Hatchet

What do you get when you combine a plane crash in the heart of Canada's wilderness and a teenage boy? Hatchet. Because survival wouldn't be possible without it, the hatchet that is. Book 1 of Brian's Saga begins the riveting narrative Gary Paulsen weaves throughout the series. This is where our protagonist first triumphs over nature and her fierce elements.

Brian's Winter - Brrrr

This classic man vs. nature account posits a teenage boy against winter in the great Canadian wilderness . Brian is a plan crash survivor who managed to live off the woods for a summer before being found. At least that's how the first story ended. Author Gary Paulsen decided to continue the tale when readers questioned Brian's ability to survive the winter on his own. Paulsen took the challenge and the result is Brian's battle against beasts, the elements, and his own psyche. Young men and women a like will appreciate this suspenseful yet introspective story. Against the backdrop of earth's severe beauty, Paulsen steers the reader into the core of what it means to be human.

I decided to begin with book #3 of Brian's Saga because it seemed appropriate. Word has it that we may get more snow this weekend; it's only been a week since we were snowed-in for five days! What's this state coming to??? I figure it wouldn't hurt to brush up on my winter survival skills, which Paulsen depicts so vividly. No charging elk or bears in Atlanta, but I may need to learn how to build a fire! Dad used to have us listen to this series during our summer road trips across North America. We didn't always have air conditioning, and the Canadian prairie can be pretty miserable around August. Brian's Winter offered a cost-effective escape. Never underestimate the power of a book, or a book on tape!

Age Range: 12 and up