Books like 'The River'
Readers who enjoyed The River by Gary Paulsen also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary action / adventure survival realistic classics children outdoors teens coming-of-age family
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Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom
Rated: 4.64 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsNorthwest Washington State, 1985For years, Harris Hayes has taught his daughter, Aggie, the ways of the northern woods. So when her mother's depression worsens, Harris shows the girl how to find and sketch the nests of wild birds as an antidote to sadness. Aggie is in a tree far overhead when her unpredictable mother spots her and forbids her to climb...Categorized as:
coming-of-age historical-fiction outdoors realistic suspense action-adventure audiobook book -
![Persona normal by Benito Taibo]()
Persona normal by Benito Taibo
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsUna grandiosa e increíble aventura para ser todo... excepto normal. Tenía un par de padres divertidos y jóvenes, llenos de sueños y de planes... -
![Captains of the Sands by Jorge Amado]()
Captains of the Sands by Jorge Amado
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsLiving by their wits in the steamy slums of Bahia, a gang of orphans and runaways, led by fifteen-year-old "Bullet," spend their time stealing from Brazil's rich and privileged until public outcry demands their capture...Categorized as:
children classics coming-of-age drama historical-fiction 20th-century action-adventure audiobook -
![The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen]()
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsAn award-winning and inspiring novel. When Jessica's dreams are shattered, she puts herself back together—and learns to dream bigger than ever before. Jessica thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a car accident. She's not comforted by the news that she'll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg... -
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![Jabari salta by Gaia Cornwall]()
Jabari salta by Gaia Cornwall
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all. "Looks easy," says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back... -
![Dan Brown Inferno (Robert Langdon) Unofficial Guide by Stephen Eastment]()
Dan Brown Inferno (Robert Langdon) Unofficial Guide by Stephen Eastment
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsThe Dan Brown Inferno Unofficial Guide will allow you to decode the masterful and clever codes, symbols and art history of Dan Brown's fourth international blockbuster, Inferno and follow in the footsteps of the great puzzle solver Robert Langdon. Dan Brown's new international blockbuster, Inferno, will be his fourth book fusing history, art, codes and symbols... -
![The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata]()
The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsPublished in Indonesia in 2005, "The Rainbow Troops," Andrea Hirata's closely autobiographical debut novel, sold more than five million copies, shattering records. Now it promises to captivate audiences around the globe.Ikal is a student at the poorest village school on the Indonesian island of Belitong, where graduating from sixth grade is considered a remarkable achievement...Categorized as:
children classics coming-of-age drama family historical-fiction action-adventure bildungsroman -
![Restart by Gordon Korman]()
Restart by Gordon Korman
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsThe amazing New York Times bestseller about what you can do when life gives you a second chance.Chase's memory just went out the window.Chase doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't remember hitting his head. He doesn't, in fact, remember anything. He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again . . . starting with his own name.He knows he's Chase... -
![Leaving Blythe River by Catherine Ryan Hyde]()
Leaving Blythe River by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde returns with an unforgettable story of courage. Seventeen-year-old Ethan Underwood is totally unprepared to search for his father in the Blythe River National Wilderness. Not only is he small, scrawny, and skittish but he’s barely speaking to the man after a traumatic betrayal...Categorized as:
coming-of-age drama family historical-fiction outdoors survival suspense action-adventure -
![Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump]()
Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA tale of raw adventure as Uncle Hec and Ricky use all their skills to survive in the hard world of precipitous hills and impassable forest. It uncovers the slow maturing of love and trust between two loners in a hard world... -
![Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen]()
Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratings3:47 a.m. That's when they come for Wren Clemens. She's hustled out of her house and into a waiting car, then a plane, and then taken on a forced march into the desert. This is what happens to kids who've gone so far off the rails, their parents don't know what to do with them any more. This is wilderness therapy camp... -
![No, David! by David Shannon]()
No, David! by David Shannon
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsWhen author and artist David Shannon was five years old, he wrote a semi-autobiographical story of a little kid who broke all his mother's rules. He chewed with his mouth open, jumped on the furniture, and he broke his mother's vase...Categorized as:
children classics coming-of-age family realistic action-adventure book children-books -
![Not Over by Leigh Ann Lunsford]()
Not Over by Leigh Ann Lunsford
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDustin Parker had life and love in his grasp until the moment she disappeared without a good-bye. He has watched his sisters struggle, fall in love, and find a happily ever after. He thought it was his turn, but fate had other plans. Leaving the family again, this time to attend school across the country, he will play soccer, and try to keep her off his mind... -
