Go as a River, a novel by Shelly Read is a beautifully written story set in Colorado, 1948 to 1971.

Victoria Nash, 17, runs a family household of troubled men. Her mother died when Victoria was 12, leaving her emotionally distant father, a mean-spirited younger brother, and a bitter, crippled uncle. The family has a successful peach orchard and when Victoria isn’t running the household, she’s working in the orchard.

Wilson Moon, a young man who is mysteriously displaced from his tribal land, is not welcomed in the nearby town of Iola, Colorado. People don’t trust the dark-skinned boy. Victoria and Wilson happened to meet in town, a meeting that will profoundly alter both their lives.

When tragedy strikes, Victoria must make life-changing decisions, choices that will affect all that she loves. She flees to the surrounding mountains where she struggles in the wilderness. As Victoria grapples with the harsh realities that surround her, fighting to regain what she has lost, she grows in strength and wisdom. She strives to flow forward against all obstacles, or as Wilson would say, “go as a river.”

The setting of Victoria’s original home, near the town of Iola, is based on fact. The town and surrounding areas, located in Gunnison County, Colorado were flooded and destroyed in the l960s creation of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, an actuality that affects Victoria’s future.

Go as a River is a gripping story, told with wonderful, vivid detail of raw wilderness. I also appreciated the domestic scenes, making due with what was at hand, painting a realistic picture of the demands of the land to meet the needs of a livelihood. Readers who love the outdoors, and who know the struggles of eking a living from the earth, will especially value this beautifully written novel.