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Northwind

by Gary Paulsen Publisher: SQUARE FISH

Bestseller Critically Recognized

A canoe journey along a northern wilderness

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Awards & Recognition

  • Bestseller

    New York Times bestseller

    Described in the supplied metadata as a New York Times bestseller.

  • Editorial selection

    The Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year

    Named a Best Book of the Year by The Wall Street Journal.

  • Author recognition

    More than 35 million books sold worldwide

    The metadata reports that Gary Paulsen's books have sold over 35 million copies worldwide.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A canoe journey along a northern wilderness

Set centuries ago on a rugged coastline, Northwind follows Leif, an orphan driven from his fish camp when a deadly plague arrives. In a cedar canoe, he heads north along a fjord-cut shore, facing successive dangers without knowing where the journey will end. The ocean is more than a hazard in this survival story: Leif’s growing connection to the sea is part of his movement toward a clearer sense of himself. Hints of Nordic mythology add another dimension to the landscape, while the high seas and northern wilderness shape the book’s central struggle for survival.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • For readers aged 9–12 interested in survival adventures.
  • For young readers drawn to ocean journeys, rugged coastal settings, and Nordic mythology.

Themes

SurvivalSelf-discoveryConnection to the natural worldResilience

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

The stunning New York Times bestseller from three-time Newbery Honor winner and survival story master Gary Paulsen, whose books have sold over 35 million copies worldwide. Set centuries ago along a rugged coastline, Northwind 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 northern wilderness.

"Wondrous . . . A grand and worthy journey." --The New York Times Book Review

★ "Destined to become another Paulsen classic." --School Library Journal, starred review

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. Yet 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.

More Accolades and Praise for Northwind:

A "Best Book of the Year" from The New York Times ● Wall Street Journal ● Kirkus Reviews ● Publishers Weekly

★ "Beautifully written, it's classic Paulsen at his best." --Booklist, starred review

★ "A timeless and irresistible adventure that has resilience at its heart." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "[A] mesmerizing modern-day epic." --Shelf Awareness, starred review

Don't miss Gary Paulsen's other acclaimed books from Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers: his riveting memoir Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood and the father-son comedy How to Train Your Dad.

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Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
AlbakiReads
Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

O
AlbakiReads
Olivia

Smooth.