Reviews

Brian's Return by Gary Paulsen

slowreader3's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

angelarwatts's review against another edition

It is safe to say that the books following Hatchet didn't need to exist.

coinchantal's review against another edition

4.0

Again a good sequel in this series. I only wished it had some more mystery or drama in it, like maybe more about that Billy guy he met. Or maybe an end to the story at the end. However, I really enjoyed it. Brain really started to grow on me.

cindifer20's review against another edition

Brian's Return

karliclover's review against another edition

3.0

There was really only one thing wrong with this book, and it's a pretty big problem: there was no central conflict. The first half of the book explains how Brian is trying to readjust to a normal life. The second half is him paddling down rivers and lakes for several days. That's really all this book is. For what it was, it was well-written. It was a relaxing read and it showed how much Brian has grown as a person, but it wasn't nearly as good as the previous books in the series.

I don't remember feeling this way when I first read it, probably because I was very young. But after reading it again now, I think it's definitely the weakest of the series. Unless the next one is worse. I really don't remember. I hope it's not.

rebelbelle13's review against another edition

2.0

I might have expected too much from this Hatchet sequel. I'm not sure what it says about your novel when the best part of it is the Author's Note at the end. If the whole book had been about the last three pages, I would certainly have been more engaged and interested. Paulsen talks about his own experiences in the bush, and what he got out of it, and his draw to the woods and fight against a normal life. Half of this short book is Brian's struggle to fit back into the world he came from, before the forest. Paulson focuses heavily on Brian hanging out with friends, and then eventually seeing a therapist. This is unnecessary and will lose people, even as short as this book is. Readers of Hatchet didn't sign up to see a kid go to therapy. Brian is finally back in the wilderness at page 60- out of a 110 page book. His journey up the rivers and lakes to his destination is rushed, and not nearly enough time is spent on things like hunting, food preparation, fire building, survival things... you know, the reason why kids were reading this series to begin with. I can only hope it turns around with the last installment.

laurak23's review against another edition

3.0

3.5. While I’m not a great fan of Peter Coyote’s monotone narration, I did enjoy this book. My favorite part was the author’s note at the end. It really made me want to learn more about Gary Paulsen.

paradoxically's review against another edition

3.0

Brian returns to the wilderness! It was a lot less about surviving in the wild and more of living it and the frame of mind Brian has and his inability to live in the city anymore. The ending seemed a bit abrupt to me, but most of that was because it didn't feel like a lot happened in this book. He left the city to go back to the woods for a while and... is at peace with it, basically. I feel like I wanted more from this book than is to be expected.

crimsongirl5132's review

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

is_mayonaise_a_instrument's review against another edition

relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0