Books like Downriver by Will Hobbs

When Jessie and six classmates from Discovery Unlimited, a structured outdoor education program, decide to leave the guided itinerary behind, they borrow the company's rafting equipment and start a spontaneous descent of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Along the way they paddle beneath towering red cliffs, camp on sun‑baked sand beaches, and explore hidden caves and waterfalls, enjoying an exhilarating freedom. Their thrill turns into peril as they venture into the canyon’s narrow, black‑walled inner gorge. Encountering massive rapids, sudden rainstorms, and injuries, the group is further fractured by internal conflicts. With no adults, no permit, and no map, the teenagers face the harsh realities of wilderness survival and the consequences of their reckless decision. The story follows the teens as they confront the river’s physical dangers and the emotional challenges of teamwork, resilience, and responsibility amid the unforgiving Grand Canyon landscape.

First publish date: 1991