78 pages 2 hours read

Richard Peck

The River Between Us

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2003

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

CHAPTERS 1-3

Reading Check

1. What type of car do they drive in the frame narrative?

2. Who narrates the story, starting in Chapter 2?

3. Where does Tilly know she can always find Cass when she goes missing?

4. Where does the boat that interrupts the dance party come from?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why doesn’t Mother go with the family to visit the relatives in Grand Tower?

2. How did Grand Tower get its name?

3. What is unique about Cass, and how does it affect her family?

4. What do readers know about Paw at this point?

Paired Resource

The Civil War and Emancipation in St. Louis

  • This article covers the unrest that took place in the northern city of St. Louis throughout the Civil War. St. Louis is where Delphine was supposed to go on her voyage from New Orleans.
  • This article connects to the theme of The Effects of War.
  • Why might Delphine feel that it is unsafe to travel to such a large city during this time?