I greatly enjoyed Where The River Takes Us, racing through it in one afternoon. It's a truly lovely book, which immediately made me want to read everything else by Lesley Parr. There's a real emotional honesty here, that isn't always present in children's books. However, there's also the more typical group of friends on an adventure premise. I loved the setting (both geographically and in terms of time period), and appreciated the brief snippets of Welsh and South Wales dialect.

Set against the backdrop of the miner's strike and the three-day week, this adventure novel grabs you and holds you in throughout.

With the prospect of a financial reward for a photo of a "beast" roaming the countryside, Jason and his friends set out to find it. As Jason uncovers his older brother's desperate attempts to make ends meet, after their parents deaths, he finds himself entering a nefarious world.

Beautifully written, heart-wrenching and full of wonderful adventure.

Set in 1974 in Wales. Jason and his brother, Ritchie, are finding life hard. They have lost their parents in a car accident. The miners are striking which means limited electrify so there less work and wages. To help ends meet, Richie is persuaded to do some dodgy work to find the mortgage money.
ThenJas9n and his mates hear that there is a reward for a photo of a mysterious panther seen and set off to find it.
The atmosphere of the time comes through but it's the characters that shine through.

Awesome story, especially for younger readers. Very engaging and endearing.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Where the River Takes Us is a really unique piece of historical fiction for middle grade readers that I really enjoyed reading - the setting, characters and historical focus were different from anything I have read before and I really enjoyed learning about a time that not many middle grade authors write about.

Set in 1970s Wales, the main character is Jason, who has lost both of his parents in an accident. He and his brother Richie are just about getting by, but the government rationing and three day working weeks mean that things are difficult and Richie makes some questionnable decisions. There are rumours of a big cat living in the woods nearby and when a newspaper offers a £100 reward for a photograph, Jason and his friends Tam, Catrin and Jinx set off to get the photo to earn the reward.

It was a great story of friendship and how this evolves over time - at the start all of the children were struggling with their place in the group and how they fitted together but their quest made them realise that they were friends no matter what. The characters were all really different, with different backgrounds and home situations and this was dealt with really well, as was the grief that Jason felt around the loss of his parents.

It was an exciting and engaging story with lots to talk about - would make a great book to read together or to read in class. One of my favourites from this year!

Having read previous books by. Lesley Parr I knew I wasn’t going to be disappointed
Set in Wales in 1970’s during the miners strikes, a story of 4 best friends who set out on a quest to find a wild cat

Fantastic book

Thank you for the chance to read this book

An exciting adventure story set in a period of economic hardship in the not so distant past. Orphaned Jason knows he and his older brother need money urgently to pay the mortgage, so he and his friends set off to win a reward advertised in the local paper. Sabotaged by their rivals from school and ill-equipped for their adventure, they have to work together to overcome difficulties, altering the dynamics of the group and cementing their relationships. Celebrating the power of friendship and the lengths families will go to for each other, this is a powerful and sensitively written novel with very credible characters whose emotions and reactions ring true. Highly recommended.

A very special adventure story that's really all about friendship & family.

Four friends set off in search of a fabled local beast in an elaborate scheme to mend a broken family, only to discover they already had everything they needed for that. Lots of fun and heart. Brilliant!

I really liked this, it had a nostalgic feeling to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the author for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

The blurb…
Jason lives with his big brother, Richie, trying their best to make ends meet so they can stay together. They've got supportive neighbours and some great friends, but there's always the threat that someone will think they can't manage on their own since their parents died. It's February 1974 and working-class families have been hit hard by the three-day week. The reduced power usage means less work, and less money to get by on. Richie is doing his best, but to make enough money, he's been doing favours for the wrong people. 

An urban legend about a beast in the valleys catches Jason's eye in the local paper. A wild cat is said to roam the forest, far up the river from their bridge. A reward is offered for proof of The Beast's existence. Jason's friends are desperate to help him, and they convince him that this is the answer to his and Richie's money problems.

