It’s February 1974. In Britain, there are energy shortages due to the miners’ strikes. Power is rationed and 3-day working weeks have been implented. In Ponty, Wales, Jason (Jase) and his brother, Richie, are struggling financially in the wake of their parents’ death 12 months previously. Richie has been conned into dealing with some dangerous people in order to try to make more money for the mortgage payment, so when rumours of a large cat, The Beast of Blaengarw, are reported and a reward of £100 offered for anyone who can provide proof of its existence is offered, Jase and his friends, Tam, Jinx and Catrin, set off on an adventure they’ll never forget, determined to track down the animal, earn the reward and end all Jase’s problems.
For MG readers this will be true historical fiction. For me, a child of the 70s, this was a true journey of nostalgia back to my childhood. The story references Trumpton, Jackanory, penny sweets, R White’s lemonade and Tizer amongst other things. Despite the backdrop of financial struggles, the collapse of the mining industry and unemployment, this story brings to mind those days of innocence when, with the support of good friends and some midget gems, you believed you could conquer the world. It reminds us that, despite technology and social media influences, the basic stuff of childhood: friendships, adventure, hope, resilience, facing up to bullies, all remain the same.
The relationships between the characters are wonderfully depicted. I loved how their personalities unfolded with the story and how they developed, as a group and as individuals. The depiction of the journey is so vividly detailed and pacy, you feel you are right there in the river path with them.
Richie and Jase have a great bond and the way their grief is described is just heartbreaking in its subtlety. Scenes dealing with their loss brought a lump to my throat several times.
This is a wonderful adventure story, reminiscent of Famous Fives and Stand By Me and it will stay with me for a while yet. I will definitely be recommending this one.

A Book that's story is as relevant today as it was in the time it's set 1974. Four friends set of on a quest to find & photograph The Beast of Blaengarw, many people claim to have seen it but no one has any actual proof & there's a £100 reward , so a group of friends three lads & a girl decide to go & get proof because that reward money could save their friend Jason's home ! Their families are living with strikes namely the Miner's who want better pay & working conditions , so other businesses are working just three day weeks , the power is off during the daytime & only on for a narrow window of time in the evenings , much of this resonates with what is happening all over the country this winter . I think other adults as well as children will enjoy this book . #NetGalley, #GoodReads, #FB, #Instagram, #Amazon.co.uk, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/358a5cecda71b11036ec19d9f7bf5c96d13e2c55" width="80" height="80" alt="100 Book Reviews" title="100 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>

Another enjoyable romp in the world of Lesley Parr. I’m always especially fascinated by her skilful scene setting - so clear you really feel a part of the action. Set during the 1970s and its blackouts was a great call as it’s not an era you come across very often in KS2 fiction. As ever, the characters are fully formed people with foibles and admirable qualities both and they face a struggle together at the same time as exploring the power and importance of friendship.

'Where the River Takes Us' is an enjoyable and thought-provoking middle-grade adventure set in rural Wales at the height of the miners' strikes and the Three-Day Week in the 1970s. Times are tough for everyone but particularly for Jason and his older brother Richie whose parents were killed in a car accident and must now fend for themselves or risk being split up.

When Jason realises that Richie is struggling to make the mortgage payments and has become entangled in criminal activity, he comes up with a plan to help as he and his friends Catrin, Jinx and Tam set out on a quest to track down the Beast of Blaengarw and win a £100 reward from their local newspaper. They must navigate lots of setbacks and challenges a long the way, from raging bulls to bullies Gary and Dean who are determined to get there first. But over the course of the journey they learn more about themselves and each other and start to understand what really matters.

Older primary readers will enjoy following this action-packed story at the same time as learning about a period in history that will probably be unfamiliar to them (but has striking resonances with now) and exploring themes such as bereavement, financial hardship and friendship. Lesley Parr writes particularly sensitively about the challenges of being a good friend to someone who is going through a tough time. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.

This is the second novel I read by Lesley Parr and can say she writes excellent novels which are gripping and poignant at the same time.
This talks about the difficulties of living in a hard economical time and how friendship can help to overcome difficulties.
I loved the character and the storytelling is excellent.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Brilliant. Loved it. This fab story is set against the backdrop of the Welsh Valleys, with the threat of miner’s strikes and power-cuts of the 1970s. A ‘right of passage’ story; four friends who learn to grow and understand what is important in life.
Supported by his gang of friends, Jason North carries the weight of the world, following a traumatic time for he and his older brother Richie who, is unprepared for the worries that adulthood brings.
This story reads so visually, easily and enjoyably, I felt I was watching a Welsh Valley ‘Stand By Me’. It was easy to imagine the friends faces, their expressions and even how they sounded and interacted. Such well executed and lovable characters with a believable storyline framed by a rich landscape full of adventures, with wastelands and abandoned buildings to play in.
Cant wait to read more by Lesley Parr
Many thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC.

