The River's Daughter - by Bridget Crocker (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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, growing up 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, some of 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 how to overcome years of betrayals and abuse, to trust herself, and, finally, how to help heal her family from generational cycles of trauma and poverty.

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

Review Quotes

"Heartrending in its maturity and its quest for empathy . . . A brave, sincere story of the shattering and saving powers of adrenaline and humility."--Kirkus Review

"Inspiring . . . It's a triumphant road map for following one's passions."--Publishers Weekly

"In The River's Daughter, renowned whitewater rafting guide Bridget Crocker delivers a powerful narrative of resilience and self-discovery, navigating the tumult of family upheaval and personal trauma. With courage and insight, Crocker reveals how the rivers she braved also guided her toward healing and strength. This unforgettable odyssey is a testament to nature's power to transform and inspire. A remarkable debut."--Adrienne Brodeur, author of Wild Game

"The River's Daughter is poignant and absorbing, vividly transporting the reader along Bridget's journey to heal from abuse and betrayal, where the power and grace of the world's rivers inspire her passion for life and offer her a place to channel her pain."--Norman Ollestad, author of Crazy for the Storm

"An exciting, entertaining, fast-paced adventure travel memoir."--Catherine Raven, author of Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship

"This memoir by legendary river guide Bridget Crocker runs fast and deep. Whitewater scenes are electrifying and precise. But there are also profound personal matters here--pockets of fear or joy and even love--that add a shimmering depth to this fast-paced and nuanced read."--Tim Cahill, author of Jaguars Ripped My Flesh

"No one writes with more conviction and heart about the outdoor world, rivers, and family than Bridget Crocker, who has been to the river's edge, both literal and metaphorical, navigated its rapids, and drawn strength from it in many more ways than one. This fast-paced but deeply insightful book about a woman harnessing the power to confront her past and surge into her future will steal readers' breath from the first scene--when Crocker first hears the river's voice--to the last."--Tracy Ross, author of The Source of All Things

About the Author

Bridget Crocker is a trailblazer in women's empowerment within the outdoor industry. A leading whitewater rafting guide, she has led remote river expeditions down many of the world's greatest river canyons. She is a contributing author to Lonely Planet guidebooks and The Best Women's Travel Writing series, and her work has been featured in magazines including Men's Journal, National Geographic Adventure, Trail Runner, and Outside, as well as Patagonia's blog, The Cleanest Line. She lives in Malibu, California.