Companion book to: Hatchet and The river. Instead of being rescued from a plane crash, as in the author's book Hatchet, this story portrays what would have happened to Brian had he been forced to survive a winter in the wilderness with only his survival pack and hatchet. IOWA TEEN AWARD 1997 - 1998 IOWA CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD 1997 - 1998 FIC HIGH INTEREST SECOND CHANCE READING LEXILE 1140 EVERY CHILD READS. LEXILE 1140 FIC. https://www.teachingbooks.net/qlh8cao.