The government sends Brian back to the Canadian wilderness in this beloved follow-up to the award-winning classic Hatchet from three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen! Two years after Brian Robeson survived fifty-four days alone in the Canadian wilderness, the government wants him to head back so they can learn what he did to stay alive. This time Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, will accompany him. But a freak storm leaves Derek unconscious. Brian's only hope is to transport Derek a hundred miles down the river to a trading post. He's survived with only a hatchet before--now can Brian build a raft and navigate an unknown river? For the first time it's not only Brian's survival that's at stake. . . An IRA-CBC Children’s Choice A Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year “Vividly written, a book that will, as intended, please the readers who hoped that Paulsen, like Brian, would ‘do it again.’” —Kirkus Reviews Read all the Hatchet Adventures! Brian's Winter The River Brian's Return Brian's Hunt
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"This is the second book in the Brian Saga. I think this book once again does a good job of giving the reader a good adventure story to read. I think that all people who read and enjoyed hatchet should read this book as well. Brian goes back with a survival expert just then he is struck by lightning that is when the excitement begins. I would recommend this for students 3rd-7th grades."
— Ben (4 out of 5 stars)
" I enjoyed this book in the car with my two teen boys. They both enjoyed it, but we didn't think it was nearly as good at The Hatchet. The story told in The Hatchet is unlikely, and The River is even more so. Still, its a good read and filled with enough action to keep young readers engaged. "
— Julie, 10/31/2018" It was a pretty good book but not as good as Hatchet, and Brian's Winter. "
— Allyssa, 2/18/2014" Seriously great series for young men. "
— Shane, 2/16/2014" Didn't like this one as much as I liked Hatchet, but it was still good. Really like Brian and I think the plot was very interesting. Good and fast read. Enjoyable and well written. "
— Meghan, 2/12/2014" the following book of Hatchet ...another really good story of survival "
— Jordan, 2/9/2014" This was a fantastic book. It is a sequal to Gary Paulsen's timeless classic, "Hatchet". I would definitely recommend this book for anybody who has a sense of adventure and thrill inside of them. "
— David, 1/24/2014" the river is a very good seqel to hatchet. the river kept my attention and i didnt want to stop reading it. you cant skip any of it or you will miss a lot of it "
— Burt, 1/17/2014" Not as good as the first one. "
— Yui, 1/15/2014" It was so so so good Paulsen's best survival story besides hatchet yet "
— Eli, 1/14/2014" I did this book for a book report this year. I loved reading it and hope you do too. "
— Em, 1/7/2014" its about this guy and this woman the have a baby and then his friends worry about him they have a cellphone it doesn't have signal. so there car is bared with snow.they had to travel on foot they have this baby in a bang to keep him warm then he gets sick there loking for a doctors office "
— Saraoxenfeld, 12/8/2013" This was kind of unrealistic, but that wasn't really the point of the story... he survived another rough journey. Only took a couple hours to read the whole thing. "
— Karen, 12/6/2013" Just a rip-off of the first book with nothing really new. "Brian's Winter" is WAY better! "
— Ms., 11/10/2013" Not as much of a survival story as the first two, but still good. :) "
— Raevyn, 6/25/2013" it is the best book ever i woul never put it down. "
— Greggory, 6/17/2013" One simply cannot compare this to Hatchet. HATCHET blows the River out of the water. Although its not Paulsen's best novel, i still think it's an O.K. read. "
— Brian, 4/11/2013" The river is funny and sad. "
— Ms.georgia, 2/27/2013" Sorry for earlier confusion. this is what i read not brian's return! really good though! "
— Ezekiel, 12/27/2012" Not quite as interesting as Brian's Winter or Hatchet, but a good read. "
— Chinook, 10/15/2012" not as gripping as the hatchet, but "brought new trials". "
— Janalee, 8/22/2012" The River is #5 of my favorite books. IT IS A GREAT BOOK "
— Devont, 8/13/2012" Another good follow up to Hatchet. Great adventure! "
— Alexxa, 7/9/2012" This was the sequel to Hachet. It was a cute story but not really anything new from the original and not quite as gripping as the first book . . . but still, the boys were eager to start reading each night and lots of groans and beggin for more when bedtime came. "
— Jennie, 7/7/2012" I ended up liking this even more than Hatchet. I'm still not sure why I never read these when I was young! "
— Elizabeth, 4/2/2012" brilliant i love this spin off to the story. my fav. part- the end where they reach rescue it seems like a seen from a movie. "
— Star, 2/21/2012Gary Paulsen 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 ALA for his lifetime achievement in young adult literature. He divides his time between his home in Alaska, his ranch in New Mexico, and his sailboat on the Pacific Ocean
L. J. Ganser is a multiple Audie Award–winning narrator with over six hundred titles recorded to date. Prized for versatility, his work ranges from preschool books to crime noir thrillers, from astronomical adventures in both science and science fiction, to Arctic Circle high school basketball stories. He lives in New York City with his family and dog, Mars.