West River

“West River is the story of a family building a nation, and a nation building a family. In this third novel of the Barton family saga, Bill Bishop shows with warmth, humor, and realism how a pioneer family dealt with the challenges of transitioning from frontier West to industrial nation. He also makes clear that the challenges they faced—poverty, displacement, immigration, racism, war, and a pandemic—are challenges we as a nation still confront.”


—Bruce Stronach, Dean emeritus, Temple University





“West River is an entertaining tale of triumph and chagrin that traces the Barton family across the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota through the turbulent first half of the twentieth century, where these ‘last pioneers’ tenaciously pursued their dreams while staking a lasting claim on the reader’s imagination.”


—Burton Blume, Creative Brand Strategist





“West River is a sweeping tale of the fading days of the Old West, and a great read! West River is about a family; about true grit, dogged persistence, and positivity in the face of natural and man-made disasters; about the importance of loyalty, friendships, justice, and equality; and about America’s place in the world.”


—Bill Hall, President, Ipsos Healthcare Japan