Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

Reviewed by Aimee

Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

 

Violence:  There are quite a few instance of battles and fighting with swords, arrows and daggers and an ax.  People are wounded and some die.  Guts come out, blood spurting.  A couple men are taken as prisoners and tortured with arrows shot into their legs.

Sexual Content:  Gabi wonders at one point if the people around her think she sleeps around.  Men capture Gabi and pin her to the ground with the intentions of raping her.  There are a few kisses.

Adult Themes:  Gabi’s father died leaving her mother, sister and herself to fend for themselves.  Gabi’s mother is obsessed with work.  Gabi drinks alcohol to numb the pain of an injury.

Synopsis

Gabi and Lia Betarrini have not had the typical childhood.  Summers have been spent at archaeological sites while their parents dig and discover.  This summer is no different, except their father isn’t there anymore.  The Betarrini sisters join their mother, obsessed with her latest discovery, in rural Tuscany.  Gabi is tired of dusty dig sites and being ignored by her mother who lives in a different world.  Looking for a bit of adventure, Gabi convinces her sister to join her in one of the recently discovered ancient burial tombs to explore.  When Gabi finds hand prints in the wall that fit her and her sister’s hand perfectly, the world shifts, spins and they find themselves in the fourteenth century.  But Lia and Gabi are separated.  Gabi  is set in the middle of battles, castles and of course, knights in shining armor.  This wasn’t exactly the usual summer in Italy she had planned.  Who knew her very own knight in shining armor would be found hundreds of years before her time in the midst of so much turmoil?  But, Gabi must find her sister and get home.  No matter what.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  It has all the elements that I love in a book when looking for some good diverting entertainment.  Love, action and tension.  The story moved along at a good pace and left me wanting to know more.  I appreciated the clean read, free from the language and sexual content that I often find in YA reads.  This book is the first in The River of Time series.  Bergren’s next book, Cascade is due out in June 2011.  I will be anxiously waiting to read it.