And so a quest begins. Four best friends soon find themselves on a journey that will change each of them… forever.

Well, what an utter joy - I blinking loved every single word of this book! (And felt more than a little sad when it came to an end). If you’re looking for a story that’s jam-packed with adventure, friendship, loyalty and nostalgia (for those of you born in the 70s), then look no further! Penny sweets, crisp sandwiches, chopper bikes - they’re all in this glorious book. And for our young readers, this will be a superb historical tale - detailing a period


A well-deserved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me and one I’ll definitely be recommending to my Year 6 class after the Easter break.

When Jason’s parents are killed in a car accident, it’s up to his older brother Richie, to look after them both. Set in the 1970s, the three day working week is making it difficult to meet the mortgage payments and the brothers think the worst thing that could happen to them now, is that they’d lose their house and have to live apart.

With rumours of a wild cat living in a neighbouring valley and the offer of a £100 reward for anyone able to photograph this beast, Jason decides this is his best hope of securing their future. He decides to set out on a quest with friends to be the first to photograph the animal.

I loved the historical details the author includes about life in the 1970s, but most of all, I loved the story about friendship, sticking up for those you care about and facing up to grief. Another excellent book by Lesley Parr.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's 1974 and the three day week is hitting everyone hard, but for Jason and his brother Richie, things are particularly difficult.

Jason is 13 and is being cared for by his older brother, Richie, since their parents have died. Richie is desperate to get things right and is determined not to ask for help, but this is leading him into trouble. Neither of the brothers want to be separated and they'll do anything to stay together.

When Jason reads about a wild cat roaming the countryside nearby, and learns that there is a reward for anyone who can get proof of the existence of the Wild Beast, he thinks this might be his way of helping contribute to the financial stability of the two brothers.

Jason's friends want to help. They're keen to be involved in this quest and so begins an adventure that has all the best qualities of the Famous Five, with just as much nostalgia in this 1970s setting. It's got a great pace with engaging characters and it's full of hope and resourcefulness. I loved it. Suitable for readers aged nine upwards.

At this point, Lesley Parr could write a shopping list and I'd read it.

In 1970s Ponty, Wales, there have been sightings of a giant cat in the neighbouring town. Anyone who photographs it wins a monetary award, money that Jason North needs to keep his brother out of gang trouble and put food on the table. With his friends Catrin, Jinx and Tam, Jason dives into the Welsh countryside to find the beast – but the journey is sometimes more important than the destination...

Parr has such a unique talent at effortlessly bringing characters and their demons to life. Jason is a thirteen-year-old oprhan, under the care of his older brother Richie, during the time of the miner's strikes and three-day work week, and even so young he feels the burden of responsibility to help out around the house and save money where he can. His fears, his hopes, his joy and sadness is beautifully rendered with elegant prose.

Since the photography reward seems like the solution to all his problems, he drags along all his friends to find it, packing sweets and supplies for the long camping trip. Even though Jason has known Catrin, Jinx and Tam for a long time, you feel immediately included in their adventure and camaraderie, and better still, sense there is more for them to learn about each other. Their wonderful, realistic friendship group, with all the highs and lows that friendship brings, is a highlight of the book.

A timeless novel that will resonate with readers for years to come.

WILL I READ MORE BY THIS AUTHOR? Yes.

I requested this book as a read with my 9 year old girl as we had previously enjoyed The Valley of Lost Secrets and really enjoyed it. Where the River Takes Us is was another absolute hit of a read as a tale of resilience and friendship with a brilliant historical fiction backdrop.
Where The River Takes Us is set in 1970s Wales with the backdrop of the miners’ strikes. Things are tough for everyone but no more so than for Jason and his big brother Richie who recently lost their parents and are struggling to stay afloat and together as a family.
When Jason hears about a £100 prize for the first person to capture a photo for a big cat roaming the wilds in Wales, it inspires him and his friends to go in search of it to claim the reward money that would help set him and Richie up for some time. It’s an incredible story of how true friends will have your back in the toughest of times and I really enjoyed the acceptance of Catrin the girl into the gang by showing she can do better than the boys.
Perfect for middle-year children (8-12 year olds) who love historical fiction adventure stories with strong themes of friendship and hardship of the 1970s. Highly recommend and it might bring you to tears at times!

