An Advance Reader’s copy of Brian’s Hunt came to the hands of Fu-Manchu; this book by Gary Paulsen is the sequel to Brian’s Return and Mr Paulsen’s assertion that there would be no more of Brian’s story. A persistent flood of letters from his readers finally convinced him to continue telling us about the adventures of Brian, who, as a boy was plunged into the wilderness of the Canadian north woods.

How Brian survived is described in Paulsen’s first book in the series, Hatchet, continuing in The River and Brian’s Return. Reader's were so enthralled by the story that they wanted to know what would have happened if Brian hadn't been rescued before onset of the long Canadian winter, so Gary Paulsen wrote Brian’s Winter, an alternative ending to Hatchet.

In writing the Brian books, Paulsen strives to be true and accurate in his protrayal of life lived and survived in Nature far from civilised help and assistance. Paulsen’s stories of Brian are a thrill to read, a joyous enthrallment imbued with a deep love of Nature in all her works. To read these books is to be as at one with Nature, at least it is so for Fu-Manchu. It must be so for many hundreds of other young readers no matter how old they might be, otherwise Brian’s Hunt would not be scheduled for publication on 13 January 2004.

These books are aimed at children aged 10 years and up. In Brian’s Hunt, Brian Robeson is now 16 and returns to the wilderness to escape the stress of living civilised life in the big city. He is on his way to see his Cree friends David and Anne Smallwood at their summer encampment. He also wants to see their daughter Kay-gwa-daush, the attempter, who is about his own age, of whom is much in his thoughts. On the way, while sleeping in his canoe he is awakened by something not germane to the night. His adventure begins.

Brian’s Hunt is a good book that is much too short for Fu-Manchu, who is now with-child to know happens next. Paulsen is an excellent teller of stories who has prepared the way for a future installment. Well, Mr Paulsen, get cracking we want to know more.