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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Interesting take on Gary Paulsen’s first book Hatchet and what Brian would have had to contend with if winter had come.
An excellent companion to Hatchet. Just as riveting.
Until last month, I didn’t even realize that Hatchet had a sequel. Turns out, it has four. How did I not know this?! I skipped over The River, the first sequel, for the time being, as it seemed like a repeat of the first but with an audience. Although I have to confess, I’ll probably be reading it sooner rather than later. But I was intrigued by the synopsis of Brian’s Winter. What if Brian hadn’t been rescued, and had to ride out the winter in the Canadian wilderness? Would he survive?
Spoiler-alert: he survives! And with a lot less angst than was present in Hatchet. By this point, he’s come to terms with his new life and is actually flourishing on his own in the wild. He learns to hunt big game and store meat and make clothes. The first book was emotional. This follow-up “what if?” book was a lot more fun because Brian seemed so happy!
Seeing how someone survives and adapts is always incredibly interesting to me. And what I really love about these books is that they’re not romanticized. Things don’t just fall in Brian’s lap. And he wouldn’t be as happy if they did. The sense of fulfillment and self-satisfaction that floods him whenever he succeeds at something drives him almost as much as his need to survive.
I think every kid should read these books, not only so they have a greater appreciation of what they have, but so they can see the beauty and harshness of nature. Every child should be able to fantasize about surviving on their own, and these books add a touch of realism to that fantasy. And honestly, it wouldn’t hurt adults to read or reread these books, either. Sometimes we need to be reminded what a child can accomplish, and to remember that a child still resides at the center of each of us.
For more of my reviews, as well as my own fiction and thoughts on life, check out my blog, Celestial Musings.
Spoiler-alert: he survives! And with a lot less angst than was present in Hatchet. By this point, he’s come to terms with his new life and is actually flourishing on his own in the wild. He learns to hunt big game and store meat and make clothes. The first book was emotional. This follow-up “what if?” book was a lot more fun because Brian seemed so happy!
Seeing how someone survives and adapts is always incredibly interesting to me. And what I really love about these books is that they’re not romanticized. Things don’t just fall in Brian’s lap. And he wouldn’t be as happy if they did. The sense of fulfillment and self-satisfaction that floods him whenever he succeeds at something drives him almost as much as his need to survive.
I think every kid should read these books, not only so they have a greater appreciation of what they have, but so they can see the beauty and harshness of nature. Every child should be able to fantasize about surviving on their own, and these books add a touch of realism to that fantasy. And honestly, it wouldn’t hurt adults to read or reread these books, either. Sometimes we need to be reminded what a child can accomplish, and to remember that a child still resides at the center of each of us.
For more of my reviews, as well as my own fiction and thoughts on life, check out my blog, Celestial Musings.
I think, although I feel slightly guilty about it, I liked this book and alternative ending more than Hatchet's ending. I felt immediately engrossed in this story from the third page and couldn't wait to see how it went. My daughter couldn't wait until I finished it so we could talk about it. That's the sign of a great book to me.
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
Look, there's no chance that a 13-year old would be capable of any of this (or at least I'd like to tell myself that to justify how I'd die in his situation within a week). But yet, realism is the glue that holds this -- and the original as well -- together.
I read all five of these books a long time ago, but was surprised to learn how little I recalled. I had the most vivid memories of reading this book out of all of them, but only the skunk brought back some deja vû. The rest was like reading it for the first time. So in that sense, this is the second book in the series I've read, having read the original last week.
And can I just say, this is without a doubt better than the original. No stupid 'Secret' subplot. No repetitive sentences with the same words repeating repetitively. And no worrying about mommy and daddy. Just good old fashioned living off the land.
As the one review said, it did feel like the stakes were lowered. I'm glad they were. I don't enjoy Brian freaking out and on the verge of death every single chapter (that said, was that moose part great or what?) I enjoy comfy Brian, seeing a problem, and finding an interesting, realistic way to solve it. Perhaps it shouldn't replace your bushcraft/outdoor skills manual, but it sure makes a nice compliment to it. And damn if it didn't make living in the Canadian wilderness seem ethereal.
I read all five of these books a long time ago, but was surprised to learn how little I recalled. I had the most vivid memories of reading this book out of all of them, but only the skunk brought back some deja vû. The rest was like reading it for the first time. So in that sense, this is the second book in the series I've read, having read the original last week.
And can I just say, this is without a doubt better than the original. No stupid 'Secret' subplot. No repetitive sentences with the same words repeating repetitively. And no worrying about mommy and daddy. Just good old fashioned living off the land.
As the one review said, it did feel like the stakes were lowered. I'm glad they were. I don't enjoy Brian freaking out and on the verge of death every single chapter (that said, was that moose part great or what?) I enjoy comfy Brian, seeing a problem, and finding an interesting, realistic way to solve it. Perhaps it shouldn't replace your bushcraft/outdoor skills manual, but it sure makes a nice compliment to it. And damn if it didn't make living in the Canadian wilderness seem ethereal.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Henry approved. He said it was better than all the other Brian books. I really appreciate the detail that Paulson uses in his books, the tough situations, the problem solving, the appreciation, all of it. Definitely recommend.
adventurous
fast-paced
All of the books in the Hatchet series are worth reading or listening to, but this was my least favorite. The character of Brian Robeson, just didn't seem true to the original. There is an incident in the story that both my son and I looked at each other shaking our head thinking, "he wouldn't have done that!" And it put a chink in the story, but it is still good.