When I first started reading The River's Daughter and saw the trigger warnings (domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, sexual assault, and racism, I thought "Uh oh..." I'm glad I kept reading, however. Sadly, these wretched things do happen. I feel the author had more than her fair share but she didn't allow it to shape her entire life.

The author's descriptions of her work as a world-class whitewater rafting guide kept me enthralled. One of my favorite parts was the great respect the author showed water. I loved when she would speak to the river before each rafting trip.

I recommend this inspiring story of perseverance, bravery, and strength!

Thank you, #SpiegelAndGrau, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The River's Daughter has an expected publication date of June 3, 2025.

#BridgetCrocker #MemoirBiography #WhiteWaterRafting #StrongFemaleProtagonist

First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. I absolutely loved this one! Crocker's writing is pure and beautiful. I highlighted many passages not only for the beautiful prose but the powerful messages. I have to say that I love white water rafting, and when on a trip, I envy the guides' freedom and connection to nature. Crocker captures that spirit perfectly.

But this is not just a book about an exciting sport, it's the story of Crocker's own early experiences with the Snake River and her very troubled parents who although were abusive, still gave her gifts that have allowed her to create her adventurous and fulfilling life. It's disturbing and frustrating to read of her terrible experiences in childhood, and the insensitive adults who allow the abuse to continue, not believing what she tells them. But Bridget's spirit and determination to escape carry her through the terrible times and she emerges a strong, confident, capable woman in the end.

I look forward to reading more by this author. This must be her first book as her other works are all magazine articles.I hope she's working on another book!

It's never easy to read about abuse, but a theme of finding healing and peace in nature gives some relief. I was not able to get far enough along to find as much of that as the very beginning alluded to, but hope that it developed as the story went along. The comparison to Educated seemed apt as far as I read.

Bridget Crocker's book, The River's Daughter, is a vivid and exciting account of her work as a world-class whitewater rafting guide. When Bridget's mother unexpectedly changed the way she lived and related to her family, Bridget looked to rivers for her life's purpose. This is a fascinating story of adventure, trauma, pain and transformation.

The River's Daughter is the kind of book that pulls you right into the story. I could practically feel the water splashing and hear the rapids rushing. Bridget Crocker does an amazing job of making you feel like you're rafting alongside her.
This memoir kept me hooked, with a good balance of adventure and personal growth. Crocker navigates the complex and painful relationships in her life as deftly as she navigates the churning waters of rivers across the world. While it felt slow at times, I still really enjoyed it and would recommend giving it a read. If you're into adventure stories or just want to experience a wild river trip from the comfort of your couch, this book is for you. 4 stars!

This was an unusual book, dealing with a whole lot of trauma from family and coming out on the other side with a strong affinity for rivers and wild water. She relates to the river as a surrogate parent and gets support from just being around it.
Her talent at white water rafting is quite detailed and hair raising, but interesting, to those of us who would never dream of such a dangerous pursuit.
She became a strong person in the community and had gained a lot of life-skills though her involvement with the business of taking tourists down some of the most dangerous rivers in the world.
I enjoyed it

I kind of devoured this book. I quickly got caught up in the story of Bridget's life and so kept on reading. The story was well told and easy to follow. I found her connection with the rivers she rafted on to be very interesting. And her epilouge chapter is very encouraging.
There are some trigger warnings in the first part of the book related to domestic abuse and rape, which may be important. It was hard to read about some of the abuse the author lived through as a young girl.
I also appreciated her experiences on rivers in the Western part of the USA and in Africa.
Thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel and Grau for the ARC. The opinions expressed her are my own.

