Reviews

Northwind by Gary Paulsen

yapha's review against another edition

5.0

This lyrically written homage to the sea and the rugged shores of long ago Norway is not your typical survival story. At times brutally gory and other times breathtakingly gorgeous, it is Leif's inner monologue as he escapes as the sole survivor of a cholera epidemic, heading ever northward in his small canoe. Give this one to readers who crave survival stories or love sailing. Recommended for grades 5 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

danyell919's review against another edition

4.0

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

This took a bit to get into, but I really enjoyed this tale, loosely based on Gary Paulsen’s time on the PNW coast. I also love the whales.

sarahsponda's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

jbach6's review against another edition

5.0

Paulsen, a master of description, does it again with vibrant and immersive prose providing the backdrop for a simple and engaging story reminiscent of Hatchet.

highladykat's review against another edition

I'm not gonna rate it because it wasn't for me. I read it solely for the orca and I was not disappointed one bit. 

agrandreflection's review against another edition

5.0

Calling it Hatchet by the ocean is not inaccurate, but there's a lot more going on here as well. The main character's Nordic worldview lets you seep slowly into the wise ways of being connected to icy land, and the personal animal connections found in the book are unparalleled. Sure, there are moments of intensity and dread... but overall there's a sense of calm alertness to the surrounding nature. Definitely one of the most peaceful survival tales I've read. Though this is YA, I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to reconnect and return to a natural rhythm.

kat_mayerova's review

adventurous emotional inspiring relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

readermaker's review against another edition

5.0

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan (Farrah Straus Giroux) for this free copy in exchange for my honest review.

This middle grade novel may be the audience the author was targeting for this story but it is an adventure that will reach all the way up to an adult age group level. As a reader of Hatchet in my younger years I found this story to be similar in adventure and the writing style is one akin to anything a reader has come to expect from Gary Paulsen.

The story takes place on the ocean in the Northern Pacific when a young orphan boy’s village is taken over by a life threatening disease. The boy sets out in a canoe to head North away from the sickness that is killing off his people. The descriptions of the fjord-riven shorelines are so vivid that I could clearly see these places in my mind. His interactions with the life around him were playful as you would expect of any young boy. “Young whales, above all, love to play and the young ones did not see danger in the perfect toy…” referring to Leif as he interacted with the whales he encountered. The game the whales played with the canoe as if it were a “wooden feather… pushing the canoe back and forth across the surface.” was delightful.

It was very touching as Leif sought to know his mother through his journey as we watch him grow into a survivor. Keeping track of events on his story boards became vital as he too saw the growth that he was experiencing.

I was not ready for the story to end and I felt that the author may have had thoughts of a sequel never to be realized with his unexpected death. His legacy will live on as readers will cherish his writing for ages to come. God bless you, Gary Paulsen, for sharing your stories with us for all these years.

barbaragorgon's review against another edition

4.0

This was meandering and meditative, and the writing is beautiful. Kids who love nature and animal stories, like I did, will get a thrill out of this book.

ams_jenkins's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-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

2.0