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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
This is still good. I love how we meet Billy and how calm and so alike he is to Brian. I really liked his notes to Caleb and how they were a clue to the chapter and you would have to read the chapter to understand what the letter mean.
It was written with intentions of "wrapping up" a story so many readers wanted more of. I left with more questions than I started with.
3.5. While I’m not a great fan of Peter Coyote’s monotone narration, I did enjoy this book. My favorite part was the author’s note at the end. It really made me want to learn more about Gary Paulsen.
A super fast and interesting read. I enjoy all of the Brian stories.
I really liked this last book in the Brian series. It was a nice finish to his story and his character's evolution. I always learn something new about the wilderness and I enjoyed reading the author's account of his own inspiration behind the books. This is a great book series for young people who are working on their own obstacles or trying to move past a traumatic event.
I enjoyed this a lot. However, I noticed a fascinating issue in the series of books.
In the original book [b:Hatchet|50|Hatchet (Brian's Saga, #1)|Gary Paulsen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385297074l/50._SX50_.jpg|1158125], Brian is rescued in the fall before winter. There's a whole epilogue about how hard it would have been to survive. Book 2, [b:The River|2915|The River (Brian's Saga, #2)|Gary Paulsen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924191l/2915._SY75_.jpg|6815], picks up with Brian going back out to the woods and having a different adventure. Book 3, [b:Brian's Winter|141372|Brian's Winter (Brian's Saga, #3)|Gary Paulsen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438636861l/141372._SY75_.jpg|241811], is supposed to be an ALTERNATE ENDING, where Brian isn't rescued in the fall, and has to learn how to survive the winter. It's great. But it's written as a kind of "what if" -- not the actual story.
HOWEVER -- this book, Brian's Return, has a number of details that carry on from Brian's Winter, like his memory of trees exploding in the extreme cold, and his story about the mice villages under the snow. So is Brian's Winter a real part of the story arc? Or is Brian's Return a continuation of the "what if"? Or did Paulsen just forget and it's just inconsistent? (probably).
Honestly it doesn't matter. I'm just noting it for the Hatchet nerds to think about. It's a great book, and a great series :)
Spoiler
.In the original book [b:Hatchet|50|Hatchet (Brian's Saga, #1)|Gary Paulsen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385297074l/50._SX50_.jpg|1158125], Brian is rescued in the fall before winter. There's a whole epilogue about how hard it would have been to survive. Book 2, [b:The River|2915|The River (Brian's Saga, #2)|Gary Paulsen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924191l/2915._SY75_.jpg|6815], picks up with Brian going back out to the woods and having a different adventure. Book 3, [b:Brian's Winter|141372|Brian's Winter (Brian's Saga, #3)|Gary Paulsen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438636861l/141372._SY75_.jpg|241811], is supposed to be an ALTERNATE ENDING, where Brian isn't rescued in the fall, and has to learn how to survive the winter. It's great. But it's written as a kind of "what if" -- not the actual story.
HOWEVER -- this book, Brian's Return, has a number of details that carry on from Brian's Winter, like his memory of trees exploding in the extreme cold, and his story about the mice villages under the snow. So is Brian's Winter a real part of the story arc? Or is Brian's Return a continuation of the "what if"? Or did Paulsen just forget and it's just inconsistent? (probably).
Honestly it doesn't matter. I'm just noting it for the Hatchet nerds to think about. It's a great book, and a great series :)
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
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:
N/A
Brian's Return is a great book because it shows Brian's life once he returned home but also showed the deep inner turmoil that he experienced at no longer fitting in. His experiences in the woods changed him, and he's decided to go back, but more prepared this time around. I love all of the introspection that the author notates as Brian relearns how to live in the woods. I love how thoughtful Brian is. His decision-making process is nicely fleshed out and when he does something, you know that it's for a good reason. I think that this is the most well written book of the series and I appreciate what Paulsen was trying to do here.
Only problem with this book is it's too short but that's part of the point.