THE RIVER PEOPLE by Liz Kellebrew is a haunting and lyrical exploration of 19th-century westward expansion into the Pacific Northwest. Through the intertwined journeys of Marilla, John, and Walter—each navigating rivers that serve as both roads and unforgiving forces—the novel weaves together fiction, historical documents, memoir, and poetry. As these characters face hardships and triumphs, their choices and loves reverberate through generations. This book delves into the myths and realities of migration, revealing the harsh lessons the West has to offer. It’s a powerful, evocative story of love, loss, and survival in a land where nature shows no mercy.