Revolver

By: Marcus Sedgwick

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

In an isolated cabin in an Arctic wilderness, 14–year–old Sig is alone with a corpse: his father, who has fallen through the ice on the lake outside and frozen to death only hours earlier. Then, out of the Arctic darkness, comes a stranger: a terrifying giant of a man claiming that Sig’s father owes him a share of a horde of stolen gold - and threatening awful violence if Sig doesn’t reveal the gold’s whereabouts. Sig knows nothing about the gold, but he does know that there’s a loaded Colt revolver hidden in the cabin’s storeroom - a gun that his father had said would protect him, but which his mother had abhorred.

Revolver alternates between the lonely cabin and events during the Alaska Gold Rush ten years earlier, gradually unspooling the mystery of the stolen gold and the terrifying stranger, and building to a climax that turns on whether and why Sig will use the hidden gun.

Revolver is a compelling frontier survival story, crafted with the intensity and precision of a one-act play.

©2010 Marcus Sedgwick (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A chilling, atmospheric story that will haunt readers with its descriptions of a desolate terrain and Sig’s difficult decisions.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

“Sedgwick lures his readers into deeper thinking while they savor this thrillingly told tale.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Very different but compeling historical fiction

This was a very different young adult historical fiction book; it is written with a lyrical quality yet is very suspenseful. In the Arctic Circle in 1910 Sig is alone in his cabin well alone with the corpse of his father who died earlier that day when surprisingly there is a knock on the door and a scary looking man named Wolff is looking for his father, they have unfinished business. This starts the tension that flows through this book like a pulse. The title of the book comes from the revolver that is in a box in the next room and Sig’s decision to try to get to it or not.

I can see why this has won many awards as it is so different than anything out there. But I think if you are a fan of Hatchet you’ll really like this book. This is definitely one I will be picking up in paper form for our local library because I do think this is one that male readers and /or reluctant readers will get into. This is a short book but packs quite a punch I enjoyed this story and will recommend it in audio & print. However for myself the audio version really brought it to life for me.


Peter Berkrot is a new to me narrator and I was very impressed with his narration of this book, his voices were distinct and you always knew who was talking, he seamlessly went from voicing a 15 year old boy to the gruff and rough Wolff with ease. I will definitely look for more books narrated by, Peter Berkrot.

All in all I highly recommend this one.

4 Stars

love the book

I had read the paperback version of the book countless times and it's a favorite.