sirens warn everyone to evacuate. A girl and her family dont expect to be gone more than a couple of days so they leave their cat and race for shelter with only a suitcase each. But as days stretch into weeks they worry: Is the cat safe? Will they have a home to return to? And how will their lives be changed? In searing personal poems Jane Kurtz explores what its like to struggle through a flood and pull your life together afterward. Inspired by Kurtzs own flood experience this tale is realistic and unforgettable. Not just a moving story of one girls courage River Friendly River Wild is a tribute to everyone whos ever faced great loss.