Grandpa is dying. He can barely move his hands anymore, but stubborn as ever, refuses to stay in hospital. He's determined to finish his last painting, 'River Boy', before he goes. A poignant story that explores the subject of grief and loss in an accessible and affecting way.Themes: grief, bereavement, testing physical limits, artistic challengeTeaching Focus:BLLanguage rich in metaphor and other rhetorical devicesBLStrong characterization and sensitive portrayal of relationshipsBLCreation of mood and setting through descriptive languageBLKey images woven through the narrative and plotRecommended for students in Years 8 and 9