Meet New Books
Meet New Books
Book Cover

Brian's Winter

Book 3 in the series:Brian's Saga

Save:
Find on Amazon

In this sequel to Hatchet, author Gary Paulsen explores the scenario of what if Brian had not been rescued in the summer and was forced to spend an entire winter alone in the wilderness with only his hatchet. The book delves into Brian's survival journey in the Canadian outdoors, where he is faced with challenges like making objects to aid in survival, hunting for food, and adapting to the harsh winter conditions. Readers appreciated the detailed descriptions of Brian's survival techniques and the immersive storytelling style that keeps them engaged throughout the book.

Brian's Winter is praised for its adventurous plot and vivid portrayal of survival in the wilderness. The book takes readers on a journey filled with graphic and gory details, showcasing Brian's resilience and resourcefulness as he navigates through the challenges of surviving in the Canadian wilderness during winter. The author's ability to capture the beauty of the wilderness and the protagonist's struggle for survival resonates with adventure lovers, making it a compelling read for middle school students and older readers.

Characters:

Brian is the main character, depicted as resilient and resourceful, with few other characters but a notable skunk and a rescue family.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is descriptive and emotionally engaging, focusing on Brian's thoughts and the beautiful wilderness around him.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves Brian's struggle for survival during the Canadian winter, as he adapts by hunting larger animals and crafting tools until he ultimately encounters a family that rescues him.

Setting:

The setting is the Canadian wilderness in winter, highlighting the isolation and harsh conditions Brian faces.

Pacing:

The pacing is mostly fast, driven by action and Brian's survival challenges, with occasional reflective moments.
He had never thought he would be here this long. After the plane crash that marooned him in the wilderness he had lived day by day for fifty-four days, until he had found the survival pack in the plan...

Notes:

Brian's Winter is a sequel to Gary Paulsen's book Hatchet.
The story explores what would happen if Brian was not rescued and had to survive the Canadian winter.
Brian uses his survival skills to prepare for harsh cold and find food in the wilderness.
He creates snowshoes to walk in deep snow and learns to hunt larger game like moose and deer.
Brian makes new hunting tools from rocks to create arrowheads, showing his resourcefulness.
During his journey, Brian encounters various wildlife, including a bear and a skunk, which becomes his friend.
The book features vivid descriptions of Brian's thoughts and feelings about survival and food.
Brian dreams of foods he misses, like turkey and mashed potatoes, emphasizing the theme of hunger.
He is eventually rescued by a family living nearby, who receive food supplies by plane every month.
Gary Paulsen wrote this book in response to readers' requests for a winter survival story featuring Brian.

From The Publisher:

From three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen comes a beloved follow-up to his award-winning classic Hatchet that asks: What if Brian hadn't been rescued and had to face his deadliest enemy yet-winter?

In the Newbery Honor-winning Hatchet, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson learned to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness, armed only with his hatchet. As millions of readers know, he was rescued at the end of the summer. But what if that hadn't happened? What if Brian had been left to face his deadliest enemy-winter?

Brian Paulsen raises the stakes for survival in this riveting and inspiring story as one boy confronts the ultimate adventure.

"Paulsen picks Hatchet's story up in midstream; read together, the two books make his finest tale of survival yet." -Kirkus Reviews, Starred

"Breathtaking descriptions of nature . . . Paulsen fans will not be disappointed." -School Library Journal

Read all the Hatchet Adventures!

Brian's Winter

The River

Brian's Return

Brian's Hunt

Ratings (11)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (8)
Liked It (1)

Reader Stats (16):

Read It (11)
Want To Read (4)
Not Interested (1)

1 comment(s)

Incredible
6 months

Probably my favorite of the three I’ve read so far. This book is really just part two of the hatchet. The two books should be read together.

 

About the Author:

Gary Paulsen is the distinguished author of many critically acclaimed books for young people, including three Newbery Honor books: The Winter Room, Hatchet, and Dogsong. He won the Margaret A. Edwards Award given by the American Library Association for his lifetime achievement in young adult…

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.