35 pages • 1 hour read
Gary PaulsenThe River
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1991A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 13-15Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 13 Summary
Brian tries to remember anything he might have learned about comas, but nothing comes to him. He thinks Derek could go over a week without food but not without water. It has almost been two days since Derek was struck by lightning. He tries to put a small amount of water into Derek’s mouth, but Derek immediately begins choking. Brian realizes that Derek will not be able to drink anything. He remembers that he once heard about a girl who was in a coma and could hear people talking, even though she couldn’t respond. He explains the situation to Derek, telling him that he doesn’t know what to do, but Derek does not show any sign that he has heard Brian. Brian notices the briefcase and finds the map inside. As he looks at the map, he finds the lake they are close to, and sees “the river” (75).
Chapter 14 Summary
Brian studies the path of the river on the map, drawn to it without knowing why. He sees that the river eventually passes by a spot on the map labeled Brannock Trading Post. He concludes that a trading post would most likely have people. Reasoning out loud, he uses the grids on the map to calculate about how far the trading post would be if he followed the river: just under 100 miles. He considers leaving Derek to go to the trading post for help, but he quickly rules out this option because animals could come and attack Derek. He then considers the possibility of taking Derek with him. He could make a raft, put Derek on the raft, and use the river to get to the trading post. He knows immediately that he has no other choice: “If he stayed, Derek would die. If he made the run […] at least there was a chance” (80).
Chapter 15 Summary
Brian knows that time is against him. If Derek is to survive until the trading post, he must move quickly. He does some hasty calculations and thinks the river moves about three miles per hour, so 100 miles would take 35 or 40 hours. The river passes through a few lakes and ponds that will slow him down, but he thinks he can make it to the trading post in a day and a half to two days. He needs to build the raft. He has no hatchet this time with which to cut wood for the raft but luckily finds an area of trees cut down by beavers. Brian feels as if the beavers cut them down just for him. He chooses the driest logs he can find and brings them to the shelter so that he can build the raft close to Derek.
He weaves together small tree limbs and uses strips from his jacket to lash the logs together. He also carves a paddle with his knife and recognizes that he will need luck for his plan to work. He makes one last attempt to wake Derek by checking his heart rate, yelling in his ear, and poking Derek’s hand with his knife to see if he will respond to pain. Nothing works, and Brian faces the reality that Derek’s life is in his hands. He knows they must go for Derek to have a chance at survival. At first in a whisper, and then loud and clear, Brian announces, “We go” (87).
Chapters 13-15 Analysis
To respond to Derek’s condition, Brian relies on his knowledge, trying to think of anything he might have read about comas. Brian then takes action based on his knowledge, such as trying to give Derek water and talking to Derek in case he can hear. Paulsen shows Brian’s logic and resourcefulness despite the emergency. Brian reasons through one step at a time as he estimates the distance along the river to the trading post, the speed he expects to travel on the river, and the steps he will need to take before starting the journey. Brian’s character is again shown to be smart, levelheaded, and bold.
Paulsen continues to use repetition to reveal Brian’s thought process as he tackles one idea at a time. For instance, the repeated phrase “there would be people” (78) refers to Brian’s discovery of the trading post on the map and his gradual realization that getting to the trading post could be Derek’s best hope for survival. Then, repetition of “He couldn’t leave Derek” (79) shows Brian mulling over the situation and figuring things out one piece at a time. Finally, repetition of “Time” (82) highlights the most crucial factor of the journey, showing the reader that Brian grasps the urgency of Derek’s condition and will need to work quickly.
Also in these chapters, Brian begins to speak out loud to Derek to keep calm, reason things out, and explain the situation to Derek in case he can hear. Brian’s verbal processing helps him remain calm and brings him some comfort. Now that Derek is in a coma, Brian is the authority figure. He understands that his decisions will affect whether Derek lives or dies. Despite this great pressure, Brian boldly takes action and does not panic. As he sets out on the river, talking to Derek will continue to give him courage and clarity of mind to push forward.
Luck is again mentioned in these chapters to show how many aspects of survival in an emergency are dependent on good fortune. For example, the trees Brian finds are perfectly cut by beavers in order to make the raft. Without this stroke of luck, he would have lost several hours compiling and cutting wood for the raft. Before leaving, Brian realizes he will need good luck to make it to the trading post in time to save Derek. Lucky events further the plot and give Brian hope for carrying out his plan.
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By Gary Paulsen
