The River (A Hatchet Adventure)

Review - The Brain Sagas by Gary Paulsen I have now finished all five of the Brian Sage books - “Hatchet,” “The River,” “Brian’s Winter,” “Brian's Return” and “The Hunt.” and the epilogue “Guts” by Gary Paulsen. “The Hatchet” is one of three Newberry Awards that Gary Paulsen has earned. Basically the series is one story. The story of an teenage boy who at age 13 is left alone in the North Woods of Canada due to a pilot’s fatal heart attack and plane wreck. The first book, “The Hatchet” tells of the guts, intelligence, patience and luck of a 13 year old boy with little wilderness experience in learning how to live and survive in a remote wilderness. We get a marvelous set of instructions in wilderness lore and living, and a glimpse into an intelligent mind that problem solves, learns and masters a strange world. At the end of this book Brian retrieves a signal radio from the submerged plane and is rescued. In “Brian’s Winter” is an alternate ending. Brian is not rescued, but manages to learn more and survive into December. We see more of Brian’s talents and abilities and new found skills. Here, Brian stumbles into a family of Cree Native Americans manning a trap line, who take him in. Brian flies out on the next supply place. The Cree family consider him like one of the “old people” for Brian is dressed in skins he has captured and his arrows have stone points he has made himself. Yes, some of the story is very fortuitous for Brian, but that does not distract from the lessons of the wilderness and the lessons of life Brian has to learn to survive. “The River” is a book with Brian returning to the North Woods with a psychologist, Derek, of the military attempting to learn how to teach survival to the military. The man is not schooled in the wilderness at all, and Brian become “the adult” in charge of the adventure. Brian sends the 200 pounds of supplies back with the plane that flew them in, and commences to recreate the world he knew in the first two books. Half the book is a terrifying trip over 100 miles, 3+ days, down a river, its rapids, lakes and swamps, with Derek unconscious on a wilderness made raft. We get a first hand look at the guts necessary to achieve this. Again, the manage to make a trapper’s cabin and are rescued. In “Brian’s Return” we see Brian not fitting back into civilization, 15 - 16 year old’s school and society. Brian has adjusted to the Wilderness, and that is the reality he much prefers. Brian takes along a few supplies an d does very well. In “The Hunt” Brian is back in the North Woods learning more woods lore and ways. By now he is nearly a expert. Brian finds an old man, Billy, in his camp one evening. Billy and Brian share a mutual evening of silent communication and while few words are exchanged, Brian gains “medicine.”’ In respect, Billy, leaving camp very early before Brian is awake, leaves a amulet of white tail deer fur and crow’s feathers for Brian. Brian recognizes the significance of this and immediately hangs it around his neck. Shortly thereafter, Brian and a wounded dog find each other. It turns out the dog belonged to the Cree Family Brian had met in “Brian’s Winter.” Unfortunately, a bear had devastated the cabin and family of the Cree family , killing two members of that family. Brian rescues the wife, buries the dead, and deals with the stoic, bureaucratic officials. Once they leave, Brian hunts and in a wonderful scene - which I will not spoil - kills the bear. “Guts” is stories from Gary Paulsen’s life, rough childhood, adventures in Minnesota, Canada, the American South West, Colorado. These episodes Gary wove into Brian’s Story - a story beautifully and touchingly told. Gary’s knowledge and actual experiences gave him the insight to write the Brian Saga. Not only is the woods lore appropriately, accurately and well handled, but the changes that the North Woods induces in Brian are well followed. The books are at once a deep lesson in both survival and in life. We learn much about wilderness living. But we also are treated to the contrasts of life in the city and in the Wilderness. Due a few violent scenes, this series should not be read by youth under 13 or so. Death is a part of life, and life is an endless living with what is there. It takes “guts”, perseverance, and patience, to achieve what Brian achieved, and that is the real message of these books. Life takes Real Guts,lots of perseverance, and lots of patience. The books read very well. The stories are well told. The reading level is at least 8th grade. And for those with an interest in Nature and the Wilderness, be it North Woods, SW desert or ocean, the lessons apply. I found the reading to be extremely enjoyable, and the lessons deep and well taught without being preachy. A great series of books.

The River is a fantastic continuation and a great companion to Hatchet. Gary Paulsen does an excellent job pulling readers right back into the wilderness with vivid descriptions and nonstop adventure. The survival challenges feel realistic and keep the story moving at a fast pace. Brian’s growth and problem-solving skills are inspiring, and the new dangers—especially the river itself—add tension and excitement throughout the book. It’s easy to imagine being right there with him, facing each obstacle step by step. This book is engaging, well written, and perfect anyone who enjoys adventure stories. A must-read for fans of Hatchet and outdoor survival novels.

The River was another powerful chapter in Brian’s journey—and in my son’s reading life. He’s never been one to pick up a book willingly, but this one kept him hooked from start to finish. The stakes are higher, the setting is intense, and the story flows with the kind of energy that makes even reluctant readers want to keep turning pages. What makes The River stand out is how it deepens Brian’s character. He’s not just surviving—he’s stepping up, taking responsibility, and facing new challenges that test his limits. My son was completely drawn into the idea of being called back into the wild, and the tension of navigating nature’s unpredictability kept him engaged the whole way through. It’s fast-paced, vivid, and written in a way that makes the reader feel like they’re right there beside Brian, paddling through danger. For a kid who usually avoids books, this one was a breakthrough. He’s now fully invested in the series and actually excited to read more. If you’ve got a boy who struggles to enjoy reading, The River might be the one that finally pulls him in. It’s gripping, relatable, and just plain cool. Highly recommended.

Let me just get the one bad thing out of the way. Spoiler alert for the first two chapters; Brian returns to the wild because goverment survival instructors need him to teach them survival methods. This has to be one of the most absurd plots I've ever heard for a book. The idea that the people who train Green Berets and Marine Force Recon need a teenage to teach them to live off the land is ridiculous. I have a military issue surival book meant for soldiers in case of capture that addresses many of the problems Brian faced in Hatchet. Often it provides better methods than Brian ends up using to deal with problems. Added to that is the fact that, in addition to everything else Brian faced, escaping POWs have enemy soldiers hunting them. Yet in The River, the instructors actually say neither them nor anyone they (meaning the government) know has ever been in a real survival situation. That said, once you get passed that, the book is great. It is the reason I spent several hundred dollars on a kayak. And for younger audiences, it can definately spark a life-long interest in the great outdoors.

I read Hatchet first and liked it so much I knew I had to read the rest of the series. Brian, a young teenager, returns to the woods to help teach survival skills with a man named Derek. Derek is injured right away, and Brian decides the only way to get him to medical attention is by the river. Another great survival story, Mr. Paulsen. I gave The River five*****

I was fortunate enough to read these books as a child. Now I have 6 kids of my own and I am dedicated to reading to them. I have read hundred if not thousands of books im the last 11 yrs. We've been on so many great adventures together. every night before bed is our time to read. We all look forward to it so much that we rarely if ever skip a night. Something crazy has to be going on for us not to read together. These books are absolutely fantastic. They challenge you and take you on an adventure of a lifetime. It is priceless that I've been on all these adventures with my kids. Highly recommend this book and just reading in general.

Good book

This is somewhat of a sequel to The Hatchet. It’s filled with intensity, suspense and is very entertaining. I’m not sure if this is a non-canon sequel but I’d like to imagine it is because there’s no mention of this scenario in the other books after this one, but I loved going back to a story about Brian and his journey to overcome strife and the wilderness.

As good as Hatchet, if not better. Great survival story about human courage. Great read. Might be one to show reluctant boys from Y5 and up the joy of reading.

Justo lo que dice la descripción

Mi è piaciuto perché era un libro pieno di avventura. Non è un libro adatto alle persone che si immpressionano facilmente

Great read but some difficult words in there for an 8 year old!