Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a story of survival. Brian begins the book as a fairly average kid. His parents have recently divorced and he is feeling betrayed, and mad, and uncertain. On the way to the airport his mother gives him a hatchet. He’s embarrassed, but attaches it to his belt. The small plane pilot has a heart attack and dies mid-flight. Brian steers the plane away from the treetops and manages to land in a lake. The plane has veered so far off course that the rescue planes can’t find him. Brian finds himself alone in the wilderness with only his hatchet and himself as resources.
As the story progresses, Brian draws on everything he’s ever seen on TV, everything teachers have told him, and everything he’s ever read in a book. He makes a lot of mistakes, but he learns from them. The reader is drawn into his adventure and survival as he learns to make a fire, build a shelter, catch fish, gather berries, and look out for dangers. He encounters bears, wolves, an insane moose, a skunk, and a porcupine. I like that the author shows us Brian’s problem solving as he faces so many challenges. Fifty-four days later, Brian is rescued, but changed forever in both physical and mental ways.
There are sequels to this book where Brian braves other adventures. The sequels include Brian’s Winter, where he returns to lake and attempts to survive the winter, and The River, where he is not only responsible for himself, but for another traveler with serious injuries. In Brian’s Return he is back at the lake, having decided he’d rather face the challenges of the wilderness than the challenges of being a teenager.
Hatchet is a Newbery Honor book. It’s a great book for anyone, but I particularly love it for preteen and teenage boys. Men have also been known to enjoy this book of survival. It makes a great read aloud book to share, and is also a great selection for reluctant readers.
Also See:
The City of Ember – Jeanne DuPrau
The Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan