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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
The river was a lot less exciting than the original book in this series and the scenario highly improbable. They journey was shorter than it should have been and rather uneventful, though points for dealing with the PTSD that could be triggered for undergoing an event like this.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-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
adventurous
fast-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
An interesting book.
Picking up from Hatchet, The River followed Brian as he heads back into the wilderness to teach people how to survive. As expected, Brian must have the worst luck given he then has to find himself fighting to keep himself and another man alive.
Admittedly, the ending of The River seems to be rushed, similar to the "deus ex machina" ending of Hatchet. But it is a worthy successor that shows just how noble Brian is.
Picking up from Hatchet, The River followed Brian as he heads back into the wilderness to teach people how to survive. As expected, Brian must have the worst luck given he then has to find himself fighting to keep himself and another man alive.
Admittedly, the ending of The River seems to be rushed, similar to the "deus ex machina" ending of Hatchet. But it is a worthy successor that shows just how noble Brian is.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
However much I wanted a sequel that was meatier than the first, this was the exact opposite of my expectations. I would definitely categorize it as a short story rather than a novel. I didn't dislike it, I just found myself wondering why it was important for Gary Paulsen to put Brian through an unnecessary amount of trauma under the guise of 'teaching' readers about the survival experience if there was absolutely nothing new to learn that hadn't already been covered by the first book. There was opportunity for something new with Brian's survival drive extended to a second party, but then it was clotheslined by rendering the secondary character unconscious for the actual survival part and letting Brian struggle for a couple pages before getting rescued. I just didn't get it.
This is book two in the popular Hatchet series.
It’s been nearly two years since Brian Robeson endured nearly two months on his own in the Canadian wilderness. The last thing he expects when he opens the door is some government types who bluntly propose, “We want you to do it again.” Of course this time, the men explain to his mother, Brian will have Derek, a government psychologist along, and they’ll be outfitted with survival gear, including a radio for emergencies. Of course, things don’t go exactly as planned and Brian must rely on his own intelligence, cool reasoning and reservoirs of strength and courage to get them safely back.
Frankly, I thought it was just too contrived. Brian’s reactions ring true – fear, anxiety, disdain, worry, joy, and excitement are all present at various times. But since he’s not alone, there is far less time for him to think about his situation or what he misses, and that makes him more distant from the reader for much of the book. It seemed much more action-driven than the first book, and I just didn’t enjoy that as much.
It’s been nearly two years since Brian Robeson endured nearly two months on his own in the Canadian wilderness. The last thing he expects when he opens the door is some government types who bluntly propose, “We want you to do it again.” Of course this time, the men explain to his mother, Brian will have Derek, a government psychologist along, and they’ll be outfitted with survival gear, including a radio for emergencies. Of course, things don’t go exactly as planned and Brian must rely on his own intelligence, cool reasoning and reservoirs of strength and courage to get them safely back.
Frankly, I thought it was just too contrived. Brian’s reactions ring true – fear, anxiety, disdain, worry, joy, and excitement are all present at various times. But since he’s not alone, there is far less time for him to think about his situation or what he misses, and that makes him more distant from the reader for much of the book. It seemed much more action-driven than the first book, and I just didn’t enjoy that as much.
adventurous
emotional
fast-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
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
MG
Realistic fiction
Nature / Survival
Brian is asked to return to the wilderness to prove how he survived.
Realistic fiction
Nature / Survival
Brian is asked to return to the wilderness to prove how he survived.