The other week my nephew sent this book home with me for my daughter to read. I had previously read "Hatchet" and thoroughly enjoyed it, so figured this would be a good read. I was right on the mark. I could barely put it down last night and was back at it even before coffee this morning.
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It is similar to "Hatchet" in that our main character, Mark, is stranded in a strange and possibly hostile environment with next to nothing but his wit to ensure his survival. Not only does he need to find food and shelter, but also to try and figure out where and when he his and how he got there and how to get home.
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Mr. Paulsen builds this story carefully. First Mark is alone, then he meets a primate (?) to befriend. This leads to evidence of humanoid life nearby and the potential of a settlement and more people with answers. Each step requires Mark to use more skills to handle the situation whether it is hunting larger animals or learning a new skill or language. While we don't get to know much about any of the other characters, we learn a great deal about the type of person Mark is.
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The 'Blue Light' is interesting. I am left wondering if it isn't some sort of intelligence that randomly transfers life from current time into the future. Then it checks back on that person from time to time to determine if that person has developed the passion needed to find a cure for the 'Ebola like' illness if returned to his previous life. Obviously Merkon was not such a person and would never be returned to his time. Mark is a much different person and thus the 'blue light' found him suitable.
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This is a good, quick read and would be enjoyable for readers of all ages. Did you know that Gary Paulsen is such a prolific author that he could supply you with reading material for a full year or longer?
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For a full list of his dozens of books visit Wikipedia's Article on Gary Paulsen.
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