Poison River

Upstream is Jennifer M. Lane's stunning conclusion to the story that began in Downriver. This dystopian historical tale of social justice, set in Pennsylvania's coal country and on Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, is filled with adventure and heart.It's 1901. It's been a year since Charlotte arrived on the Chesapeake Bay and discovered the poison that killed her parents was in the water… and killing people downriver.Together, Charlotte and Weylan use the power of his newspaper to launch an assault against Nels Pritchard and the coal town responsible, printing the truth behind the lies.But they haven't launched their relationship. When he asked her to marry him, she said "Yes, but not yet." Her heart can't settle until justice is won. And though poisoning the water isn't illegal (yet), a lawyer is willing to help them, if they find proof of their claims.Then they're presented with an offer they can't refuse: an attractive proposal to work undercover in Pritchard's inner sanctum. There, they'll have access to all the proof they can carry. But as they close in on evidence of Prichard's schemes, an ally goes rogue and embroils Weylan in his plot.Before the ash settles on his fiery plans, innocent people lose their lives, Charlotte loses the evidence she needs, and Weylan could lose himself. Picking up the pieces means choosing between the past she can't leave behind and the future she may never grasp.The newest book by award-winning author Jennifer M. Lane is perfect for fans of Jeannette Walls' Hang the Moon and the fiery protagonist in The Hunger Games. Praise from Midwest Book Review:"[Upstream's] multifaceted story excels in two appealing, absorbing lines of inquiry: love and mystery. Librarians choosing Upstream… as a fitting sequel to Downriver will find the two a powerful blend of personal, political, and social revelations that are just as strong together as apart. Book clubs will find [the duology] to spark vivid discussions about community, social responsibility, and personal choice." – D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book ReviewPraise from The Historical Fiction Company:"Lane's poetic yet grounded prose explores not only the environmental and political rot poisoning the community, but also the complicated emotional terrain of those caught in its currents, resulting in a story that is both intimate and quietly defiant, providing readers with a heroine to root for, a cause to believe in, and a voice that lingers long after the last page…"Jennifer M. Lane has written a novel that is not only timely in its themes which include corporate accountability, women's voices, environmental justice but timeless in its emotional core. It is about what we owe to the places that shape us, and what it means to speak when others remain silent. Through Charlotte, readers are reminded that resistance doesn't always roar. Sometimes, it writes, sometimes, it waits and other times, it simply refuses to go away." – The Historical Fiction Company A Maryland native and Pennsylvanian at heart, Jennifer M. Lane holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Barton College and a master's in liberal arts with a focus on museum studies from the University of Delaware, where she wrote her thesis on the material culture of roadside memorials. Jennifer is a member of the Authors Guild, IBPA, and the Historical Novel Society. Her first book, Of Metal and Earth, won the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel and was a Finalist in the 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards in the category of Literary / General Fiction. She is also the author of The Poison River Series Duology (Downriver and Upstream), Stick Figures from Rockport, and the Collected Stories of Ramsbolt, including the books Blood and Sand, Penny's Loft, Hope for Us Yet, and A Good Day for Pie, The Worsted House, and The Warmth of Fires.