ParentsPick

The River — Content Guide for Parents

By Gary PaulsenRandom House Children's BooksISBN 9780307929617176 pages
The River

Found in this book

  • Scary contentSupporting

Not found

  • Violence
  • Religion
  • Race & culture
  • Climate
  • Sexual content
  • Gender roles
  • Gender & orientation

Couldn't confirm

  • Profanity
  • Profanity: The sources describe the plot but say nothing about the book's language, so swearing can't be ruled in or out.

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

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Example theme card

Religion

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

The government sends Brian back to the Canadian wilderness in this beloved follow-up to the award-winning classic Hatchet from three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen!
 
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. . .
 

An IRA-CBC Children’s Choice
A Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year
 

“Vividly written, a book that will, as intended, please the readers who hoped that Paulsen, like Brian, would ‘do it again.’” —Kirkus Reviews

Read all the Hatchet Adventures!
Brian's Winter
The River
Brian's Return
Brian's Hunt

Frequently asked questions

  • Is The River appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    A lightning strike leaves Derek in a coma, and Brian faces rapids and exhaustion on a hundred-mile raft trip, which one parent's blog says gave their children nightmares.

  • Does The River have violence?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does The River have scary content?

    Found (Supporting): A lightning strike leaves Derek in a coma, and Brian faces rapids and exhaustion on a hundred-mile raft trip, which one parent's blog says gave their children nightmares.

  • Does The River have religion?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does The River have race & culture?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does The River have profanity?

    Couldn't confirm: The sources describe the plot but say nothing about the book's language, so swearing can't be ruled in or out.

  • Does The River have climate?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does The River have sexual content?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does The River have gender roles?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does The River have gender & orientation?

    Not found in the sources we checked.