![Seeking Our Forever by Liberty Parker, Darlene Tallman]()
Seeking Our Forever by Liberty Parker, Darlene Tallman
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJonas Nelson is the ‘nerd’ behind the missions. A virtual genius, he sits behind his computer and patiently tracks the evil men and women they’re hired to capture. He’s a badass in his own right, but prefers to be behind the scenes, unlike his two brothers. His escape from the worldwide web and the missions they embark on is underground fighting, MMA style... -
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![The Hidden Side by Heidi Chiavaroli]()
The Hidden Side by Heidi Chiavaroli
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNew York, 2016Natalie Abbott offers answers for hurting listeners on her popular radio program. But she struggles to connect with her teenagers, with her daughter in an unhealthy relationship and her son uncommunicative and isolated. When one member of the family commits an unspeakable act, Natalie is forced to uncover who she truly is under the façade of her radio persona... -
![The Black Stallion Returns by Walter Farley]()
The Black Stallion Returns by Walter Farley
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIn this, the second book in the series, the heart-stopping adventures of the Black Stallion continue as Alec discovers that two men are after the Black. One claims to be the Black’s rightful owner and one is trying to kill the beautiful steed. An Arab chieftain proves his ownership of the Black and takes him away, but Alec is determined to find his horse again...Categorized as:
children classics coming-of-age drama historical-fiction realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
![The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan]()
The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFor fans of Linda Sue Park and A Long Way Gone, two young boys must escape a life of slavery in modern-day Ivory CoastFifteen-year-old Amadou counts the things that matter. For two years what has mattered are the number of cacao pods he and his younger brother, Seydou, can chop down in a day. The higher the number the safer they are... -
![Nowhere to Run by Jude Watson]()
Nowhere to Run by Jude Watson
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsThe Cahill family has a secret. For five hundred years, they have guarded the 39 Clues – thirty-nine ingredients in a serum that transforms whomever takes it into the most powerful person on earth. If the serum got into the wrong hands, the disaster would rock the world. So certain Cahills have always made it their mission to keep the serum safe, buried, locked away. Until now...Categorized as:
children family historical-fiction realistic survival suspense action-adventure audiobook -
![A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry]()
A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsSwift, a young wolf cub, lives with his pack in the mountains learning to hunt, competing with his brothers and sisters for hierarchy, and watching over a new litter of cubs. Then a rival pack attacks, and Swift and his family scatter.Alone and scared, Swift must flee and find a new home. His journey takes him a remarkable one thousand miles across the Pacific Northwest...Categorized as:
children family historical-fiction outdoors realistic survival action-adventure animals -
![Football Genius by Tim Green]()
Football Genius by Tim Green
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author and former NFL player Tim Green scores a touchdown with this exhilarating and action-packed story about an ordinary boy who becomes a hero you can really root for. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica.Twelve-year-old Troy White has a phenomenal gift: He can predict football plays before they even happen. Any position. Any player. Any team... -
![Abduction! by Peg Kehret]()
Abduction! by Peg Kehret
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsMatt is missing. Bonnie's brother left his classroom to use thebathroom —and disappeared. A police dog traces his scent to the curb, where he apparently got into a vehicle. But why would Matt go anywhere with a stranger? Overwhelmed with fear, Bonnie discovers that her dog is gone, too. Was Pookie used as a lure for Matt? Bonnie makes one big mistake in her attempt to find her brother... -
![Picture Perfect by Holly Smale]()
Picture Perfect by Holly Smale
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratings"My name is Harriet Manners, and I'll always be a geek." It's the hilarious third book in the No.1 bestselling, award winning GEEK GIRL series! Harriet Manners knows more facts that most. She knows that New York is the most populous city in the United States. She knows that its official motto is "Ever Upward". She knows that 28% of Americans believe we never landed on the moon... -
![The Yellow Bus by Loren Long]()
The Yellow Bus by Loren Long
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPerfect for fans of Love and Hello, Lighthouse , The Yellow Bus from #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long is a tender and soulful story about a forgotten school bus that finds happiness and purpose in the most unexpected places--and in the journey along the way.There is a bright yellow bus who spends her days driving. She loves carrying children from one important place to another...Categorized as:
outdoors children realistic children-books fiction action-adventure contemporary book -
![Among the Enemy by Margaret Peterson Haddix]()
Among the Enemy by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsHIDE OR FIGHT?Matthias, an illegal third child, is caught in the cross fire between rebels and the Population Police. When he unwittingly saves a Population Police officer, Matthias is brought to Population Police headquarters to train as an officer himself. There he meets Nina, another third-born who enlists his help in a plot to undermine the Population Police... -
