Nancy Gannon, Sid Jordan, Mirra Price and Christine Westfeldt invite you to get ready to begin a thrilling adventure when you read In the Spirit of the River - a collection of five exciting stories for children between the ages of seven and twelve. These stories will take you on a delightful journey through the French Broad River of North Carolina. With each story, you'll explore the River's specialness and deepen your understanding of it. You will start floating with Long Man River and his family--the creeks and streams-as they feed the French Broad River from the mountains to the ocean. Then, you'll climb the high slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains to visit an early farm family living on the cliffs overlooking the French Broad River. Discover that one of the sons secretly nurtures a different wish to get an education. He is ever curious to learn more, and he makes friends with the French Broad River and a neighbor named River Joe, who works on the railroad while dreaming of the river. You will also meet Cherokee children whose ancestors built the earliest settlements along the French Broad River. The Cherokee discovered the tremendous power of the Healing Waters and handed down their knowledge through stories to their children and grandchildren. And, if that's not enough, you listen to the animals share their lives along the riverbanks and hear their cries for people not to dump dangerous waste into the water. See how some wise animals create The Council of River Animals to save the French Broad and other rivers. At your journey's end, you'll board a sailboat and adventure along the river's headwaters, escaping from pirates. You will have a special treat and ride on The Cosmic River through the stars to discover a dream come true. Enjoy these stories for hours of adventure and learning about the river. So, dive right into the magic of the French Broad River!