These students read and discussed the “Upriver” breakfast serial, published Mondays in the Sun Journal through May 21, as part of Lydia Eusden’s fifth-grade class in Hebron.

“Upriver” has given me a feel for what it was like in 1866. I know how tough it was in the West to get water. People will even kidnap people for water rights. Like Bearclaw Cole kidnapped Vinnie Hemshaw in Chapter One. I also know that people like Cole will do anything to get water rights.

Andrew Hatch

If I were living back in 1866 it would not be fun. I know this by reading these chapters of “Upriver.” If there were people back then that were my age working like that, it must have been really hard. Now that our class has read every chapter, I would probably read more daily newspapers. It was fun reading “Upriver.”

Briana Morris

Receiving “Upriver” has interested me because I like to look at it and to read what is going on in Maine. I not only read the comics, which I have done for a long time, I am now also interested in knowing what the weather will be like for the next few days so I am prepared to wear a warm or cool outfit. Sports is something is something I have always had a interest in. Now sports is one of the very first things I look at. I thank you very much!

Charlotte Middleton

Reading “Upriver” was fun. A lot of times I felt like I was there. I could imagine that I was going through what Iah and Vinny were. I would be so scared. “Upriver” is so interesting. I always wanted to know more.

Courtney Tucci

I really enjoyed reading “Upriver” in the newspaper. It has taught me a lot about the year 1866. I have never learned how to read a newspaper and look up stuff to find certain parts of the newspaper. I really enjoy reading the paper. I want to try this again sometime. I like “Upriver” because it helps me with my reading and it is fun.

Denise LaBrecque

Reading “Upriver” every week gives me the feeling that it is a really good life in 1866. This story is very good and my favorite. Reading a story like “Upriver” is fun. My favorite chapter was Chapter 15. My favorite character in the story is Iah Thomas because he is my age.

Drew St. Pierre

When my class receives the newspaper I learn a lot of things. Like what is happening in the state of Maine and other things. It taught me how to find what I am looking for without going through the whole newspaper. Hopefully you will do another story. Thank you.

Dustin Vachon

I was interested in this book. I like the artwork. I think this book is fun to read because Iah is trying to get away from Cole when Cole chases him. I like it when Iah and Vinny trick Cole by climbing up a tree.

Justin Benedix

Reading “Upriver” every Monday in the newspaper is really fun. I didn’t realize in 1866, life was very hard. It sounds like this story could happen in real life. After I read this story I realized that I never knew that I can learn so much out of a newspaper. Little kids get stolen for no reason. I would never have wanted to live in 1866.

Joshua Gauthier

Reading “Upriver” every week has given me a feel for what life was like in 1866 for a child nearly the same age as me by showing me that they could be kidnapped. It has also showed me they did not speak proper grammar. They also obviously thought farming was more important than school. That is a few of the many things reading “Upriver” has taught me about life in 1866. I hope there are more stories like this in the future.

Jeremiah Goodwin

Reading “Upriver” every week has taught me that in 1866 life was different. I think in the first chapter, when Vinny got kidnapped, Iah should have yelled help for Vinny. I really think that Sun Journal did a good job publishing “Upriver.” It was adventurous to kids. They like adventure stories.

Justin Mason

Reading “Upriver” has really helped me on reading the newspaper because at first I had know idea why people read the newspaper, but now I get it. It is to help you get more involved in the world around us. “Upriver” is a great book to read for younger kids because it is easy to understand. Sometimes our class got confused on what they were saying because it was their language back then. When we were on Chapter 9, we got the hang of it. I hope you print more stories. Thank you.

Jordan Schorr

I like the story “Upriver” because it is adventurous. I am an 11-year-old boy, just like Iah. It was a good choice to put in the newspaper. I wish you could put all the chapters in one paper so I could read it all at once.

Jasen Washburn

Reading these chapters makes me like to learn. This has taught that it was very different back then because they had very little and different stuff than we have today. When I read these chapters it made me think how boring, scary, and a lot of bad stuff could happen. The chapters made me feel like I was there.

Kaitlynn Drake

By reading “Upriver” every Monday, it has giving me the feeling of what life was like in 1866 for the children my age. If I were in the period of 1866, I think it would’ve been fun and exciting. The feeling I had while reading was a lot of drama and fighting. On the other hand, being kidnapped would be strange and awfully terrifying to me. It also would’ve been fun running away from men and hiding in a crate and in a barn.

Mariah Button

If I was Iah or Vinny, I think I would’ve been scared. I learned how they talked back then. I think it would be hard running and hiding from Mr. Cole. I think it was a good book to put in the newspaper so people can read it.

Macy Manchester

By receiving and reading “Upriver,” I have learned many things. At first, I only read the comics for good laughs, now I read the sports section, the title page, etc. I look in the sports to see if a sports team is doing good or bad. Most of the time I read because I can find out the temperature if it might rain. I still read the comics but now I know there is something more important beyond the funnies. Thank you for sending us the newspaper to read “Upriver.”

Nicolle Godbout

“Upriver” has taught me so much about the newspaper. I personally didn’t know that there were four parts to the newspaper. The four parts in order are world news, regional, sports, and classified/entertainment. I have also learned what is where. I have memorized that “Upriver” is always on C14. Unfold the paper once, turn it over and you’re there. I also memorized that the Sports is section C. “Upriver” was great. It helped me be more creative.

Ryan Samson

The first time I got the newspaper, I was astonished. I was not used to it. There were a variety of things to look at. My favorite part is Breakfast Serials.

Paige Jordan

Reading “Upriver” has taught me that back then it was really kind of scary for a child, with all kinds of bad people, like Rattler Cole and all of his buddies. My favorite character is Iah because if it weren’t for Iah, Vinny wouldn’t have been free. I have really enjoyed reading “Upriver” because it is always exciting. It must have been hard for kids like Iah being away from his mom while all this was going on. I always am excited when we get the Monday paper to read. I hope you have another story.

Taylor Edwards

Receiving the newspaper helped teach us to read the newspaper. It also helped me with my reading skills at school. I liked the “Upriver” section a lot. Newspapers are fun.

Tyler Englehart

“Upriver” is an amazing story. It gave me the feel of what life was like back in 1866 by using slang such as, “Boy could I use one of them knives,” a quote from Chapter 15. It also gave me a feel of what it must have been like to go through a raging storm and being shipped in a box with no holes and hay inside. Today in 2007 our boats are a lot bigger and sturdier. Another thing is today our boxes have no holes and we use Styrofoam.

Willy Swift

I think reading “Upriver” showed what it was like to live in 1866. It was a rough time in the Dakota Territory. The water was low and people needed water. It was also adventurous with people like Rattler Cole on your tail. Thank you for putting “Upriver” in the newspaper. I loved it and I suggest people should read it. It is a suspenseful story with cliff hanging chapters.

Zachary Hebert

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