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![Among the Brave by Margaret Peterson Haddix]()
Among the Brave by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsA Reluctant HeroTrey may have saved Luke's life, but he still thinks of himself as a coward who can barely stand to be outdoors. Now Trey finds out Luke has been taken prisoner at Population Police headquarters. Trey is terrified, but he knows that if he doesn't rescue his friend, no one will.At police headquarters, Trey impersonates an officer to try getting to Luke... -
![Yara's Spring by Jamal Saeed, Sharon McKay]()
Yara's Spring by Jamal Saeed, Sharon McKay
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsComing of age against all odds in the midst of the Arab Spring.Growing up in Aleppo, Yara’s childhood has long been shadowed by the coming revolution. But when the Arab Spring finally arrives at Yara’s doorstep, it is worse than even her Nana imagined: sudden, violent, and deadly. When rescuers dig Yara out from under the rubble that was once her family’s home, she emerges to a changed world... -
![My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano]()
My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA story of first friendship.she is my best friend i think i never had a best friend so i’m not sure but i think she is a really good best friend because when we were drawing she drew me and i drew her... -
![Deep Water by Watt Key]()
Deep Water by Watt Key
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA middle grade survival story about a scuba dive gone wrong and two enemies who must unite to survive.It's the most important rule of scuba diving: If you don't feel right, don't go down.So after her father falls ill, twelve-year-old Julie Sims must take over and lead two of his clients on a dive miles off the coast of Alabama while her father stays behind in the boat... -
![Survivors by Jeff Probst, Christopher Tebbetts]()
Survivors by Jeff Probst, Christopher Tebbetts
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSequel to the New York Times bestseller Stranded and Trial by Fire! As seen on The Today Show, Rachael Ray, and Kelly and Michael. From the Emmy-Award winning host of Survivor, Jeff Probst with Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life co-author Chris Tebbetts comes a brand new family adventure series!Eleven days down, and no end in sight... -
![Ice Dogs by Terry Lynn Johnson]()
Ice Dogs by Terry Lynn Johnson
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsVictoria Secord, a fourteen-year-old Alaskan dogsled racer, loses her way on a routine outing with her dogs. With food gone and temperatures dropping, her survival and that of her dogs and the mysterious boy she meets in the woods is entirely up to her... -
![The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby]()
The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsGirl Online meets Wild in this emotionally charged story of girl who takes to the wilderness to rediscover herself and escape the superficial persona she created on social media.Mari Turner’s life is perfect. That is, at least to her thousands of followers who have helped her become an internet starlet... -
![My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George]()
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsEvery kid thinks about running away at one point or another; few get farther than the end of the block. Young Sam Gribley gets to the end of the block and keeps going--all the way to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. There he sets up house in a huge hollowed-out tree, with a falcon and a weasel for companions and his wits as his tool for survival... -
![The Art of Holding On and Letting Go by Kristin Bartley Lenz]()
The Art of Holding On and Letting Go by Kristin Bartley Lenz
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Junior Library Guild Fall 2016 Selection“When every piece falls into place, it’s like a dance, a delicate but powerful balancing act. The art of holding on and letting go at the same time.” Competitive climber Cara Jenkins feels most at home high off the ground, clinging to a rock wall by her fingertips... -
![Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Watson Hackl]()
Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Watson Hackl
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA Mississippi ghost town and an art mystery combine!How far would you go to find something that might not even exist?All her life, Cricket's mama has told her stories about a secret room painted by a mysterious artist. Now Mama's run off, and Cricket thinks the room might be the answer to getting her to come back. If it exists. And if she can find it... -
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![Trial by Fire by Jeff Probst, Chris Tebbetts]()
Trial by Fire by Jeff Probst, Chris Tebbetts
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThey thought it couldn't get any worse.They Were Wrong.Being shipwrecked on a jungle island in the middle of the South Pacific was bad enough. But now that Carter, Vanessa, Buzz and Jane have lost their boat - and almost everything on board - to another violent storm, it's like starting over... -
![The Journey Back by Priscilla Cummings]()
The Journey Back by Priscilla Cummings
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEscaped and on the run, can Digger find redemption? His bold escape from a juvenile detention facility nearly kills him, but soon an angry fourteen-year-old Digger is on the run, hijacking a tractor trailer, "borrowing" a bicycle, and stealing a canoe. When injuries stop him, Digger hides at a riverside campground, where he befriends a young boy and a girl his own age... -
![Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs by Jerry West, Gerhart West]()
Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs by Jerry West, Gerhart West
