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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
I was amazed at the attention to detail that Paulsen has for historical fiction. I truly enjoyed Samuel's family journey they went through during the American Revolution. This seems to be an aspect that is often over looked in history classes. I know in my own experience we focused on the soldiers and very little on the effects of the civilians. Plus I also liked the little side notes about communication, travel and other aspects of daily life that we take for granted. Excellent book, recommended for fans of historical fiction and those looking for a good adventure story.
I liked this book more than I thought I would. It runs along similar to Hatchet (Brian's saga) in that a young boy who thrives in the woods must find a way to succeed in his mission (I don't want to give away the story). It's heartwarming to meet the people he meets along the way and how people can help each other out when you least expect it. Once again, not sure how "realistic" it is to have a young kid running around with a gun but, it was a different age and we all do what we have to do in order to survive. It was a good book to read with the family and to see the book through my son's eye while we read and discussed it.
Revolutionary War hatchet. Not my bag, but probably beloved by it's intended audience.
This was good. It alternates every chapter between the story and actual facts about the revolutionary war. I would have liked to see a bit more character development but I know a lot of guys who are going to love the action driven story.
An American Revolution story. I was looking for a pretty innocent Revolution story for 2nd/3d graders and this is too old for them. More like 5th/6th graders would like this.
Loved this book, but I think it could have been more. It was great! Sometimes with Paulson you feel like he isn't writing for young adults. You feel like it is just a good story (Hatchet). This book had the feel of a book for young adults. It lost a little of the story part it seems when Paulson tried to fit in too many aspects of the Revolution. Still it was one of my favorite lead characters.
A little history and a whole lot of adventure kept the pages turning!
good for reluctant readers and boys maybe an honor book, not the winner IMO
Once again, another good story from [a:Gary Paulsen|18|Gary Paulsen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1595914847p2/18.jpg] of a young adult who had to overcome adversary and rise up to counter horrific conditions. I enjoyed the historical setting of during the Revolutionary War. As [a:Gary Paulsen|18|Gary Paulsen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1595914847p2/18.jpg] says in the afterword, he shows aspects of war - the horrors - that are usually hidden in most stories.
Samuel was a great character who went from a quiet life in the woods and on the farm with his parents to battling to get his parents back after they were taken as prisoners by the British. The secondary characters that Samuel encounters brought so much to the story.
The young adult readers in my life should enjoy this one.
Samuel was a great character who went from a quiet life in the woods and on the farm with his parents to battling to get his parents back after they were taken as prisoners by the British. The secondary characters that Samuel encounters brought so much to the story.
The young adult readers in my life should enjoy this one.
The Woods Runner is set in the Pennsylvania Mountains just after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. It is a page turner populated with interesting characters and lots of thrilling action. Interspersed between the chapters are brief chapters that explain the historical significance of events in the book, presumably based on research and perhaps primary sources. However, Paulsen fails to give any sources for this historical information. It is clear that he has done his research but he gives no sources which I found frustrating. Also, the ending of the book, while dramatic seems implausible if not impossible given the situation, but giving him creative license I concede that he could write this ending. The climax falls short, the ending is just too tidy and unlikely, almost as if Paulsen needed to meet his deadline so he made the rescue short and sweet with little intrigue or real danger. The writing is superb up until the climax and I think it will make a good book for discussion and talks about the writing process.