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This book is the sequel to Paulsen's Newbery Medal-winning The Hatchet which I reviewed a few months ago. In this book, some men who run a government survival school want Brian to go back to the Canadian wilderness and show them how he survived. Derek Holtzer, the psychologist running the program, believes that the teaching will be much more successful if he's gone through the real thing.
After much talking with Brian's family, it's agreed that the young boy can go. When they reach the last leg of their journey, Brian puts his foot down: if Derek really wants to learn how to survive then the tents, food, guns, sleeping bags...everything must stay behind. If any of those items come along they will be used, and Derek won't be learning how to survive.
Derek knows that Brian is right and agrees to the plan, only bringing along communication gear. They don't even have time to set up camp properly when a rip-snorting storm blows through the lake area. Derek is struck by lightning; the communications are knocked out. The only thing Brian can do in an effort to save Derek's life is to build a raft and travel by river to a small trading post.
Brian is an exceptional character, and I enjoyed reading about him again. The problem with this book is that the premise is over within the span of five heartbeats. Zap! The lightning strikes. Bam! Derek is gravely injured. Pow! Brian builds the raft. Zowie! They're on the river. Oof! They're at the trading post. There's just not enough meat on the bone in which to sink your teeth.
Fortunately, this isn't the last book that Paulsen has written about Brian, so when I need a survival fix, I'll look up the other books in the series. This is a young character who has definitely gotten under my skin!
In the sequel to Hatchet, a psychologically hardened Brian is convinced to go back into the wilderness with Derek, a psychologist for the government that wants to study Brian's survival skills. Things start off well, until Derek is hit by lightning and comatose. Now Brian must navigate a river in order to save Derek. A strong, exciting sequel that appeals to young readers interested in wilderness and survival, but with a more psychological twist (particularly as Brian must take care of someone else) than the incredible predecessor. Grade: B+
I have decided to review all books I have purchased with my new Kindle, and this is the first one. I read Hatchet in school, but it is not necessary to do so if you want to read this book. I would reccomend doing so, but Paulsen wrote this book so well that you know what happened in the first book. It gets a 5 star from me. Definitely reccomend it.
I bought this book to read with my 11 yr. old son. He thoroughly enjoyed it. It is just the kind of story to keep boys interested in reading. We have read all the Francis Tuckett books for Paulsen and loved them.
this book was incredible. the detail was superb with all the added things such as when brian always thinks about one word and how paulsen describes the place and what is happening. excellent.
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"Lacks the punch of Hatchet."
"Great Buy"