Northwind

This new survival story from Gary Paulsen includes an Author's Note. It felt like he was speaking to me from the grave. I must confess that knowing this is the last GP book ever biased me to look more favorable upon it. And then after reading the note at the end -- easy 5 stars for me. Our protagoni......more

To be honest, I really don't know what to make of this book. On the one hand -- did I enjoy reading it? Yes, very much. It's got the survival feel of Hatchet combined with a truly magical love of being on the water that shines through. It's also extraordinarily meditative and keeps that core acknowl......more

Drawing on his own experiences sailing, Gary Paulsen creates a sea world that can almost be felt. Orphaned as a baby, Paulsen’s main character has been raised by sea-faring men who have sold Leif from ship to ship. But fortunes turn and when cholera leaves him alone, Leif takes to the sea in a small......more

Gary Paulsen was one of those rare writers whose work appeals to young people and adults, but for the life of me, I’m not sure who the target audience is for this book. The publisher’s info says ages 10-14 but I doubt very much whether an average Middle Schooler would sit through the first few confu......more

Younger me would have been obsessed with this book. Hatchet was my favorite book growing up and this is Hatchet but in a Nordic setting with whales and Norse mythology thrown in. It could not be more in my wheelhouse and I loved it. I'm sad Gary Paulsen isn't alive to write more.......more