Northwind

By: Gary Paulsen

Narrated by: JD Jackson

This stunning audiobook from the survival story master, set along a rugged coastline centuries ago, does for the ocean what Hatchet does for the woods, as it relates the story of a young person’s battle to stay alive against the odds, where the high seas meet a coastal wilderness.

When a deadly plague reaches the small fish camp where he lives, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore, navigating from one danger to the next, unsure of his destination. But the deeper into his journey he paddles, the closer he comes to his truest self as he connects to “the heartbeat of the ocean...the pulse of the sea”.

With hints of Nordic mythology and an irresistible narrative pull, Northwind is Gary Paulsen at his captivating, adventuresome best.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

©2022 Gary Paulsen (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

2022, Audible.com Best of the Year, Long-listed

2022, Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2022, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

The way the guy reading it would change his voice when the character was talking to himself and talking out loud to others.

I didn't like how the guys voice sounded, it was kind scratchy, two deep, or something.

Terrible narrator

It’s basically the same story as Hatchet, just in Scandinavian oceans instead of Canadian forest. It works better in Hatchet. The narrator is truly terrible, and a complete mismatch for the material.

Feels unfinished

Excellent writing and performance. It feels like part 1 of a three part book. A little disappointed, but mainly because I want it to be more… it feels like it should be more.

Helped me read a school book for a grade.

Person read very well and I followed along for all of it. I had to take some breaks since I couldn't read the whole thing in 1 session.

It’s was fine

It was okay. It wasn’t so boring where I couldn’t read the next chapter but it’s was kinda of repetitive. I might recommend this book to others.