Lost in the Barrens

I remember growing up in Canada and enjoying this novel and its sequel. It falls into a genre of boys adventure fiction that I don't see as much of in the literature that my son reads currently (Percy Jackson etc.) The pace of the novels is a little slower than current action novels but I don't think that it is so slow that it would bore a young kid today. The novel is an interesting portrayal of a part of the world that not many people know much about, the Boreal forest of northern Canada and the barren lands north of the Boreal forest. It also represents a way of life that has probably mostly disappeared as the Indians, Eskimos and trappers live off of the land with no motorized vehicles and little in the way of modern devices beyond rifles. The novel was written post WWII but there is no chauvinism in the representation of the native people in the novel.

I looked it up on Amazon to re-read the book. It brought back many memories. It has a timeless story of the coming of age and survival in the northern barrens of Canada. A wonderful book!

I read this in 6th grade and truly loved it. I bought it for my son and he has not read it as of yet. He is many years older than I was when I read it but I hope that the enjoyment of the book comes through to him. It is an easy book to read but one I never forgot. I think that if you have an imagination and love adventure, you will love this book.

While I have read most of Mowat's other works, I had overlooked this particular book. It is an easy, fun, and dramatic adventure suitable for young or old. I am definitely keeping this in my collection.

I have this already. Bought this copy for a young friend. This story is written by a man thoroughly familiar with the conditions he writes about - life on "the Barrens" in Canada. It's very realistic. I'm 71 years old, but every few years I read this again. Survival in very difficult conditions. Demonstrates the importance of attitude as well as skills and minimal equipment needed. Excellent!

Very entertaining story that we read a loud. My seven year old loved it- while something had to be explained, it made for a great adventure and some discussion teaching time as well as pure entertainment in a classic adventure form. The story is full of ideas, ingenuity, adventure, friendship, danger, a little suspense and a good ending.

Just that book is in good shape no problems

Good book.

An amazing adventure book. My 9 year old found it exciting and loved it so much he begged to stay up later in the evening to finish the page, the chapter, ... :-)

Avevo letto con piacere un linbro di Mowat che raccontava un'avventura a stretto contatto con i lupi ed ho voluto leggere un altro suo racconto. Ambientato nel Nord del Canada, oltre il limite delle foreste, racconta dell'avventura di due ragazzi, un bianco e un indiano, che si trovano dispersi con la canoa distrutta e decisamente troppo lontani dal primo centro abitato per pensare di rientrare a piedi prima dell'arrivo dell'inverno. Hanno con sé un minimo di attrezzatura e con ingegno, coraggio e fortuna superano molte difficoltà ed imprevisti e riescono a ritornare dai loro cari. Avventura, immersione totale nella natura, tenacia e inventiva, l'importanza di avere già buone conoscenze che oggi catalogheremmo come "tecniche di sopravvivenza": questi i temi principali del racconto. Insomma, un racconto alla Jack London; un po' meno valido letterariamente, ma non male.

A wonderful story of cultural differences changing for the betterment of everyone involved set in a time when life was simpler but harder

Best book about Canada ever written. Reinforces the importance of good eye protection in bright snow.

I originally read this book in elementary school 20 years ago, always enjoyed the story and as someone who lives in northern Canada it was extra special to me. But I hadn't read it since then. And though it's definitely good for a younger audience. It's a really lovely book and story of two boys. Not a super complex read so it's nice to be able to engross yourself in it. And not particularly long. I finished it in 2 days. All in all so happy I read it again