Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Paulsen, G. (1987). Hatchet (p. 208). New York: Bradbury Press.

Characters: Brian, Mother, Father, Terry, Jim, Uncle Carter

Themes: Survival, Nature, Manhood, Family, Adventure

Summary:

Brian is a 13 year old boy who goes to visit his dad in Canada. His parents are recently divorce and he finds out about his mother’s affair (the “secret”). The plane crashes into the lake because the pilot (Jim) had a heart attack and died.   Brian uses the hatchet his mom gave him to free himself from drowning. Brian is now stranded and hungry. He uses his hatchet to hunt for food, to construct shelter and to make tools. His attitude fluctuates from a can-do to attempting suicide. Brian has his trusty hatchet by side throughout the book.

A tornado hits the area and bring the plane up from the bottom of the lake.  Brian remembers about the pilot’s emergency survival pack, where he finds food, cooking tools, fire starters, and a transmitter. Brian plays with the transmitter but it seems to be broken. As he is eating, a plane lands and rescues him. His story of survival hits the news and his parents have reconciled. His father leaves and his mother continues with her “secret”. Brian never got a chance to tell his father of this “secret”.    

Teachers can use this book and have their students come up with plans of actions if they were in Brian's situation. You can have come up with items they will need for survival.