[annemleone Posts: 243 Status: Offline]

I teach in a very rural high school; my students are farmers and hunters. One of my boys asked for a recommendation today for something outdoorsy about survival, and I couldn't think of a thing (barring HATCHET). Any ideas? Thanks!

[onestepp Posts: 139 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

  A Walk In The Woods  by Bill Bryson which is also a movie about a man and his buddy walking the Appalachian trail

Wild -  by Cheryl  Strayed which is about a woman who walked the trail on the other side of the US to Oregon.  It is also a movie

(I've read them both and seen the movie Wild)

[Schriscoe Posts: 1,765 Status: Offline www.sharonchriscoebooks.com]

TREASURE AT LURE LAKE By Shari Schwarz is an outdoorsy book.  I have it on my TBR list but haven't had a chance to read it yet. *Disclaimer I know Shari in real life, too. And I second Katie Kennedy's books. They are awesome!*

Here's an interview with Shari that tells a bit about her book. https://swankyseventeens.wordpress.com/2016/04/22/debut-club-an-interview-with-shari-schwartz/

[Sashie Posts: 28 Status: Offline]

 A Day No Pigs Would Die / Robert Newton Peck
Run With the Horsemen / Ferrol Sams
Into The Wild / Jon Krakauer
The Yearling/ Marjorie Keenan Rawlings
Where the Red Fern Grows / Wilson Rawls
Ecology of a Cracker Childhood/ Janisse Ray
Brian's Hunt/ Gary Paulsen

Ask your school media specialist, local public librarian or local community or college librarian. They will know. :-)
It is great that the student inquired about a book. Sounds like he is really wanting to read.

[sophielynette Posts: 69 Status: Offline You're never too old for penguins!]

I guess boys prefer to read about male protagonists but what about Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George?

[Betsy Posts: 2,106 Status: Offline PICKY EATERS]

When I worked in a library I always used to recommend Gary Paulsen's books to boys: TRACKER and WINTERDANCE (about the Iditarod).

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all!]

For a humorous take, DAN VS. NATURE by Don Calame.

[annemleone Posts: 243 Status: Offline]

Thanks for all the recommendations--especially pleased to see some I don't know! I'll let you know if any are a hit!

[Tefellervon Posts: 1 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Into the Wild is a good one

[Moriah Posts: 11 Status: Offline]

My son loves My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, as well as the sequels. I was also going to mention Hatchet by Paulsen, but that's been covered.

[mrbess Posts: 1 Status: Offline I love books!]

I for one can not wait to get out in this great Spring weather and start doing some more reading and hiking. My eyes just do better reading in the shade under a tree in the natural sunlight than under any UV light indoors.  I do more coloring books than reading books now adays as the next generation is so young that they love to color and have not learned there ABCs yet.

[carrots Posts: 551 Status: Offline]

As a high school student - and later, as a high school teacher - A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins was required reading.

[Vijaya Posts: 7,104 Status: Offline Encourage]

A Fine and Pleasant Misery by Patrick McManus. Very, very funny.

[dewsanddamps Posts: 2,320 Status: Offline]

This isn't quite what you're looking for, but Jeff Giles' THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING is set in Montana and has a lot of caving. The MC is female (and very well drawn), but it has a strong secondary male character--who happens to be a bounty hunter from hell.

I'm reading the ARC of the sequel right now, and it's just as good.

[annemleone Posts: 243 Status: Offline]

Thanks for even more suggestions! I hadn't heard of THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING  and that especially sounds like something my students would like. I ended up buying GREAT FALLS by Steve Watkins, ICE DOGS by Terri Lynn Johnson, and ORLEANS by Sherri Smith, which also don't quite fit the bill, but they're good reads that kids have enjoyed! I have found it interesting that there really are so few modern adventure / survival books, when those types of stories are so appealing.

[JFriday Posts: 582 Status: Offline]

The Iceberg Hermit is interesting, and about a 17 year old boy.

[Hopeful Posts: 227 Status: Offline I love kid books!]

My son was required to read ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS by Scott O'Dell which happened to be one of my own childhood favorites.  He ended up loving the story even though I doubt he would have picked it to read on his own because the protagonist is female.

Two oldies but goodies that do feature male main characters surviving in the wild are  THE CAY by Theodore Taylor and CALL IT COURAGE by Armstrong Sperry.  I had recommended both to my son, and he gave them both thumbs up.

[onestepp Posts: 139 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

The Stranger In The Woods The Extraordinary Story Of The Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel  which is about a twenty-year-old who left his home took a drive and disappeared into the forest for about three decades.   

Reading this book with book club, and it's interesting that it does have quite a long title.

[annemleone Posts: 243 Status: Offline]

That one does sound good--thanks!