Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Bibliography
Paulsen, G. (1987). Hatchet. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

195 pages

Plot
Brian Robeson knows The Secret: The Secret which caused the break up with his parents, The Secret which he has yet to reveal. Plagued by The Secret, Brian boards a plane to visit his father in the remote Canadian Wilderness. However, while flying a small passenger plane, Brian’s pilot has a heart attack, veering the plane off course and crash landing. Luckily, Brian is able to steer the plane into a lake, preventing his death. This though, is the least of his problems, as Brian is forced to survive in the Canadian Wilderness. With the weather, food, shelter, and mortality constant reminders of his change of circumstances, can Brian stay alive?

Review
Hatchet is a realistic survival novel. Paulsen does not sugar coat Brian’s circumstances or his many attempts at trying to stay alive. It is through this realism, that Paulsen succeeds. Contrasted between his initial worries, having to survive in a Canadian Wilderness with little chances of being saved alters Brian’s life as well as opens his eyes of what is important. He is no longer plagued by the secret but rather a means of surviving and through that himself. The book allows for readers to become empathetic to what Brian is going through. Paulsen’s writing reinforces the idea that circumstances can greatly change a person’s perception of survival, family, and day-to-day living.

Genre
Survival Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level
This book would appeal to readers in 6th through 8th grade.

Similar Content
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson
Other books by Gary Paulsen

Personal thoughts
After reading this, My Side of the Mountain and Touching Spirit Bear, all of which I thought well represented Survival Fiction for tweens, I found Hatchet to be the most realistic. In many ways, Brian’s experiences in the Canadian Wilderness mirror what most tweens would have to go through in order to survive. Paulsen’s ability to reflect the fear and simple necessities of life produce a harrowing account without being too contextually graphic.

Subjects/themes
Survival
Self Awareness
Family Life
Emergencies

Awards
Newbery Honor Book

Series information
This book is followed by four sequels: The River, Brian’s Winter, Brian’s Return, and Brian’s Hunt.

Character names/descriptions
Brian: A 13 year-old boy who has crashed in the middle of the Canadian Wilderness. Brian is forced to survive on his own.

Annotation
How would you survive if the plane you were on crashed in the middle of nowhere?