Peace Like a River

This week I read Peace like a River and loved it! It definitely wasn’t what I was anticipating, but it was good. A sick boy, his miracle worker dad, and his imaginative younger sister go on a journey to find their older brother.
One night two boys broke into Reuben’s family’s house with baseball bats, but Davy, Reuben’s older brother, shot and killed them. Davey went on the run after breaking out of prison the night before his sentencing. The family went looking for him the next spring and landed up boarding with a widow. While they were there, Mr. Land didn’t have any miracles, but Reuben found Davey who was staying with a man in the woods. It killed Reuben not to tell his sister or dad, but he knew he shouldn't. The family, excluding Davy, went back home to continue with their lives. One night Davy drove up with the girl who was living with Davy and Jape. It came out that they had run away from Jape while stopping on the highway. When morning came it was time for Davy to leave because he was still on the run. Davy went to start the car and Jape shot at him from his hiding spot near the barn, but missed and got Mr. Land in the side. The second shot hit Reuben in his lungs. Mr. Land should have lived and Reuben died, but he switched places and died in Reuben’s place.
I think that Davy instigated the two boys into breaking into the house so that they wouldn’t have to worry about them anymore.
When I see Roxanna I see this big motherly figure that was never blessed with kids, who just needs an outlet. She is caring and gentle when you get to know her...and seems to me the type who makes really good chocolate chip cookies, as it is she makes cinnamon buns.
Reuben feels pure gratitude and sadness at his fathers’ passing; he gave his last miracle to Reuben.
If Davy had been found at the cabin, I don’t think Mr. Land and Roxanna would have gotten married, I also don’t think Reuben’s lungs would have survived the grief.
My favorite part was at the end when Mr. Land gave his life for Reuben because it was written so imaginatively and powerfully.