alids 's review for:

The River by Gary Paulsen
4.0

This is hard for me to review this book. I remember REALLY enjoying Hatchet and Brian's Winter. It was only recently that I discovered there were more books in the series. So here I am, YEARS later, trying to finish the series.

I definitely don't enjoy this as much as an adult, but I'm going to try and review this based on how I would have felt reading this at 10 years old.

I think 10 year old me would have been thrilled at seeing how Brian tries to survive voluntarily in the wild with Derek. Brian is a very logical boy and definitely wiser than his years. The things he can figure out at his age...I don't think I could figure out even now.

I actually really appreciate the effect of this trip on Brian's mental health. There were obviously feelings that weren't dealt with on his return in book 1, and I like that the author explored that. It was also interesting how the author said hmmm how I can stress out Brian who has already survived in the wild...and then did!

I'm giving this a 4 star, because younger me would have really enjoyed this. 4 stars because WHY Brian thought it would be a good idea to go through this again...pfft. I get that he wants to help them teach survival skills but, like...buddy no.