The River by Gary Paulsen

They want him to go back. . . .

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. . . .

Paperback, 176 pages

Published March 13, 2012

 by Ember

3.5/5 stars

The River continues Brian’s story 2 years after Hatchet. 

Here Brian is trying to live a more ordinary life despite everything he endured in the wilderness. Then he’s asked to return to the woods, this time as part of a survival study.   He agrees to this hoping his hard-earned knowledge can help others. What begins as a controlled trip quickly becomes a fight for survival all over again.

I enjoyed revisiting Brian and seeing how the events of Hatchet shaped him. There is tension once the river journey takes a dangerous turn. Paulsen’s writing reflects his knowledge of the outdoors, highlighting some intense moments. That said, the story didn’t feel quite as immersive or emotionally gripping as the first book where some moments moved a bit too quickly for me to fully settle into the experience. That being said this book comes in at only 176 pages long.

Still, it’s a solid follow-up with strong outdoor adventure, vivid nature writing and a compelling look at Brian’s resilience. A steady 3.5 stars for a worthy continuation of the series. And yes I will be reviewing the next in series next Monday.

This book was part of my 2025 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge (#49)