A review by dch7
Northwind by Gary Paulsen

5.0

Leif’s life is upended when a deadly plague claims the life of everyone he knows. Alone with only his canoe and his wits this young teenager must survive the waters of the North Atlantic and learn about himself along the way. Northwind is famed adventure and wilderness author Gary Paulsen’s final book, published just months after his death. This novel, written in a stream of conscious style, chronicles the experiences of a young Viking boy left alone to survive. His encounters with nature are sometimes inspiring, and other times terrifying. But all of them lead him to a better understanding of his own life and the world he lives in. Paulsen’s final work is a great pick for teens who crave adventure, embrace the wilderness, or seek to better understand who they are.