A review by bibliokris
Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

5.0

This was the 1st book that ever got me interested in the Revolutionary War. Samuel, the protagonist, is a 13-year-old boy who quickly becomes a man as his parents are kidnapped by British soldiers and taken to New York City, the British hq. Samuel's struggles and characterization are believable and compelling, and Paulsen also does a great job setting the scene in describing the forest as well as the brutality the Patriots & settlers faced as Hessians burned and pillaged and murdered (and so did many of the British soldiers). A great read, my only complaint is about the ending--it peters out a bit. Other than that, a terrific book and a great recommendation for boys 10 and older (girls too).