What is Hatchet? How is this book related to Hatchet? What would you tell a reader who has not read Hatchet first? Is it difficult to follow the events in The River without first reading Hatchet? Would you recommend reading a set of books out of sequence? Do you think this book stands well on its own, or do you feel it relies on Hatchet too much?

Who is Brian Robeson? Why have the survivalist teachers come to Brian? What could Brian possibly teach these men? Why does Brian's mother not want him to go? Does she have a good argument? Why does Brian insist on going? Does he have a good argument? Who wins out in the end? For what reason?

How did crashing a plane and surviving in the wilderness affect Brian's life? In what ways does he feel he is different...