The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Cummings, Priscilla. Red Kayak. New York: Dutton Children’s Books, 2004.

The novel takes place in Maryland in the present day. The novel was published in 2004. Braden “Brady” Parks is 13 years old. His best friends are Michael “Digger” Griswald and Jeremy “J.T.” Tyler. One day, before going to school, they notice someone in a red kayak on the river. They assume that it is Marcellus DiAngelo, a wealthy new neighbor. Digger resents Mr. DiAngelo for buying the land that used to belong to Digger’s grandfather. Brady, Digger, and J.T. are all from somewhat impoverished families. Brady notices that the weather is a little turbulent and possibly dangerous. He suggests shouting a warning to the kayaker, but J.T. and Digger dismiss the suggestion.

Later that day, Brady’s father takes him out of school and says that Mrs. DiAngelo and her 3-year-old son have gone missing on the lake. They were the ones in the kayak, not Mr. DiAngelo. Brady and his father each take a boat out onto the lake to look for them. Brady finds Ben unconscious in the water and tries to resuscitate him while steering the boat back to shore. Ben is taken to the hospital, where he tragically dies. Brady is deeply saddened by this death. He tries to talk to J.T. and Digger about it, but strangely, they begin avoiding him. Mr. DiAngelo moves to a different house, as Ben’s death has apparently destabilized the DiAngelos’ marriage.

Brady offers to help Mrs. DiAngelo—first name Gina—with work in and around her house. Brady persuades his mother to talk to Gina, as Brady’s mother has also experienced the loss of a child. (When Brady was young, his younger sister Amanda accidentally fell into a tank at an aquarium and drowned.) One day, Gina happily confides in Brady that she is pregnant. Later, Gina asks Brady to clean out an old boathouse on the property. While Brady is cleaning, he finds a drill with red flecks of paint on it. He soon deduces that J.T. and Digger drilled holes in the DiAngelos’ kayak.

Brady confronts his friends. J.T. and Digger admit that they drilled the holes, but that they only meant it as a prank on Mr. DiAngelo. They beg Brady not to tell anyone, as the truth will not bring Ben back, and it will only place J.T. and Digger in trouble. Brady struggles deeply with what to do. He decides to dispose of the drill and protect his friends. However, he feels deeply guilty, and he can tell that J.T. and Digger feel guilty too. Eventually, Brady reveals the truth. J.T. and Digger are arrested. They plead guilty and appear relieved to no longer have to bear the guilt of deceit. They are sentenced to nine months in juvenile detention. Brady is relieved to have done the right thing. The DiAngelos soon get back together move out of town.