I closed the covers after reading this for the first time less than 10 minutes ago. It's not a dry scientific analysis of how and why floods occur in the dry southwest US, although the primary reason for this is made clear at the outset: this is a landscape created by flowing water, through which water continues to flow. Rather it's an attempt by the author to come to terms with the depth of his relationship with the floods, to momentarily catch and record the grandeur, the beauty and the horror of the landscape and the force of water that creates it. And to remind us - and perhaps himself - that there is nothing we can do to prevent unfortunate or ill-prepared people from drowning in this dry land.

4 1/2 rather than 5 stars because I found many of Regan Choi's illustrations interrupted rather than enhanced the read, and because Childs' writing at times stumbles awkwardly as he searches for the right word or phrase. ( )