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe adventures for the Hollisters begin as soon as they move into their new house on the shore on Pine Lake in Shoreham. First, the moving van carrying their toys and their father's important new invention disappears. Next, they learn that their house may be haunted, with a treasure hidden somewhere inside! Right away they all set out to solve these mysteries...Categorized as:
children classics family historical-fiction realistic action-adventure book children-books -
![Runner by Carl Deuker]()
Runner by Carl Deuker
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFrom the award-winning author of "Night Hoops" and "Painting the Black" comes this suspenseful, psychologically astute novel with themes of terrorism and patriotism, fear and courage... -
![Alabama Moon by Watt Key]()
Alabama Moon by Watt Key
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAfter the death of his father, ten-year-old Moon leaves their forest shelter home and is sent to an Alabama institution, becoming entangled in the outside world he has never known and making good friends, a relentless enemy, and finally a new life... -
![A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry]()
A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThirteen-year-old Meg envies her sister's beauty and popularity. Her feelings don't make it any easier for her to cope with Molly's strange illness and eventual death... -
![Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat]()
Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFarley Mowat's funniest book tells the adventures of Wol and Weeps, two owls from Saskatchewan who shape up a whole neighbourhood, turn a house topsy-turvy, and outsmart Mutt, the dog hero of The Dog Who Wouldn't Be. Wol brings dead skunks to the family dinner table and terrorizes the minister, the postman, and the French teacher...Categorized as:
children classics family historical-fiction outdoors realistic action-adventure animals -
![Endangered by Eliot Schrefer]()
Endangered by Eliot Schrefer
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhen Sophie has to visit her mother at her sanctuary for bonobos, she's not thrilled to be there. Then Otto, an infant bonobo, comes into her life, and for the first time she feels responsible for another creature. But peace does not last long for Sophie and Otto...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family historical-fiction outdoors realistic survival suspense -
![Son of the Black Stallion by Walter Farley]()
Son of the Black Stallion by Walter Farley
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsWhen Alec receives the Black Stallion’s first son as a gift, he believes his dreams have come true, but Satan’s savage arrogance makes him dangerous and unpredictable. Still, Alec is resolved to gain the fiery colt’s trust, even if he must risk his life to do it...Categorized as:
children classics coming-of-age drama historical-fiction realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
![Travel Team by Mike Lupica]()
Travel Team by Mike Lupica
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe #1 Bestseller!Twelve-year-old Danny Walker may be the smallest kid on the basketball court -- but don't tell him that. Because no one plays with more heart or court sense. But none of that matters when he is cut from his local travel team, the very same team his father led to national prominence as a boy... -
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![Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix]()
Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 26 ratings"Everything that had happened to Nina was real. She had real handcuffs on her wrists, real scars on her back, real fear flooding her mind. "'They're going to kill me,' Nina whispered, and it was almost a relief to finally, finally give up hope...Categorized as:
children drama family historical-fiction realistic survival suspense action-adventure -
![Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff]()
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsHollis Woods has been in so many foster homes she can hardly remember them all. When Hollis is sent to Josie, she’ll do everything in her power to make sure they stay together... -
![I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak]()
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 67 ratingsprotect the diamondssurvive the clubsdig deep through the spadesfeel the heartsEd Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery... -
![Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech]()
Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 26 ratings“Intriguing, delightful, and touching.” —School Library Journal (starred review)“Creech’s best yet.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)It started out as an ordinary summer. But the minute thirteen-year-old Zinny discovered the old, overgrown trail that ran through the woods behind her family’s house, she realized that things were about to change...Categorized as:
children classics coming-of-age family historical-fiction outdoors realistic 20th-century -
![Darkness, Be My Friend by John Marsden]()
Darkness, Be My Friend by John Marsden
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsThe battle continues as five ordinary kids must journey back into the heart of an epic conflict.Five months into World War III, Ellie and her four remaining friends have barely escaped the Australian town of Wirrawee with their lives and their sanity intact.But as the next step becomes clear, they realize they must once again sacrifice their hard-won comfort and safety... -
![Brian's Hunt by Gary Paulsen]()
Brian's Hunt by Gary Paulsen
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsMillions of readers of" Hatchet, The River, Brian's Winter," and "Brian's Return" know that Brian Robeson is at home in the Canadian wilderness. He has stood up to the challenge of surviving alone in the woods. He prefers being on his own in the natural world to civilization. When Brian finds a dog one night, a dog that is wounded and whimpering, he senses danger...Categorized as:
children classics coming-of-age historical-fiction outdoors realistic sports survival
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