This is an engaging historical fiction novel aimed for children, it is set in Wales in 1974. In 1974 there was a great deal of unrest in Britain, with the working week reduced to three days, strikes, and regular power cuts, this resulted in times for a large chunk of the population but making things even harder for our protagonist and his elder brother is the fact that a few months earlier they were orphaned when both parents died in a car accident.
The brothers desperately want to stay together but as money is tight the elder brother has made some bad decisions and gotten involved with a dodgy crowd.
Having read about a large cat sighting in the local area, these sightings happened quite frequently in the 1970s, and learning that there is a reward for a picture of this mysterious cat, the younger brother and his friends set out to be the first people to get that picture and claim the reward.
While this is aimed at children it is an engaging read no matter what your age.

This book is another gem by Lesley Parr and rally does not disappoint. With strong characterisation and a gripping story what’s not to love. I will definitely be sharing this with my class and adding it to the school’s recommended reading list.

An adventure set in post-war Wales, Jason and his friends set out to capture a photo of the rumoured wild cat for a £100 reward.

This was simply a heart-warming adventure in the times when children let their imaginations run wild. I loved reading about this as there is a lot of depth to the characters and, with the time period, the children actually have a lot of their own struggles emotionally dealing with a world where they have to grow up to fast and physically dealing with the repercussions of poverty and rations. I loved the history that was weaved through this and the emotional journey this takes on whilst also allowing this to be a book where kids are just being kids. Overall this is an incredibly fun and interesting read, suitable for all ages in my opinion it's not just a children's book.

I have read both the author’s previous books and I think she brings something very unique and special to children’s fiction and Where the River Takes us demonstrates her amazing talent for writing middle grade fiction.

It’s 1974 complete with penny sweets, Look In magazines, the minors’ strike and three day working weeks. Jason is 13..he’s recently lost both parents and his brother is trying to keep both of them together, but Richie is struggling and his attempts to keep them afloat are putting both their lives in jeopardy. When a financial reward is offered for photographs of the Blaengaw Beast - a mysterious wild cat which is believed to be on the loose - Jason and his friends see the opportunity to raise some badly needed funds.

Children’s literature often seems so simple.and yet there is so much art in a novel like this which knits together so many things so seamlessly whilst providing the thrill and excitement that keeps children entertained. This is first and foremost an adventure story with as much excitement as a classic Enid Blyton..a gang of children setting off on an adventure, pockets full of snacks, encountering dangers and obstacles in the form of the natural geography and people who are intent on thwarting their quest. The Welsh geography was absolutely gorgeous with valleys, mountains and of course the river..There are enemies aplenty from the couple of lads who are trying to be the first to find the Beast, to the gang which is pressurising Jason’s brother into illegal activities.

Parr is so wonderful at creating wonderful children’s characters; and understanding their thoughts and fears and imagining their conversations and humour so beautifully. This a story which will make you laugh out loud as well as holding onto your hat as you rush around the welsh countryside. And a trademark Parr touch is the way she depicts both the antipathy and friendship between boys and girls..

As always, Parr intertwines a particular history into her stories - in this case the 1970s with the terrible economic hardship of three day working weeks, strikes and power cuts… I was immediately transported to the world of my childhood.. Alongside the wonderful history, Parr sensitively and powerfully explores universal themes - frienship, family..grief..

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for my digital copy of this wonderful book.

I really, really enjoyed this from start to finish. When I realised it was middle grade I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t enjoy it because honestly I prefer to read new adult/adult fantasy mostly but this really, really surprised me!

I absolutely adored the characters and the little found family they created within their friendship, and I loved that the whole story was set during the miners strike as this is something I normally wouldn’t pick up to read and it was great.

The only issue I really had was maybe when this is traditionally published, have a pronunciation guide because the Welsh town names I couldn’t pronounce, and some phrases used I didn’t really understand which I feel maybe took away some of the importance of the story for me, because I couldn’t connect as much as I could have if I had been Welsh myself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC of this beautiful story
Where The River Takes Us is a beautiful and heartwarming story of friendship, family, and how we can always learn something else about one another as well as ourselves

Set in the Welsh Valleys in 1974, Where The River Takes Us is a story about four friends who set off to find this strange creature - a local urban myth, to help Jason and his brother out with a cash reward after losing their parents in a car accident.
I loved the use of Welsh sayings - like ‘cwtch’ and ‘I’ll be there now in a minute’, and ‘twp’. Being originally from Wales it just warmed my heart picturing the Welsh countryside and the adventure these children were having.

It’s a story about friendship, and always having one another’s backs, but it also speaks about grief, and the loss of a parent. In this case for Jason and his brother Ritchie, it’s both parents. The way that Lesley touches on this and how she wrote about the build up of grief honestly could not have been written more perfectly. I really found that it was touching and considerate. To also mention this in a middle grade book was something I really thought was beautiful.

If ever you need an escape to the beautiful Welsh countryside, make sure you pick this up when it releases on March 26.

We have loved Lesley Parrs two previous books and can report that this one is just as delightful. A tale of adventure and friendship. Set in 1970s Wales , it is like a warm hug of a book. Great to read as a family.

This book tells the story of Jason, a thirteen year old boy who lost his parents. With his older brother Richie now his guardian, the two are trying their best to make ends meet, The thing is its 1974, which means blackouts and a three day working week.

