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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
It's just alright. Quick read. As a long-term fan of the Hatchet, this is a disappointing follow up. Even as a kid, I wouldn't have liked it much. It left a lot to be desired. Possibly could have been better had there been morw fluff. But I think even the author was ready to be rid of this story line.
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another adventure with Brian, from Hatchet...a very quick read, maybe not as descriptive and engaging as the first, though far better in regards to the ridiculous repetition in the first book. We are continuing on with the series, so that's something. It's nice that these are adventures, fun quick reads.
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It gives away the first half of the damn book on the back page. The second half is wonderful and action packed but it is so tedious in the beginning that you may not even make it to the second half. Gary Paulsen is a wonderful writer but I feel this book just missed its mark.
adventurous
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So... I went after this book even though I had some issues with the first one because I was curious to see how the story would be continued.
I think if I were a preteen or young teen reading this, I would have liked it a lot, and this is the target demographic, so that part's great.
As an adult, though, the negligence of all the adults involved in the premise of this book is blinding. Even worse is that Derek is supposed to be a psychologist. He acts more like a journalist. What kind of psychologist says to a literal child that has been through a traumatizing experience, "We want you to relive that experience so we can try to better understand your trauma"? The conceit is ridiculous, especially when you consider that all they would have needed was to interview Brian, and then go out with an adult survivalist and a real psychologist to recreate the experience. (I specify that you would need a real psychologist because a lot of the insights that Brian teaches Derek in the beginning about survival mentality and supplies should have been self-evident to someone with a psychology background.)
Yikes.
I think if I were a preteen or young teen reading this, I would have liked it a lot, and this is the target demographic, so that part's great.
As an adult, though, the negligence of all the adults involved in the premise of this book is blinding. Even worse is that Derek is supposed to be a psychologist. He acts more like a journalist. What kind of psychologist says to a literal child that has been through a traumatizing experience, "We want you to relive that experience so we can try to better understand your trauma"? The conceit is ridiculous, especially when you consider that all they would have needed was to interview Brian, and then go out with an adult survivalist and a real psychologist to recreate the experience. (I specify that you would need a real psychologist because a lot of the insights that Brian teaches Derek in the beginning about survival mentality and supplies should have been self-evident to someone with a psychology background.)
Yikes.