Northwind

 

• Paulsen, Gary. Northwind. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2022. Ages 10-14.

When a ship carrying a plague comes to Leif’s Nordic town, he is placed on a canoe and sent away by the elders for his protection. The author describes, “Instead the sickness became like a fire roaring through the camp and soon Old Carl started to burn. Before he vomited blood, the old man took Leif and Little Carl and put them in the cedar canoe with some food and supplies, and sent them away. “Go north,” he said, pushing them as hard as he could from shore.” (Gary Paulsen, 29). Once on the sea, Little Carl passes on soon after setting sail and Leif is left to face the elements alone. He must face bears, the elements, and hunger while learning how to survive on his own.  

This survival work is also Gary Paulsen's final work before passing away in 2021. Paulsen was known as a survival and outdoor expert, and he had written over 200 books for children and adults. He is an expert at drawing in readers by building tension. His experience with the outdoors is evident with his beautiful descriptions, stating that he drew from his personal experience sailing. With very little dialogue, this survival tale is heavy on nature and descriptions of setting and atmosphere. For example, “The fjord in a small, almost perfectly round bay, and terminated in an enormous blue-ice wall. It towered over the circular bay. It was, as he thought, as if the whole world had turned to ice. Light coming from the sun shone down through the blue ice, sprayed color-light across the water. Directly Infront of him, between the canoe and the ice wall, was a large piece of ice that had clearly fallen from the wall; had made the thunder-wave that nearly swamped him.” (Gary Paulsen, 178). While the language is descriptive and beautiful, readers may be put off by this text-heavy work with few characters and much internal conflict.

While Leif is unsure about his ability to survive at first, he gains confidence and purpose as he overcomes challenges. By the end of the novel, he realizes he can do more than he thought, deciding, “A ship, men, a world he did not want to see, to face. There might come a day when he would have to be with that world again. But not yet. I am not ready for that yet. Not quite yet” (Northwind, 181). This work would appeal to readers who love nature, adventure, or those interested in survival. Additionally, there are mentions of Nordic mythology and Viking sailor lore, which readers may need context for from adults. This work would also pair well with a geography or culture unit on Vikings or Nordic culture. This work belongs on older readers’ shelves from ages 10-14 in school libraries or in any survalist shelf.