The River (Paulsen)
Encyclopedia
The River, also known as The Return and Hatchet: The Return, is a 1991 young adult
novel by Gary Paulsen
. It is the second installment in the Hatchet series, but third in terms of chronology with Brian's Winter
serving as an alternative second book.
. Though reluctant at first, Brian eventually agrees. This time, instead of being alone, Brian is accompanied by Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist
, as the two set off for a remote Canadian location.
Though the government insisted the duo take emergency supplies, Brian insists they abandon everything but a folding saw and an emergency radio
, saying that it would be impossible to eat bugs and sleep in the rain
if a tent and prepared food is within reach. During their stay, things take a grim turn when their camp is struck by lightning
, which knocks Derek into a coma
and destroys the radio
. Knowing that Derek will die of dehydration
long before anyone finds them, Brian builds a raft
in a desperate bid to bring Derek down the river to Brannock's Trading Post for emergency aid.
Young adult literature
Young-adult fiction or young adult literature , also juvenile fiction, is fiction written for, published for, or marketed to adolescents and young adults, roughly ages 14 to 21. The Young Adult Library Services of the American Library Association defines a young adult as "someone between the...
novel by Gary Paulsen
Gary Paulsen
Gary James Paulsen is an American writer who writes many young adult coming of age stories about the wilderness. He is the author of more than 200 books , 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for young adults and teens.-Biography:Gary Paulsen was born in...
. It is the second installment in the Hatchet series, but third in terms of chronology with Brian's Winter
Brian's Winter
Brian's Winter is a 1996 young adult novel by Gary Paulsen. It is the third novel in the Hatchet series, but second in terms of chronology as an alternate ending sequel to Hatchet....
serving as an alternative second book.
Plot summary
Brian Robeson, a 13 year old boy who spent 54 days surviving alone in the Canadian wilderness the previous summer, is hired by the government to repeat his actions again by living in the woods with only a knife and surviving only by his wits, so the military can learn his survival techniquesSurvival skills
Survival skills are techniques a person may use in a dangerous situation to save themselves or others...
. Though reluctant at first, Brian eventually agrees. This time, instead of being alone, Brian is accompanied by Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
, as the two set off for a remote Canadian location.
Though the government insisted the duo take emergency supplies, Brian insists they abandon everything but a folding saw and an emergency radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, saying that it would be impossible to eat bugs and sleep in the rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
if a tent and prepared food is within reach. During their stay, things take a grim turn when their camp is struck by lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
, which knocks Derek into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
and destroys the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. Knowing that Derek will die of dehydration
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
long before anyone finds them, Brian builds a raft
Raft
A raft is any flat structure for support or transportation over water. It is the most basic of boat design, characterized by the absence of a hull...
in a desperate bid to bring Derek down the river to Brannock's Trading Post for emergency aid.