The River’s Daughter by Bridget Crocker explores deeply heavy themes, and I appreciate both the author and publisher for including trigger warnings at the beginning. As someone who has been whitewater rafting many times—though not on the same intense Class V rapids—I was initially drawn to this book for its adventure. However, what truly captivated me was Crocker’s incredible resilience and perseverance through life’s storms. This is a testament to self-discovery and the unbreakable bond between a woman and the natural world. With lyrical prose and unflinching honesty, Crocker takes readers on a journey through both literal and emotional turbulence, charting a course through childhood upheaval, personal reckoning, and ultimate transformation. From the untamed beauty of the Snake River to the heart-stopping rapids of the Zambezi, her story highlights the power of nature as both sanctuary and teacher. As one of the few female whitewater guides in a male-dominated world, she not only braves the ferocity of the rivers but also the currents of her past—navigating the fallout of a fractured family, the weight of generational trauma, and the quest for self-worth. Yet through every challenge, the river remains her constant, a force that both humbles and empowers her. Crocker’s storytelling is vivid and immersive, pulling readers into the spray and roar of the rapids with visceral intensity. More than just an adventure memoir, The River’s Daughter is a meditation on courage, healing, and the transformative power of nature. It’s a book that lingers long after the last page, like the echo of rushing water in the depths of one’s soul. A triumph of heart and prose, The River’s Daughter is a must-read for those seeking inspiration in wild places and proof that, even after the roughest waters, we can emerge stronger, wiser, and whole. Thank you to NetGalley, Piegel & Grau, and the brave author Bridget Crocker for allowing me to read an advanced copy. 4.5/5

This is a masterful piece of historical fiction based on the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921. The time frame is Jim Crow south and the setting is Greenwood OK- an up and coming black are. The Threatt filling station, owned by blacks is a safe place in an area filled with sundowner towns. The story revolves around 2 sisters who manage to escape their home but not before witnessing the horrific atrocities that killed so many. They flee to the filling station where they are taken in to live. Margaret and Evelyn couldn’t be more different and their PTSD sets the stage for trouble. We follow their joys and sorrows, fraught with love and jealousy as they grow. The direction each takes is vastly different but through it they learn acceptance, love and redemption.
This was a significant event in Afro-American history and it’s a travesty that it is not more well known. The research done was very well done. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the ARC.
4.5 rounded up

I can't wait to read this, despite not being much of a memoir reader normally. Unfortunately, the ARC I received had some formatting issues and I wasn't able to read it, so back on the TBR it goes!

I read ARCs on II for so maybe that's why the formatting was odd?

NetGalley requires a star rating so giving it a neutral one.

very cool memoir about life, overcoming abuse, reaching your goals, and finding your strength. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Interesting, captivating, well-written ... and also a rougher ride on the trauma front than I was expecting. I look forward to seeing what Crocker pens next.

All I can say is WOW! I could not put this book down and devoured it in days! You need to read this, share this and see how good it really is.

I liked it; I didn't love it. It was honest, unflinching and harrowing. The author endured an amazingly difficult childhood, found her footing on the water, and emerged whole on the other side. My biggest difficulty is the missing 20 or so years, from returning from Africa to the present day. It was talked about in maybe three paragraphs. It just didn't hit me right, as there was a lot of detail in the rest of her story.

Overall, quite interesting, with a whole lot of white water info. The African section was particularly fascinating.

Beautiful cover, too.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

thank you to netgalley and spiegel & grau for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
first off, unlike other reviewers, i do not like memoirs. they are usually just too painful for me. even though the pain and suffering we humans endure is something i engage in all the time, with clients, loved ones, and my self. but when there's a memoir about white water rafting, and rivers, and nature, i'm all in. this book did not disappoint in those categories. there was arm chair adventure, and also such tender moments of accompanying bridget crocker through her childhood and young adulthood, riddled with abuse, rejection/abandonment, confusion, fear and very flawed parents. the writing itself is well done. this book is not for the faint of heart, concerning both the river action and the family action. and bridget shows herself to be a person of substance. she cares about others, she defends the vulnerable people she works alongside of in africa, and she respects the rivers she rides on. sounds like a really good human to me!

