The something about a river is the excitement a boy can have on it in the carefree days of summer. How disappointed Davey was to be bound by responsibility this summer with mother away and dad hurt in an accident. Between household chores and helping to run dad's boat-renting business, he anticipated some pretty cheerless days. Yet how wrong he was. First there was adventuring with his new friend, Rodger Hall, whom Davey transformed into a top notch Coast Guardsman; then there was helping an old friend, Mike McGlone, the shanty boatman suspected of stealing. The author has based this on her own experiences on the St. Croix River. Characters speak informally and colloquially lending an air of authenticity to a fine tale for boys.