River, Sing Out: A Novel

Texas writer James Wade delivers a gripping and honest tale of a young boy confronting the evils of the world around him in his latest novel, River, Sing Out.

At thirteen, Jonah Hargrove hasn’t seen much of the world, but he knows it isn’t easy. In the trailer he shares with his abusive father, there isn’t much to look forward to or believe in. When he meets River, a young woman on the run who is just a few years his senior, he takes a chance on helping her, even though he knows it could be dangerous for both of them. Her violent boyfriend, Dakota, is looking for her because of the large amount of meth she stole from him, and he isn’t alone in his search. A local drug dealer is also on the hunt; John Curtis, who is also a known dog fighter, may be worse than Dakota.

There is no doubt Wade understands the world he’s created. It is dark and terrifying, and the graphic depictions of violence can be hard to read. If you enjoyed Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones or Daniel Woodrell’s Winter’s Bone, this is likely the book for you. However, if you’re looking for light at the end of the tunnel, be warned: in the East Texas of River, Sing Out that light doesn’t always lead to something better. In fact, it just might reveal a brighter terror dead ahead.