Spooky Rivers

A companion to Spooky Lakes, a New York Times and Indiebound bestseller!

Take the plunge into the strangest, spookiest, and most fascinating rivers around the world (if you dare) in this illustrated nonfiction book from New York Times bestselling author, TikTok star, and educator Geo Rutherford!

"Amazingly quirky and educational." —Booklist starred review for Spooky Lakes

Rivers are Earth’s restless travelers—carving landscapes, shaping history, and holding secrets. Some are forces of destruction, sweeping away everything in their path, while others are lifelines, sustaining civilizations for millennia. And some are both, bringing prosperity and devastation in equal measure. From deadly whirlpools to lost cities submerged beneath their waves, these rivers challenge everything we think we know about the natural world. There are rivers that catch fire, rivers that boil, and rivers so deep they seem bottomless. Some slither beneath the ground you stand on, while others vanish without a trace.

Who knew rivers could be so . . . spooky?

From Geo Rutherford—the creator of the hit series Spooky Lake Month (over 79 million likes!)—comes this thrilling nonfiction book that follows the winding histories of 25 mysterious rivers around the world. Readers will explore natural phenomena, scientific oddities, historical events, and environmental disasters, as well as the myths and legends tied to these waterways, which are increasingly threatened by climate change. Backed by extensive research and packed with all-new content—including eerie and eye-popping gouache illustrations in full color—Spooky Rivers takes readers on an adventure through weird and wild waters.

Includes river facts, author's note, glossary, bibliography, and index.

About the Author

Geo Rutherford is the author of the New York Times bestseller Spooky Lakes, as well as an artist and teacher who has spent her entire professional career working in art education. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and the visual arts director at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

While Rutherford’s interest in lakes began as a part of her artistic practice, she soon found a captive audience after sharing the information she was learning on TikTok. Her videos explaining the science behind strange ice formations or drifting islands piqued the interest of viewers worldwide, but her channel found its stride when she began posting videos about spooky lakes every October. Today she receives constant messages from teachers and parents thanking her for creating educational content that encourages kids to engage with science. She was born in Canada and has both Canadian and American citizenship.