Desperate to help his brother out, and not to go live with his mom's godmother, him and his friend head up the river to find a beast that's been pictures in the newspaper. This is a great book for readers which are wanting something with a good storyline but also tells a story for children who are wanting to start out with chapter books. I like Jason, I like his brother but it has the usual characters: the bullies, the girl next door and the brother who is mixed up in the wrong crowd.

A wonderfully warm, nostalgic story about the power of friendship. I loved the seventies period details and the character development, and the nice short chapters are perfect for younger readers.

This book I presume is written with teenage readers in mind. I chose to read it as I thought it might suit some of the boys I have worked with in school. Oh my, I loved it! The developing friendships between the children made me cry and having finished it, I had a warm glow of hope and optimism about the teens I have worked with. I will be looking out for the other books by Lesley Parr and will be recommending this one widely. I hope that it gets into all school libraries.

A story of friendship,of coping with grief and of a big cat seen in the Welsh Valleys.This superb third novel by Lesley Parr has much to recommend to middle-grade readers .It is set in 1974 which as an adult reader makes for a trip down memory lane with copious references to food of the time as well as the more serious perspective of dealing with power cuts and the financial effect of three -day working weeks. The story is told in the first person by Jason who lives with his older brother Richie.. As they were recently orphaned, money is tight, and so a reward of £100 for a photo of a wildcat inspires Jason and his friends to embark on a quest to be the first to find it. What follows is the tale of a group of friends who have the freedom to roam through the countryside,dodging ferocious bulls and the unpleasant Gary and Dean.,whilst learning about themselves, and each other.This is a short book which packs a punch: difficult emotions are not shied away from but are treated sensitively and with a light touch.

With thanks to NetGalley and to Bloomsbury for the ARC

Set in Wales in 1974, Lesley Parr brings us her third historical novel which explores the impact of the miners' strikes and the three day working week on a group of friends living in a Welsh village.

Thirteen year old Jason is struggling to come to terms with the death of his parents. But things get an awful lot tougher when the three day working week means his older brother, Ritchie, can no longer pay the bills.

As Ritchie gets sucked into working for a criminal gang to avoid them being separated, Jason becomes increasingly desperate to get his hands on some honest money. So when he hears there's a reward for finding proof of a beast roaming the valley, Jason and his friends set off to search for it...

With Lesley Parr's effortless writing and a fast-moving plot, this is an old school adventure to rival Stand By Me, The Famous Five and The Goonies. Set in the outdoors in freezing February, Jason and his friends take us on their journey along the river, past barns, churches and a very scary bull in search of a huge cat. There's camaradie and clashes aplenty as the group of four bond and bicker amid very high stakes, plus there's a whole heap of obstacles for them to overcome, including a pair of bullies.

In truth though, this novel is not really about searching for an elusive beast. What it is about is community, hardship, friendship, family and grief. Lesley Parr handles Jason's devastating loss with truth and sensitivity and then balances it with a big dose of heart and humour that can only come from close friends, leaving us with tears on one page and smiles on the next. It's an insight into the working class conditions of the 1970's and human nature at its best. Digging even deeper than that though, the very heart of the book is also about making the right choices in the worst circumstances, about finding the best path forward - literally and metaphorically - and about hope. For me, there were also echoes of Billy Elliott, but without the ballet.

So, if you're looking for a brilliant written, down-to-earth novel that's more about brotherhood (with a brilliant female friend too) than finding a beast, this is definitely one to add to your to-be-read pile. With a dramatic and heart-racing end, will Jason be separated from his brother and his friends?

Having read and enjoyed all of Lesley's previous books I was so excited to read this and it didn't disappoint!

Set in the 1970s, the working class community face challenging times with a three day working week, reduced power usage and miners' strikes. Thirteen year old Jason and his brother Richie face the heartbreaking additional challenge of learning to live with loss following the death of their parents. Times are tough, and it's becoming harder and harder to make ends meet. In response to this, both brothers try to find a way to survive. Richie is soon up to his neck in trouble after turning to the the wrong people for help and Jason, determined to save his brother from a life of crime, pins his hopes on a local reward offered for photographic evidence of The Beast that's on the loose. With the help of his friends, Jason follows the river in search of The Beast and what follows becomes a journey of self discovery as much as a search for the wild cat as they navigate their way through the challenges and obstacles along the way.

I loved the relationship between Jason and Richie and how far they were both prepared to go to allow them to stay together (some proper lump in the throat moments). I loved the kindness of neighbours and friends. I loved the way the four children each offered something to their mission and each other that was a greater reward than the hundred pounds ever could be. And I loved the many nostalgic references that took me back in time that were weaved so beautifully into the story.

A gorgeous tale of friendship, loss, love and loyalty.

What a touching story. A Rite of Passage for them all. It was lovely how, in the end, they all came together, as friends do. It was so nice. Our main character was even able to work through the sadness in his life and pull through with his brother at his side. I read it in one sitting because I enjoyed it so much and didn’t want to leave it. And oh for the time in England’s past, when our churches were unlocked. Lovely book. Think you should treat yourself to an evenings’s pleasure and read it.