Look, Gary Paulsen wrote this because fans begged for more Brian, and while sequels can sometimes feel like a cash grab, this one holds its own. It’s not as psychologically deep as Hatchet, but it’s arguably more 'exciting' because there's a ticking clock and a human life on the line.

It’s a 1991 classic (ignore the 2012 reprint date—the vibes are timeless) that avoids the 'boring' trap many older books fall into. The prose is stripped down to the bone. If your kid thinks reading is a drag, hand them this. It’s basically an action movie in paper form, and it might actually teach them how to tie a decent knot.