Tim Andrews Herald Review Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen
As a boy I hated to read. I may be showing my age but if it wasn鈥檛 raining, I was outside. GettingTim Andrews Herald Review Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen
As a boy I hated to read. I may be showing my age but if it wasn鈥檛 raining, I was outside. Getting a child to read and enjoy it these days is next to impossible, and getting a boy to read is even worse. There are so many technological distractions now, but given the right material you may be able to turn around even the most reluctant readers. Gary Paulsen is a name that middle school teachers and some parents of boys may already know due to his over two hundred books and articles that are mostly geared toward young males readers. His books are usually fast-paced, adventure-based books and most have fewer than 200 pages. In his new book Woods Runner, Paulsen tells the story of Samuel Smith; a thirteen year old boy living in a small colonial settlement in Pennsylvania in 1776, far from any town, and more importantly, any news that fighting has broken out in Boston. Like many of Paulsen鈥檚 protagonists, Samuel is comfortable in the dense forest surrounding his farm and has developed wilderness skills that keep his family and other settlers in meat. He is roaming the surrounding wilds with his flintlock rifle when the tragedy and violence of war finds him. A band of Iroquois, under the direction of the British, attacks Samuel鈥檚 family farm and the surrounding settlements killing many and taking Samuel鈥檚 parents prisoner. A determined Samuel silently tracks and follows the abductors, being careful to stay hidden, with hopes of rescuing his family. Along the way, he finds a few allies and adopts an orphaned girl who had her own brush with tragedy after a brutal attack by the Hessians on her own family鈥檚 farm. Samuel learns his family is on their way to the prison camps at the British headquarters in New York City, and so the adventure begins. While Paulsen鈥檚 depiction of war is not gratuitous or over-the-top, he does paint vivid descriptions of the brutality that goes along with revolutionary tactics so I would recommend this book for ages twelve and up. This 161 page book has chapters that rarely exceed five pages, and after each chapter is a short half-page section of real history. This is not a boring historical recap as it recounts issues that bring real historical context to the previous chapter; such as, how a flintlock rifle works or why the Hessians were so feared, and so on. 鈥淭weens鈥� should be able to identify with Samuel need for independence and his ability to make good decisions when they really count. Gary Paulsen may be best known for his Newberry Award winner book 鈥淗atchet鈥� which is on many summer reading lists throughout the county and the country. It is the story of Brian who, after a Cessna crash, is left alone in the forests of Canada and has to survive which little more than a hatchet and his wits. Brian鈥檚 story continues with four follow up books 鈥� Brian鈥檚 Winter (2: an alternate ending to Hatchet), The River (3), Brian鈥檚 Return (4), and Brian鈥檚 Hunt (5), all of which I highly recommend. If you are the parent of a reluctant reader and want to help him or her improve their reading skills and vocabulary, call or visit your local library and let us help find something that your child will enjoy. ...more
Many readers will know this author from his bestselling book and subsequent movie "The Horse Whisperer." I never read that book, but on a whim I recenMany readers will know this author from his bestselling book and subsequent movie "The Horse Whisperer." I never read that book, but on a whim I recently re-read "The Loop" and remembered why I was so fond of it the first time. When I returned that book, Evan's new book "The Brave" had just been released and I realize now that I should have started "The Brave" immediately, instead of putting it on my "to-read" list. This captivating story stayed with me long after putting it down each night.
We first meet a young Tom Bedford when he is being escorted in to see his mother just before her execution. I really felt like I was in the room with him... I was hooked for that point on. The story jumps backward and forward in time throughout the book, and takes you through Tom's life from his entrance and unhappy existence into boarding school in 1959 at age eight to dealing with his own son's military turmoil later in mid-life. The timeline shifts initially bothered me and made the story seem disjointed, but the story's structure really made me want more, and Evans ties up all the loose ends nicely by the end.
I don't want to give too much away but I can tell you that I highly recommend this book. It contains some powerful themes, including: how regret and negativity can sour a life, how family secrets color your existence, how childhood idols aren't always so great, and how forgiveness trumps all.
A collection of short stories (which I usually hate)all set in a small Mississippi town. Ended up really liking this one. I quit reading Grisham yearsA collection of short stories (which I usually hate)all set in a small Mississippi town. Ended up really liking this one. I quit reading Grisham years ago after getting fed up with lawyer stories. He then came out with Bleachers, Playing for Pizza, and this book... none of which are about lawyers and all recommended....more
Sandman Slim does it again. A whiskey fuelled romp thru Los Angeles battling the forces that are against him. This time the angels of homeland securitSandman Slim does it again. A whiskey fuelled romp thru Los Angeles battling the forces that are against him. This time the angels of homeland security's golden vigil are against him in his fight again the zeds (zombies). Everything you remember from the first book is required for this one....more
I was unaware this was part of a trilogy when I first picked this up. Actually I am still unsure if this is suppose to be a fictional account way way I was unaware this was part of a trilogy when I first picked this up. Actually I am still unsure if this is suppose to be a fictional account way way in the past or a thousand years in the future. Listed as fantasy, it was very fantastical. Very dark and disturbing, Cale taken and brought up by the redeemers along with thousands of others around the age of five and taught nothing but warfare and punishment.
Cale,a warrior of untold skill, escapes the sanctuary after killing the "Lord of Discipline" and begins to see the world in a new light....more
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