Hatchet

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen


Citation: Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007.

Plot:
Brian is on a plane headed to Canada to visit his father, who has recently divorced from his mother. Aside from physical baggage, Brian is also carrying with him emotional baggage in the form of a secret. Brian knows a secret; a secret about the divorce. During the flight the pilot has a heart attack and dies, leaving Brian to crash land the plane near a lake in the Canadian Wilderness. Brian tries to figure out how to survive, using only what was available on the plane. Does Brian ever make it to his dad?

Review: 
I tried to step out of my box with some of these books. I am a funny, fantasy person. I enjoy hilarious, maybe even scary, books. Complex, emotional, dramatic books don't really appeal to me. I remember my class in 5th or 6th grade read Hatchet, and somehow I pretty much missed the ENTIRE THING. I even remember this happening often; the class would read a book, but somehow *I* wouldn't read the book (cough Catcher in the Rye cough). Anyways, re-reading it the book was an easy read. Not my favorite genre, but I can see how it would appeal to tweens and teens. However, if I really think about it, I'm definitely creeped out by a boy surviving in the wilderness with a dead body and an axe. I mean, similar to My Side of the Mountain, the whole tween on their own thing disturbs me. I'm surprised the pilot didn't come back as a zombie and attack Brian (or something). 

Age: 9 and up

Similar Titles:


My Side of the Mountain
Indian in the Cupboard
Bridge to Terabithia
The Giver