Peg Glisson (Children's Literature)
Sixteen-year-old Robbie leaves his Alaskan island home of Port Protection hoping to realize his dream of fishing for big king salmon during their annual run. At the last minute, he luckily lands a job with Tor, a crusty, mysterious and legendary fishing captain who usually fishes alone. Tor's back injury leads to Robbie's having to do the majority of the fishing, cleaning and storing of their exceedingly large catch. Tor, however, is out to catch more than salmon; he has come upon an old Russian map detailing the locations of historic plaques buried in the late 18th and early 19th centuries along the Pacific shore to stake Russia's claims to the land. He has been systematically uncovering them and intends to sell them rather than turning them over to museums. Robbie begins to fear that he will be expendable after helping Tor realize his dual goals. This is an exciting adventure tale, although a non-fisher might tire of some of the minutely detailed descriptions of salmon fishing. Hobbs does a good job of weaving in history and current issues concerning salmon fishing. Tor is well realized; he is at times friendly, critical, withdrawn, demanding. The first person narrative makes Robbie's story more immediate. The rising storm, both within and around the trawler, builds to an exciting climax; although, the ending is softened with a somewhat sappy denouement. This will have appeal mostly for boys looking for a good outdoor adventure book. 2004, HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 10 to 14.

Kara Byrne (Children's Literature)
A captivating story of suspense and survival on the frigid Alaskan sea awaits thrill-seekers in this Will Hobbs novel. Sixteen-year old Robbie Daniels leaves home to earn extra money fishing during salmon season. After an awkward encounter with brusque Tor Torsen, Robbie boards the Storm Petrel for the trip of his young life. While his intention was to aid his family’s finances, Robbie’s experiences gave him much more than money. A crusty old seadog, a surprising historic treasure hunt, and a terrifying Arctic gale teach Robbie incredible lessons about mankind, nature, and himself. Shocking twists at the end of his journey emphasize the unpredictability of life. The challenges he overcomes reward him in unexpected ways. Readers of Gary Paulsen will appreciate the action and adventure of author Will Hobbs. This particular novel will make an intriguing contrast to Hatchet in a literature study. Several award-winning titles by Will Hobbs that will engage male readers include Jason’s Gold and Far North. 2005, Harper Trophy/HarperCollins Publishers, $5.99. Ages 10 up.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2004 (Vol. 72, No. 6))
Though Protection is Robbie's Alaskan port where his family works at subsistence fishing, he leaves his safe childhood when he becomes the mysterious Tor's deckhand. Known for a successful salmon fishing business but not his discovery of historical treasures buried along the Alaskan coast, Tor barely reveals himself. Either the silence scares Robbie into fearing for his life, because he knows about Tor's secrets, or Hobbs has insufficiently villainized Tor, but the only proven danger is slippery decks and high winds. None of the characters are convincing and most of the text is problematic. First-person narrator Robbie flips from present to past tense, using the present to explain fishing and past tense to describe his adventure, most of which is slow and laborious. Light characterization, in combination with slow text, harms the reading experience, until the final monster storm, when past and present meld together into a fiery pitch with a sugary dénouement. In a final word, Hobbs provides background information and further reading suggestions. For patient fishing enthusiasts who are willing to wait for a final thrill. 2004, HarperCollins, 192p, $15.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 9 to 12. © 2004 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Paula Rohrlick (KLIATT Review, March 2004 (Vol. 38, No. 2))
Robbie has been raised in tiny Port Protection, Alaska, but now that he's 16 he's eager to leave home to work on a salmon troller, both to make money for his family and for the thrill of catching the huge King salmon. A big, stern Norwegian named Tor takes him on as a deckhand, and the two head out into the Gulf of Alaska to catch as many Kings as they can during the short season. But Tor has more on his mind than fish: he's also hunting for historic and valuable "possession plaques" buried long ago by Russian explorers in an attempt to lay claim to Alaska. Does Robbie's knowledge of the plaques put him in danger from this moody man? A terrible storm at sea comes up (of course), and Robbie must fight for his life. Hobbs, author of Jason's Gold, The Maze, and other adventure tales for YAs, based this novel in part on his own experience gaffing salmon as a deckhand in Alaska (described in an afterword), and the details, excitement, and danger of the fishing ring true. The information on the history of Russians in Alaska is intriguing, too. A sea story and more, this will appeal to boys primarily; Williwaw!, by Tom Bodett, is another Alaskan adventure on the water, while Lucy the Giant, by Sherri Smith, about a teenaged girl on a crabbing boat in Alaska, is a good bet for girls. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: JS--Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2004, HarperCollins, 192p. map., $15.99 and $16.89. Ages 12 to 18.

Stephanie L. Dobson (Library Media Connection, October 2004)
This fascinating page-turner is set off the Alaskan shores and tells the story of Robbie Daniels, a teenager wishing to fish for king salmon, and Tor Torsen, one of the best salmon trolling boat fishermen. As Robbie learns and struggles with the challenges of fishing and life during a season of king salmon fishing, a mystery begins to unravel. Torsen found an old Russian trunk with a former Russian leader's journal. The leader had written about several Russian Possession Plates buried along the coast. Torsen had found two of the plates previously and planned on finding another during this fishing season. As he and Robbie find the buried Russian Possession Plate, a storm hits and Torsen is washed overboard. At the last moment, Torsen warns Robbie of an incoming wave and saves Robbie's life while losing his own. Robbie makes it through the storm and eventually home at which point Torsen's daughter turns the plates over to a museum. Aside from an action-packed, fast-moving plot, Leaving Protection is also filled with bits of information about the history of Alaska and salmon fishing, making this a worthwhile read. Highly Recommended. 2004, Harper Collins Children's Books, 192pp., $15.99 hc. Ages 11 up.

