Brian's Winter is the sequel to the Newbery Honor award-winning book, Hatchet.  In the story Hatchet, Brian Robeson is saved by using an emergency transmitter.  Brian's Winter is what would have happened if Brian wasn't saved. It is the fall and turning into winter, and now Brian has the emergency kit from the plane. Brian eats all the food from the kit, but he still has the rifle, fishing line, and lighters.  Brian also still has his trusty hatchet which he uses to make spears and "the war bow" (a large and strong bow for shooting larger animals). Brian struggles to stay alive in the winter, while he meets up with a Native American man.

Spring 2004

Gary Paulsen writes about a boy who gets stranded on an island for a long time and finally gets rescued in The River.  He also writes about a boy in Hatchet  who gets stranded on an island and is rescued.  But what if the boy doesn't get rescued?  What would it be like?  How would he survive?  That's what makes Brian's Winter  very exciting.   There are lots of interesting details about fishing and hunting.   My favorite part is when Brian needs to get an arrowhead for his spear because his other one is too dull and cannot kill animals.  He makes one himself. 

I recommend this book to anyone who loves description and can take the supsense.

Spring 2002

I thought Brian’s Winter is a great book, but it is not as good as some of his other books, such as Hatchet, Mr. Tucket and The Voyage of the Frog. I would recommend this book to anyone who is patient with books because this has a slow start unlike his other books.