Reviews

Northwind by Gary Paulsen

droar's review against another edition

3.0

Lovely but remarkably slow for a Paulsen. It's got a strong old soul vibe (which I enjoyed) but had so little tension, despite it's technically thrilling plot points, I found it hard to pay attention. certainly don't agree that it does for the sea what Hatchet did for the woods as the flap description claims. Northwind is certainly about survival but it doesn't feel like a survival story, more a communing and connecting with nature kind of deal.

Spoiler

This might be because Leif has no interest in returning to 'civilization' and is so entirely Zen about everything that happens. It's not a bad mindset to have in real life, just a weird one to base a teen survival story around *shrug*

In all: worth a try if you like ocean-y wilderness stories, but if it's not for you in the first 50 or so pages be willing to set it down.

raechsreads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Whoa. This style of book isn't usually my first pick, but Northwind pulled me along Leif's journey. I enjoyed the mix of adventure with coming of age and survival. I'm left wondering what could have happened if he had run into other humans.

millyfox's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

aliencatl0rd's review against another edition

3.0

When I unboxed this book from out newest library order I was supremely excited! I remember being very fond of Hatchet when I was a kid, and I had hopes that this would be a Scandinavian flavored version.

Unfortunately I didn't particularly enjoy it... It's incredibly repetitive. Aside from the beginning there just isn't much development. Tides, canoe, berries, whales, bears, ravens, traveling north; repeat.

All the same it was beautiful and I could picture the entire book very clearly. The scenery and Leif's observations and interactions with the animals were lovely. I just wish it had taken us somewhere.

snicksnacksnorum's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

amdawson's review against another edition

adventurous informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

A good middle-grade survival story set on the sea. 

msgabbythelibrarian's review against another edition

3.0

So survivalist fiction was a staple of mine growing up. Or rather survivalist movies were. Some days I felt like my mom wanted to abandon everything and go live in the woods. However, after one or two terrifying to a ten year old incidents involving literature set in the wild......let's just say they are not what I gravitate towards.

However, Gary Paulsen has written another book that I think will be enjoyed by fans of the adventure genre. Instead of the mountains, we are instead along the sea. I pictured the Pacific Northwest and Alaska as I read these pages. Leif's encounters with bears, whales, whirlpools....his fishing with a man made spear and gathering berries to survive.....many will enjoy this story. Indeed, it is a love story to the wild.

For me, it is not my favorite genre to read. I also struggled that Leif was the lone character and there was not a bit of dialogue to be found. Indeed, Northwind read like a David Attenborough voiced documentary with Leif's occasional inner dialogue read by Morgan Freeman. LOL So if you want a book with an actual plot (as opposed to just embracing nature and continuing to flee sickness and Man), this isn't it. But will I recommend it to readers looking for adventure tales? Survival tales? You bet!

kristinakg's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

erinsbookshelves's review against another edition

adventurous emotional relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

jessehkuh142's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.5