LibGuides: Islington Branch Book Club: "Once upon a River" by Bonnie Jo Campbell

About the Author: Bonnie Jo Campbell

Bonnie Jo Campbell is an American author known for her gritty and poignant literary works that often explore themes of survival, rural life, and the complexities of human relationships. She was born on July 18, 1962, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Campbell grew up on a farm in rural Michigan, an experience that deeply influenced her writing and provided inspiration for her stories. She attended the University of Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. Later, she pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from Western Michigan University.

Campbell's writing career began with the publication of her short story collection, "Women & Other Animals," in 1999. The collection received critical acclaim and won the AWP Award for Short Fiction.

In 2002, Campbell published her debut novel, "Q Road," which follows the lives of residents in a rural Michigan community struggling with poverty and addiction. The novel received positive reviews for its raw portrayal of rural life and its memorable characters.

Campbell gained widespread recognition with her novel "Once Upon a River," published in 2011. The novel tells the story of Margo Crane, a young girl growing up along the Stark River in rural Michigan, and her journey of survival and self-discovery. "Once Upon a River" was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and won the Michigan Notable Book Award.

In addition to her novels and short story collections, Campbell has also published essays and articles in various literary magazines and anthologies. Her writing often explores themes of gender, class, and the human connection to nature.

Campbell's literary achievements have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. She is also a recipient of the Pushcart Prize and the Eudora Welty Prize for Fiction.

In addition to her writing, Campbell has taught creative writing at various universities and institutions, including Pacific University's Low-Residency MFA Program and the Antioch University Los Angeles MFA Program.

Bonnie Jo Campbell continues to write and is regarded as one of America's leading contemporary authors, celebrated for her authentic voice, vivid storytelling, and deep exploration of the human experience, particularly in rural America.

Synopsis

Bonnie Jo Campbell has created an unforgettable heroine in sixteen-year-old Margo Crane, a beauty whose unflinching gaze and uncanny ability with a rifle have not made her life any easier. After the violent death of her father, in which she is complicit, Margo takes to the Stark River in her boat, with only a few supplies and a biography of Annie Oakley, in search of her vanished mother. But the river, Margo's childhood paradise, is a dangerous place for a young woman traveling alone, and she must be strong to survive, using her knowledge of the natural world and her ability to look unsparingly into the hearts of those around her. Her river odyssey through rural Michigan becomes a defining journey, one that leads her beyond self-preservation and to the decision of what price she is willing to pay for her choices.

Discussion Questions

Character Analysis:
- Discuss the protagonist, Margo Crane. What motivates her actions throughout the novel? How does she navigate the challenges she faces, and how does her character evolve over the course of the story?
- Explore the other significant characters in the novel, such as Margo's family members, friends, and romantic interests. How do they contribute to Margo's journey, and what do their interactions reveal about them?
Themes of Survival and Resilience:
- "Once Upon a River" is a story of survival in the face of adversity. How does Margo demonstrate resilience throughout the novel? What challenges does she encounter, and how does she overcome them?
Exploration of Gender Roles:
- How does the novel depict traditional gender roles, particularly in the rural American setting? Discuss Margo's experiences as a young woman navigating a predominantly male-dominated world. How do gender dynamics influence her interactions with others?
Nature as a Character:
- The natural world plays a significant role in the novel, serving almost as a character itself. Explore the symbolism of the river and the wilderness surrounding it. How does Margo's connection to nature shape her identity and her journey?
Family and Relationships:
- Family relationships are complex in "Once Upon a River." Analyze Margo's relationships with her family members, including her mother, father, and uncle. How do these relationships impact Margo's sense of self and her decisions?
- Discuss Margo's romantic relationships throughout the novel. What do these relationships reveal about her desires, vulnerabilities, and growth?
Quest for Identity:
- Margo embarks on a journey of self-discovery throughout the novel. How does she grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and purpose? What factors shape her sense of self?
Social Commentary:
- "Once Upon a River" offers a glimpse into rural America and the challenges faced by its inhabitants. Discuss the novel's social commentary on issues such as poverty, substance abuse, and the divide between urban and rural communities.
Writing Style and Narrative Structure:
- Bonnie Jo Campbell employs a unique narrative style in the novel, blending realism with elements of folklore and myth. How does this narrative style contribute to the overall tone and themes of the story?
Ethical Dilemmas:
- Throughout the novel, Margo is faced with ethical dilemmas and difficult choices. Reflect on some of these moments and discuss the moral implications of Margo's decisions.
Symbolism and Imagery:
- Explore the symbolism and imagery used throughout the novel, such as the river, the wilderness, and the various animals encountered by Margo. What do these symbols represent, and how do they deepen the thematic exploration of the story?
Coming-of-Age Themes:
- "Once Upon a River" can be seen as a coming-of-age story for Margo. How does she navigate the transition from adolescence to adulthood? What lessons does she learn along the way?
Impact of Trauma:
- Margo experiences various forms of trauma throughout the novel, including loss, violence, and betrayal. How does she cope with these traumatic experiences, and what impact do they have on her psyche and her relationships?

