WI Book Festival Author Event: Spooky Rivers (Geo Rutherford)

October 16th 7:30-8:30pm DeLuca Forum, Discovery Building

Presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival.

Take the plunge into the strangest, spookiest, and most fascinating rivers around the world (if you dare) in this beautifully illustrated companion to Spooky Lakes—the New York Times and Indiebound bestseller from TikTok star and educator Geo Rutherford.

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.

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?

In conversation with Anne Moser.

Check out more Wisconsin Book Festival & Wisconsin Science Festival partner events here!