Down the River; Or, Buck Bradford and His Tyrants

Buck Bradford is thirteen years old, and he has already learned that the world is unkind to those without power. Living as a virtual servant in the Fishley household, Buck endures the humiliation of Ham Fishley's commands and his parents' indifference, all while shielding his beloved sister Flora, whose disability makes her especially vulnerable to their cruelty. When Buck finally refuses to bow, his rebellion sets off a chain of events that will determine their fate. The novel follows his struggle to maintain dignity in the face of oppression, his fierce protective instinct toward Flora, and his desperate search for freedom from the Fishleys' tyranny. This is a story about what it costs to stand up for yourself and for those you love when everyone around you is determined to see you crawl. First published in the late nineteenth century, it captures an era's faith in self-reliance and moral courage. It endures for readers who recognize Buck's fight as their own, and who believe that even a boy can resist his tyrants.