This is a brilliant story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Set in Wales, in the 1970’s during the miners strike, we follow the story of two brothers who have recently lost their parents. Faced with challenges as they pull together against a tough economic background, younger brother Jason embarks on an adventure to change their fortunes.
Jason and his friends are brilliant characters. Warm, feisty, funny and full of hope, it was such a pleasure to tag along with them.
So many themes are still so pertinent today and the balance of fun and adventure, against the exploration of grief and difficult circumstances is written perfectly.
I loved the structure and how the story was tied up in the end. I shall definitely be reading this with my son.

Loss, friendship and adventure - this book has something for everyone!

It's 1974 and working class families have been hit by tough times meaning there is less work and less money to get by on. For 13-year old Jason, times are especially hard - ever since his parents dies, it's just been him and his older brother, Richie, and although Richie is trying his best, he has started to get involved with the wrong people, meaning the constant fear that he and Jason will be separated.

So, Jason welcomes the distraction of an urban legend about a beast that lives in the forest, up the river from his hometown. When Jason's friends learn of a reward for proof that the beast exists, they convince him that it is the answer to all of Jason and Richie's worries. So, a quest begins...

A tale of loss, friendship and adventure, Where the River Takes Us is a great read for KS2 children, with short, snappy chapters that make it perfect for bedtime reading or the classroom.

Where The River Takes Us is a thrilling adventure set in the Welsh valleys during the turbulent socio-economic period of the 1970’s. This story transported me back to my childhood and had me gripped from the very first page.

We meet Jason and his older brother, and guardian, Ritchie who, with widespread strike action and a three-day week making work and wages hard to come by, are struggling financially to make ends meet. Richie, for the right reasons, makes some very bad choices and gets himself in debt with a local criminal gang. Jason finds out about this, and with his friends comes up with a plan to claim a £100 reward for photographing the ‘Beast of Blaengarw’, a giant cat reportedly stalking within the valleys further along the river.

Reminiscent of Blyton’s children setting off on a quest, with picnics and sleeping bags packed, Jason, Tam, Jinx and Catrin, rucksacks on backs, follow the river to Blaengarw. Of course, their journey is not without challenges. There are the lads who want to thwart their mission at every turn and claim the reward for themselves, as well as the unique Welsh landscape of mountains, barren wastelands and the odd angry bull to navigate. The river too has its own distinct character, constantly by their side, through both good and bad times and forcing both cooperation and courage, as the group attempt to cross it at a particularly tricky juncture.

Parr’s characterisation and setting are so richly drawn, it takes no effort to become fully immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of their adventure. As a child of the ‘70’s, I felt a huge rush of nostalgia recalling, in particular memories of foods, such as crisp butties, and a quarter of Midget Gems in a paper bag from the corner shop, as well as ‘Oh, You’ll Never Get To Heaven” and other songs sung as a seven-year old Brownie Guide!

This story is as rich in themes as it is in landscape, and Parr examines the impact not only of material hardships on communities, and especially upon children within such communities, but also the nature of family and friendship bonds. As importantly, Parr explores the nature and process of grief, with the huge spectrum of feelings and emotions this can encompass. She does this with such sensitivity and authenticity, providing the reader with multiple points of connection to Jason’s experience, on many different levels. Where The River Takes Us is as a result, both a truly impactful and empathy-boosting read.

Whilst there were certainly times that I shed tears reading this book, there were also moments that made me laugh out loud e.g. a certain lady tractor-driver. Contrasting elements of light and darkness within the story, mirror the changes in pace that Parr uses to successfully make the reader feel that they are travelling this journey alongside Jason and his friends. The addition of Welsh words and phrases also kept me anchored within the adventure and without giving spoilers, the ending was as thrilling and as satisfying as I had hoped it would be.

