Risk: A Life Saved by the River by Susan Norman is the fascinating memoir of a woman and her love for the great outdoors but more specifically her passion for whitewater rafting and kayaking. When most of us are contemplating a quieter life as we enter our 50s, the author was taking on the responsibility of being a full-time guardian to her twin brother’s four-year-old son, Seth, whose behavioral issues would stretch her patience to her limits. Added to her parenting duties, she must handle a full-time job, maintain her married relationship, and still manage to indulge her passion for whitewater kayaking and rafting. Told across two time periods, Norman describes their difficult childhood and her introduction to the joys of whitewater sports plus the current day as she struggles to balance late-age parenthood, with her career, her partner, and her desperate need to satisfy her requirements for exercise, and the freedom of the river. 

Risk is one of those stories that remind us to be grateful for what we have because no matter how hard we may think life is, there’s always someone else who has it tougher. What I particularly loved about Susan Norman’s memoir was her never-surrender attitude. Her determination to take responsibility for her brother’s child never really faltered despite all the chaos it would bring to her professional and personal life. The use of two time periods related simultaneously allowed the reader to see and understand the childhood that shaped the woman that emerged. Despite knowing next to nothing about the sport of whitewater kayaking, it was easy to understand the excitement and thrill of embarking on a sport that had little real traction in the United States. To be an elite athlete in an emerging sport was exciting and to represent her country on the world stage was important to the author. As I read this book I shook my head in awe at her commitment and dedication to her sport and her now teenage son. This is a wonderful story full of triumph over adversity, great adventure, and a good reminder always to be grateful. I highly recommend this read.

Risk by Susan Norman is a memoir about her experiences raising her nephew Seth while balancing her athletic achievements. After Seth is placed in her care, Norman faces the demands of providing him with stability and emotional support and fighting for legal guardianship against her negligent brother, David. What sets Norman apart is her excellence in whitewater rafting and kayaking, having competed on the U.S. National Team, with her athletic journey leading to participation in the World Whitewater Rafting Championships, where she and her team secured a spot on the podium. Norman discusses the juggling act of parenting a neuro-divergent child and pursuing her athletic goals, finding fulfillment in both, and Seth's interest in water, which is different but in the same way as the woman who loves him.

Risk: A Life Saved by the River by Susan Norman is a fantastic memoir that shows us the duality of what it means to be a parent and find success in pursuit of other things. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect going in, and I found the most interesting parts in the upbringing of Norman and her brother, and each step to her becoming Seth's parent. I also enjoyed reading about her relationships, her teammates, and her life in general. The style of writing is conversational and the result is the author's voice being clear, authentic, and powerful. The author openly talks about impatience, guilt, and the highs and lows (but mostly highs!) of being an elite athlete. This is a story of growth, both on and off the water, and her candid thoughts on aging, resilience, and adapting to life's unpredictable currents make this a deeply moving and thoughtful read. Very highly recommended.