The Rising

Having escaped predatory mink near Big River, young vole, Strife's, family settle in the marshy Wetted Lands. Then long-lost Uncle Sylvan appears, troubled by hearing the voice of the Great River, Sinethis. Eavesdropping, Strife thinks this sounds stupid, then her unassuming brother, Kale disappears: Strife senses something's wrong.

Instinctively, Strife follows Kale, but he won't reveal why he's running, he just continues: he's also hearing Sinethis' voice. Sylvan and Uncle Fodor follow them, and they all face huge dangers: lightning storms, predatory owls, cows. Meanwhile, the Great River keeps rising….

Strife is a strong female character in this absorbing, exciting adventure (second in the series) which vividly recreates an ecosystem in desperate danger. Irrepressible Strife learns, through adversity andgrief, that quiet consideration can be as powerful as outspokenness.