Ricochet River Book Report

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Ricochet River By Robin Cody: A Teacher’s Guide Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction Grade Level: 9th–12th Grade Topics: Coming of Age, Friendship, Native American Culture, Pacific Northwest Fishing and Logging Industry, Intergenerational/Intercultural/Interclass Relationships Book Description Draw students into the diverse yet interconnected lives of three teenagers in the fictional small town of Calamus, Oregon. A recipient of the Oregon Book Award, Ricochet River, set in the 1960s, explores what it means to grow up—with Wade, the local sports hero; his friend, Jesse, a Native American with an innocent disregard for local convention; and Lorna, Wade’s sweetheart, who longs to break free of her small town ties and set out into…show more content…
On the first day of school, Wade points out that Lorna doesn’t do well in classes because they don’t move fast enough for her; she usually just sits in class and reads on her own. Jesse is one of the few Indians to attend the school, and the other students stare at him. Wade and Jesse find out that they have a few classes together and begin their day. After lunch, they hang out on the senior steps. When a younger student approaches the steps, one of the seniors gives him a hard time. Wade stands around and watches, and eventually Jesse gets up and pushes the bullying senior. When another senior steps in and grabs Jesse by the arm, Jesse hits the student and no one else approaches Jesse. In English class, Jesse mistakes the teacher for a student and confidently hits on her. When class begins he realizes that she is the teacher, however, he continues to flirt with her. The chapter ends with Jesse answering a question with “‘I love you very much.’” (112) Important Quotations: “Loggers are high-born in Calamus. The ugliest name you can call a logger or his son is a farmer. You farmer. Nobody gets any respect for growing things.” (105) “The trouble with Lorna is she could be a good student if she just paid attention. School goes way too slow for her. She and her murder mysteries, reading in class. Drives teachers crazy.” (106) “Jesse stood facing the senior steps with his brown fists clenched and his arm muscles tensed and twitching. Nobody moved against him. Even Buzhardt thought better of it.” (109) Discussion

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