Edgar H. Thompson (The ALAN Review, Winter 2004 (Vol. 31, No. 2))
Born in a floathouse on the back bay of Port Protection, Alaska, 16-year-old Robbie McDaniel needs to earn money. He hops a ride to the fishing village of Craig in hopes of finding work as a deck hand on a fishing boat. After finding no opportunities, he finds a job with Tor Torgensen on The Storm Petrel. At first, they are highly successful at catching King Salmon, the most lucrative of the fish in season. Then a lull sets in, and Robbie finds out that, in addition to fishing, Tor is also searching for plaques buried by Nikolai Rezanov of the Russian-American Company who intended to claim parts of Alaska for Russia. When not fishing, Tor is an antique dealer, and he has come into possession of Rezanov's journal, which details where the plaques were buried. The plaques are valuable, and by finding and selling them, Tor can secure his retirement. During the fishing lull, Tor becomes obsessed with the search for the plaques, and Robbie worries that Tor may not go back to port. In the end, an intense change in the weather and the accompanying storm push the story in roller-coaster fashion to the exciting conclusion. Stylistically, Hobbs wastes no words, and the intensity created by the tight word choice convinces me that fishing for King Salmon could be the highlight of anyone's life. As usual, Hobbs integrates the results of the meticulous, historical research that he always does and, as a result, enhances the narrative flow. Robbie as a responsible young adult decision-maker is an excellent role model for young adults. This is a fine book in the Hobbs tradition. Category: Fiction/Alaska Fishing Adventure. YA--Young Adult. 2004, HarperCollins Children's Books, 192 pp., $15.99. Ages young adult.Abingdon, Virginia

Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, May 2004 (Vol. 57, No. 9))
Robbie Daniels can’t wait to earn some cash--a commodity in short supply in Port Protection, Alaska, where his parents scrape out a living through fishing and sheer ingenuity. Robbie signs on with gruff Tor Torsen, a loner renowned for his luck catching king salmon in the outer waters. Back problems force Torsen into taking on a hand, and Robbie’s experience on his parents’ smaller boat is enough to get him aboard Torsen’s Storm Petrel. Once they’re out for the brief season, Robbie discovers that fishing is only part of the agenda; Torsen intends to secure his fortune by searching for possession plaques--Russian land-claim markers buried along the coast in the late 1700s--and selling them on the black market. A strong sixteen-year-old like Robbie will certainly be useful doing the grunt work (and helping bring in the bumper salmon catch), but he just might, Robbie fears, be expendable when his contribution to the job is over. Hobbs keeps readers guessing whether Torsen is a moody fisherman with an odd hobby, a ruthless treasure hunter with a gift for fishing, or a sad old man whose greed has driven him over the edge. All the requisite adventure story elements are in place, from the corny-but-cool patter ("There was sea salt in his tangled beard and piracy in his voice") to a raging storm and a desperate run for harbor, but Hobbs excels at conveying the claustrophobia and rising tension between two overworked, overtired, overambitious men who have just two weeks to grab their dreams and make it home alive. (Reviewed from galleys) Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2004, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2004, HarperCollins, 192p, $16.89 and $15.99. Grades 5-9.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2004)
Alaskan native Robbie Daniels signs on with crotchety fisherman Tor Torsen for the salmon season, not realizing the old man also wants his help hunting for items buried by eighteenth-century Russian explorers and now worth a fortune. Robbie, who can't quite trust his employer's intentions, is a sympathetic narrator in this often exciting and colorfully detailed novel. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2004, HarperCollins, 178pp, $15.99, $16.89. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.

Kathleen Roseboom (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 17, No. 3))
Robbie Daniels leaves his family in Port Protection to go salmon fishing for the summer to raise money for future schooling and some other necessities. Robbie finds out that fishing can go from morning to evening with not only the catching, but also the cleaning and making sure that the fish are properly stored on ice. Along with fishing, a fierce summer storm that only the waters between Russia and Alaska can produce tests Robbie and the captain to the limit. The search for old Russian markers make this adventure more than Robbie bargained for. This book may be named LEAVING PROTECTION, but it has more than one meaning--leaving home and his parents, leaving the shoreline and the safety of the Alaskan coast, and being in the employ of a temperamental captain who has more than fishing on his mind. It is also a book of passage, survival, and common sense along with testing the knowledge that he has gained from parents and others. I highly recommend this book because it has so many facets to the story. Will Hobbs has again written a book that challenges the senses to compete with nature and to place oneself in Robbie’s shoes. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades 5 and up. 2004, HarperCollins, 178p., $16.89. Ages 10 up.

Tim Brennan (VOYA, October 2004 (Vol. 27, No. 4))
This story follows young Robbie Daniels of Port Protection, Alaska, as he somehow hustles his way onto the boat of Tor Torsen, one of the most successful and cantankerous fisherman in Southeast Alaska. Tor, of course, has a secret, and when Robbie finds out, he fears that his knowledge might cost him his life. The problem here, though, is that all of the tension is contrived. Tor never once does anything overtly harmful to Robbie other than working him like a dog, which is actually quite realistic for this line of work. Even so, Robbie is almost obsessed with the idea that Tor might try to take his life, yet the reader never feels that this threat is real and the core of the story never really takes root as a result. A catchy title and Hobbs's name on the cover are not enough to make this book stand out from the crowd. This favored writer clearly knows life on a salmon troller when the big fish are running, but overall this effort is very predictable and offers little to the reader aside from a few spurts of action along with some tidbits of local history. Hobbs fans will certainly read and enjoy it enough, but for the rest it is sadly a middling yarn with little real drama and no surprises. VOYA CODES: 2Q 3P M J (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2004, HarperCollins, 192p., $15.99. Ages 11 to 15.