Young Adult Fiction: "Brian's Saga" series by Gary Paulsen

"Hatchet"

The "Brian's Saga" book series written by Gary Paulsen consists of 5 books, "Hatchet", "Brian's Winter", "The River", "Brian's Return", and "Brian's Hunt". The first book sets off as 13-year-old "Brian" is going to visit his father who lives in the Yukon (Northern Canada). Brian's trip to the Yukon is occurring on a small single-engine propeller plane. A couple hours after take-off, the pilot suffers a severe heart attack and dies, and Brian has to take over controlling the plane. Unable to navigate, Brian flies far off course and when the plane eventually runs out of fuel, he crash-lands in a lake in the middle of the Canadian wilderness. This ordeal leaves Brian stuck with no supplies, no hope, and plenty of time to contemplate his short young life up to that point.

This book is a great novel written from the perspective of Brian. He is a young man and, against all odds, he is able to survive and build a life for himself alone in the wilderness. This book talks about and teaches key aspects of surviving in the wilderness such as the need for Shelter, Food, Clean Water, Fire, and the benefits of keeping your spirits up even in the darkest of times. This book follows Brian's ordeal from the time he crashed through the 54 days before he was rescued.


"Brian's Winter"

In the second book, "Brian's Winter", the author postulates and imagines what would have happened if Brian wasn't saved when he was. This book picks up just before Brian was saved in "Hatchet". Still stuck, Brian has to face the fact that winter is soon closing in on him, and he is ill-equipped and unprepared for the harsh arctic temperatures of the Canadian winters. Brian has to use all of his creativeness and ingenuity to survive.

This book takes us through the fall and winter as Brian learns more about the world around him. He teaches himself new hunting techniques which allow him to bring down bigger game. He also has to teach himself how to create warm weather clothing out of the materials at hand so he can survive in his rapidly changing environment. This book follows Brian through the winter and to his rescue after finding a family of trappers who are able to escort him to safety.



"The River"

This book begins 2 years after the rescue in the book "Hatchet". Brian is slowly acclimating back to normal life when he is approached by an author from the government who wants him to go back in and show how he survived so that astronauts and the military can learn the survival techniques that kept Brian alive. Soon the project backfires, leaving Brian with a wounded partner and a long river to navigate. His only hope is to build a raft and try to transport the injured man a hundred miles downstream to a trading post--if the map he has is accurate.

This book helps illustrate how no two survival experiences are the same, and how even when you think you are prepared enough for survival... you're not. This book is about a desperate journey down a raging river while trying to save a life.





"Brian's Return"

The fourth book in this series shows Brian's constant struggle to stay connected with nature. He is having a hard time living in the constant noise, hustle and bustle of the big city when he has spent so much time alone in the calm stillness of the wild. Due to his ordeal, he has received some unwanted fame with some unforeseen benefits. Different sporting companies from around the country have sent him different survival gear, and he has worked and saved until he has enough to buy the remaining supplies he needs to go back.

Brian has stood up to the challenge of surviving alone on multiple occasions in the woods. He prefers being on his own in the natural world over his life in civilization. This is a story about him going back to the wilderness that almost killed him on multiple occasions, and yet it is the one place where he feels truly safe. The story follows him as he navigates his way back to where his story began and builds a life around that place.


"Brian's Hunt"

During Brian's time in the wild, he has made friends with the few locals who make their home in the bush: trappers, loggers, hunters, and a Cree Indian family who has set up camp not far from where Brian is living. One night, Brian finds a dog that is wounded and whimpering, and Brian senses danger. The dog is badly hurt and, as Brian cares for it and nurses it back to health, he worries about his Cree friends who live north of his camp. His instincts tell him to head north, quickly. With his new companion at his side, and with a terrible, growing sense of unease, he sets out to learn what happened. He sets out on the hunt.

This book follows Brian's struggle to protect and avenge the few friends that understand him and that he holds so closely. This book explains different trapping, tracking, and other wilderness survival techniques and skills.






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