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The River’s Daughter, by Bridget Crocker, from Spiegel & Grau/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

This book was not for me.

It was well-written, and I’m about the same age as the author, so I really gave it every chance I could. But after getting to the halfway point this afternoon I realized (for about the 8 millionth time in my life) that well-written doesn’t necessarily mean enjoyable to me. In this case, it was a combo of feeling like a formula was being followed (fake intimacy) and too much detail about whitewater rafting.

I mean, I know not to read Moby Dick if you’re not interested in whaling. I get that. But I am a little interested in rafting, even though I’ve only ever canoed and tubed on rivers. Just didn’t enjoy the descriptions I did read, and could only imagine that there was a great, great deal more to come.

Also, I’m not the earthy-crunchy sort. My idea of camping means staying in an all-comforts lodge adjacent to a hiking trail.

I feel quite sure, though, that the book will be a great hit with its target market.

PS
After reading a little bit of this book yesterday I asked my husband if he liked memoir as a genre. He said he couldn’t answer that because to him it would depend on any given book in question.

I said I like memoir, because I enjoy learning about other cultures/approaches to life/vocations/etc., and also because—at their best—they illustrate how very much alike people are at the very core of their beings. I also appreciate people being willing to share their vulnerabilities on the page. Not something I think I could do.

DESCRIPTION
A vivid and propulsive memoir about finding courage and meaning in a life outdoors, by a world-class whitewater rafting guide.

After Bridget Crocker’s parents’ volatile divorce, she moved with her mother from Southern California to Wyoming. Her life was idyllic, living in a trailer park on the banks of the Snake River with a stepfather she loved, a new baby brother, and the river as her companion—until her mother suddenly took up a radical new lifestyle, becoming someone Bridget barely recognized. The one constant in her life—the place Bridget felt whole and fully herself—was the river. When she discovered the world of whitewater rafting, she knew she’d found her calling.

On the river, Bridget learned to read the natural world around her and came to know the language of rivers. One of the few female guides on the Snake River, she then traveled to the Zambezi River in Africa, the most dangerous whitewater in the world, where she faced death and learned to conquer her fears—both on the water and off. The river taught her to overcome years of betrayals and abuse, to trust herself, and, finally, how to help heal her family from generational cycles of poverty and abuse.

A beautifully rendered memoir of a woman coming into her own, The River’s Daughter opens us to the possibilities of transformation through nature.

Although I am not outdoorsy, I delight in reading about other people's adventures in the vast wilds of our planet.

Although eventually, the story features treacherous tales from some of the most harrowing bodies of water on Earth, it begins with the danger and uncertainty of an abusive childhood.

Parts of the book reminded me of A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko, which I also loved!

Crocker's writing is beautiful. Her respect for the rivers she travels and her relationships with the spirits of the various waters are heartwarming.

Although the book does have plenty of adventurous moments, there are dark parts as well, touching on things like sexual abuse and family violence.

I felt that including that part of her past illustrated just how strong the author had to become, both emotionally and physically, to become the incredible whitewater explorer, guide, and author she is today.

I couldn't put this one down and read it in a day!

Many thanks to #netgalley for this ARC of #theriversdaughter, and thank you to Bridget Crocker for sharing your inspiring story with us!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The River's Daughter by Bridget Crocker. This memoir is a captivating coming-of-age adventure that keeps you cheering for Bridget every step of the way. While it includes some difficult themes (which you're thoughtfully warned about at the start), it’s a deeply moving story that tugs at your heartstrings. If you love adventure and rooting for an unlikely hero, this book is a must-read. Bridget’s journey is raw, inspiring, and beautifully told—a memoir I hope will be cherished for generations to come.

If you enjoyed Wild or Educated you should read this. A story of resilience and finding yourself after a terrible childhood. Crockers memoir is full of hope and adventure.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book. It’s a quick easy read that follows the life of the author. From struggling with a difficult childhood to her finding joy in river rafting .