Brian's Hunt

Just when you thought Brian's adventures were finished, Paulsen gives his readers one more tale in the Canadian wilderness. Most of the story is written as Brian's thoughts, and Ron McLarty does a pleasing job narrating Brian's haunting and reflective inner voice. This type of narration is difficult, yet his tone is just right, and when Brian does speak, his narration changes suitably. In this tale, Brian returns to the wilderness after becoming disenchanted with the civilized world. At the end of the book, Paulsen explains that this book was written in response to the many letters he received asking for more Brian stories. BRIAN'S HUNT tells of the main character's quest for his place in the world and his connection to Mother Earth. D.L.M. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

December 22, 2003
In Gary Paulsen's latest, Brian's Hunt, Brian has traveled back to his beloved Canadian wilderness. Although Brian's Return (2001) was to be the last in the series, here the acclaimed hero hunts for a bear that has attacked his friends. With an ever-reverent view toward the power of nature, the author delivers another suspenseful adventure.

May 1, 2004
Gr 6-9-Gary Paulsen explains in the afterword of Brian's Hunt (Random, 2003) that although he said he would not write another book about Brian Robeson, he decided to because he has gotten so much mail encouraging him to continue the story. The fifth story about Brian, now 16, takes place two years after he had been stranded in the Canadian wilderness as the result of a plane crash. Brian is unable to adjust to living back in civilization and arranges to home school himself in the Canadian north woods. As he begins his new life, he encounters a wounded dog that appears to be domesticated. He starts to get a gut feeling that the dog may have come from a Cree camp in the north where friends of his live. After attending to the dog's wounds, he decides to head toward the camp only to find that the residents have experienced a savage bear attack. The theme of respecting the power of nature resonates throughout this brief book. The story is filled with practical information about surviving in the wilderness that will delight listeners who hunt and camp. Young adults will relate to the relationship between Brian and the dog, along with the hint of a possible future romance with Susan, a young Cree woman. Ron McLarty does an ample job reading in a simple, even manner, allowing the story to build toward its suspenseful conclusion. Readers who have read Hatchet (Bradbury, 1987) will get the most from this story, although some background information on Brian's previous adventures is provided. Brian's Hunt will be appreciated by Paulsen fans, but it will only whet their appetites for more.-Jo-Ann Carhart, East Islip Public Library, NY

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.