Readers age 9+ will enjoy following this action-packed story, as well as learning about a period in our history that they are unlikely to be familiar with though, given our current UK socio-economic climate, may find huge resonance in. In this regard, I feel they will also appreciate the closing pages in which Parr explains what life was like for many in 1970’s Britain, with major public service workers taking strike action, 3-day working weeks, widespread power shortages and the many hardships that then followed as a result. In many Welsh valley towns, the impact of industrial action in mining communities was particularly harsh, and this context adds even greater depth to Parr’s story.

I will certainly be recommending this stunning book to all my UKS2 pupils.

For me, a 5* read – a warm ‘cwtch’ in a book!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of this book which publishes with Bloomsbury on March 16th 2023.

A Welsh Stand By Me. Touching, miners-strike era friendship tale.

One of my favourite films came to mind many times during the reading of this. That too was set in a bygone era, though still not all that long ago.

A group of friends in a small Welsh town determine they will go to another town a few miles away to try and photograph the Beast reported there. A £100 tempts them, but it's not for bikes and sweets. Jason and his older brother Richie are struggling to pay the mortgage after the death of their parents in a car crash, and his friends want to help him by finding proof of the Beast and giving him the reward.

Much like Stand By Me, we have different characters in the group, including a girl, as well as rival kids also on the trail of fame and fortune. There is bonding, danger, no leeches thank goodness, and a post-quest sequence where we see Jason and his 19-year-old brother have to overcome poor decisions to find resolution and balance again.

I really liked this. Humorous and easy style, the characters are all distinct and identifiable. Setting it in the era of the miners' strike is actually very relevant now, in the midst of the 2023 strikes of teachers, nurses and rail workers. Talk of old money and cultural references will most likely fascinate readers, as will the names of people and places.

One for ages 9-13.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

I absolutely loved this story. Brilliantly written, fast paced and full of adventure it had me gripped from the first chapter! Set in the 1970s during the miners’ strikes and the three day working week, this story explores themes of grief, urban legend, family, brotherhood and friendship as one boy and his friends set about to prove the existence of a mysterious beast of the valleys. The characters were fantastic, especially the main character Jason. There was such a fantastic bond between the friends and this really shone through in the story. They would stop at nothing to help each other. I loved the setting of the story too - it was really descriptive which transported me right alongside the friends on their journey. Highly recommended. This would make a great class read (9+).

It's the 1970s, and uber-unionised industries have shafted Britain, causing power outages and a three day working week – for those not on the picket line creating strike after strike. Young Jason and his friends have a mission, of going a day or two's trek up the Welsh valley we're set in, to blag a photo of a reported big cat and get the fame and reward from the local press. He and his older brother need the small fortune of the prize money, as it's just them now they are both parent-less orphans, and older brother has got involved with some rum 'uns and can't pay the bills. Can they avoid the village bullies, get the evidence of the big cat they need, and save the day? Or will the book just end up being an adventure about resilience, and above all friendship instead?

This was great fun – especially when I worked out it was not a near-future 2023, when uber-unionised industries have shafted Britain, Putin's caused power outages, and WFH practically means many people actually only do enough to justify a three day working week. The book doesn't admit when we're actually set until the end-matter, leaving the young audience somewhat struggling with clues such as the £20 mortgage, 3p newspapers, and so on – an old biddy is determined Jason needs to save half a penny here and there on his shopping bill. (Which is why, in best Blyton-meets-Children's-Film-Unit tradition, there are lashings of pop and penny chew purchases all over the place.)

What no audience will struggle with is the readability – the snappiest of chapters and the perfectly easy page-turning speeding us through this drama, and it is drama, even if it might on reflection appear a bitty little road trip narrative. It's peopled with likeable characters – well, the main gang certainly is well worth our company, even if the bullies of course aren't – and the variety of scenes and locations make this feel all the denser and all the more gripping for the target reader. It makes you wonder why there aren't more novels like this set in the Welsh valleys – a strong four stars.