MLN Versions

book
large print book
spoken CD

Audiobook Versions

hoopla

MLN Versions

Streaming Versions

kanopy

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
Call Number: FICTION Brunt
My sister Greta and I were having our portrait painted by our Uncle Finn that afternoon because he knew he was dying... There's only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that's her uncle, the renowned painter, Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her once inseparable older sister, June can only be herself in Finn's company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies far too young of a mysterious illness that June's mother can barely bring herself to discuss, June's world is turned upside down. At the funeral, she notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd, and a few days later, June receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn's apartment, and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realises she's not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he might just be the one she needs the most. Tell the Wolves I'm Home is a tender story of love lost and found, an unforgettable portrait of the way compassion can make us whole again.
The Moonshiner's Daughter by Donna Everhart
Call Number: FICTION Everhart
Everhart's sensitive and expert storytelling will capture you in this Southern coming-of-age novel! Set in North Carolina in 1960 and brimming with authenticity and grit, The Moonshiner's Daughter evokes the singular life of sixteen-year-old Jessie Sasser, a young woman determined to escape her family's past . . . Generations of Sassers have made moonshine in the Brushy Mountains of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Their history is recorded in a leather-bound journal that belongs to Jessie Sasser's daddy, but Jessie wants no part of it. As far as she's concerned, moonshine caused her mother's death a dozen years ago. Her father refuses to speak about her mama, or about the day she died. But Jessie has a gnawing hunger for the truth-one that compels her to seek comfort in food. Yet all her self-destructive behavior seems to do is feed what her school's gruff but compassionate nurse describes as the "monster" inside Jessie. Resenting her father's insistence that moonshining runs in her veins, Jessie makes a plan to destroy the stills, using their neighbors as scapegoats. Instead, her scheme escalates an old rivalry and reveals long-held grudges. As she endeavors to right wrongs old and new, Jessie's loyalties will bring her to unexpected revelations about her family, her strengths-and a legacy that may provide her with the answers she has been longing for.
History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
Call Number: FICTION Fridlund
Fourteen-year-old Linda lives with her parents in the beautiful, austere woods of northern Minnesota, where their nearly abandoned commune stands as a last vestige of a lost counter-culture world. Isolated at home and an outlander at school, Linda is drawn to the enigmatic, attractive Lily and new history teacher Mr. Grierson. When Mr. Grierson is charged with possessing child pornography, the implications of his arrest deeply affect Linda as she wrestles with her own fledgling desires and craving to belong. And then the young Gardner family moves in across the lake and Linda finds herself welcomed into their home as a babysitter for their little boy, Paul. It seems that her life finally has purpose but with this new sense of belonging she is also drawn into secrets she doesn't understand. Over the course of a few days, Linda makes a set of choices that reverberate throughout her life. As she struggles to find a way out of the sequestered world into which she was born, Linda confronts the life-and-death consequences of the things people do-and fail to do-for the people they love. Winner of the McGinnis-Ritchie award for its first chapter, Emily Fridlund's propulsive and gorgeously written History of Wolves introduces a new writer of enormous range and talent.
The Crocodile Bride by Ashleigh Bell Pedersen
Call Number: FICTION Pedersen
Set during the swampy summer in 1982, this stunning debut novel follows eleven-year-old Sunshine Turner and her troubled father Billy as the secrets of their family's past swirl around them in the one-road town of Fingertip, Louisiana. During a hot summer of June moods, grubworms, and dark storms, Sunshine discovers stones in her chest - and learns the dangers her coming-of-age will bring about in the yellow house she shares with her father. Without the vocabulary to comprehend Billy's actions or her own changing body, Sunshine turns to a story passed down through the generations of the Turner family: in the dark waters of the Black Bayou lives a crocodile with an insatiable appetite, and a woman with a mysterious healing gift. As Sunshine's summer unspools, she turns to the one person who will need no explanation of the family secrets she carries-the crocodile bride. The Crocodile Bride is at once a heartbreakingly tender coming-of-age tale and a lyrical, haunting reflection on generational trauma. Reminiscent of Jesmyn Ward and Helen Oyeyemi, Ashleigh Bell Pedersen is a promising new voice in American fiction.
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Call Number: FICTION Woodrell
When Ree Dollys father skips bail, the 16-year-old knows if he doesn't show up, her family will lose their home. Her goal had been to leave her life of poverty and join the Army, but first she must find her father, teach her little brothers to fend for themselves, and escape a downward spiral of misery.