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annabananawible's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Gore
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Self harm, Infidelity, Animal death, Excrement, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
sophie221010's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Vomit
slcampb99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Minor: Suicide attempt
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Brian is a normal thirteen year old boy, on his way to visit his father after his parent's split - when the worst happens. The pilot of the small bush plane he's on has a heart attack and dies in the middle of the flight, leaving Brian to survive crashing in the Canadian wilderness, by himself save for a hatchet strapped to his waist.
I did not remember how freaking intense this book was. I think I read it fairly young, potentially in middle school because it was popular and I read just about everything I could get my hands on, but it doesn't quite register as a child just how WILD this plot is. As an adult, I marveled at the way Paulsen strung this story together, keeping it realistic to what a mostly city-dwelling kid could do to keep himself alive. This book covers so much in barely 200 pages, but what I enjoyed most is that Paulsen didn't shy away from the mental health effects of being stranded in this situation.
My only gripe is the beginning is particularly slow, but it does a decent job of establishing Brian before the crash, compared to who he is at the end of the book. Overall, this was a good read and I'm glad I tapped through it for some research for a project I'm considering writing!
Content warnings: Death (witnessed), Animal death (multiple), Injury/Injury detail (not too heavy on gore), Vomit, Blood, Suicide attempt, Infidelity (mentions in regards to his parents), Suicidal thoughts, Self harm (blood mention)
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death
Moderate: Blood, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
eri002's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Minor: Vomit, Blood, Death, Violence, Animal death, Infidelity, and Suicide attempt
thecavewoman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It is a bit dark and challenging for its age group but I think it's important and while the writing may be a bit childish (no kidding hah) I still found it very gripping and enthralling to read!
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Infidelity
Minor: Excrement
dusk9147's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Suicide attempt
marthadude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Gore, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Blood, and Death
Someone has a pretty graphic heart attack early on. Graphic descriptions of a plane crash and divorcebeklovesbooks's review against another edition
3.75
Moderate: Infidelity and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
besotted's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Vomit, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, and Death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity