Module 4/SLIS 5420/June 29-July 5

HATCHET

by

Gary Paulsen

Bibliography

Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. Simon Pulse, 1987. ISBN: 978-1-41693-646-6

Summary

Hatchet is the story of 13-year-old Brian Robeson's survival in the Canadian wilderness. Having lived through a plane crash en route to spending the summer with his father in the northern Canadian oil fields, he is forced to rely on his wits, common sense and survival skills discovered by trial-and-error. Brian's "experiments" in existing alongside the forces of nature supply the adventures experienced in each chapter. His one tool is a small hatchet, a gift from his mother. The hatchet becomes symbolic of Brian's struggle to survive and is a constant companion as the main character evolves from boy to man. Underlying the struggle of survival, however, is the personal conflict of the knowledge he possesses regarding his parent's recent divorce and the burden of whether to tell what he knows, "the secret".

A Page from My Book

Hatchet is a must-read for middle school students and is an excellent example of realistic fiction. Many students will identify with Brian's personal struggle of coping with a secret knowledge and difficult reality relating to a parent's divorce. There are lessons to be learned through Brian. Most importantly, real strength comes from within and in the words of one of Brian's English teachers, "YOU are the best thing you have." I highly recommend this book as a coming-of-age story that focuses on the importance of self in regard to taking charge of one's destiny. Brian's strength of character is inspiring and not soon forgotten. Brian's story is continued in the four novels The River, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return and Brian's Hunt.

Reviews/Awards

* "Plausible, taut, this (survival) story is spellbinding". - Kirkus Reviews

* "This is a heart-stopping story: it seems that at every moment Brian is forced to face a life and death decision, and every page makes readers wonder at the density of descriptive detail Paulsen has expertly woven together. Poetic texture and realistic events are combined to create something beyond adventure, a book that plunges readers into the cleft of the protagonist's experience." - Publisher's Weekly

* Newbery Honor Book

* ALA Notable Book

Suggested Activities

Have the students empty their pockets. Are the contents such that anything could be used for survival? Have a panel discussion as to what would be necessary for survival.

Create a survival quiz based on the events of Hatchet for students to complete prior to reading the novel.

Invite the school nurse to instruct the students as to how to treat shock victims and teach/review basic first-aid skills, etc.

Likewise, invite a local pilot to instruct the students as to how a flight plan is filed, it's purpose, etc. Perhaps a small group would be able to visit a local airport for a "tour" of a small plane such as the Cessna in Hatchet.

View the movie, A Cry In the Wild, (based on Hatchet) after a group has read the novel. Compare and contrast the book and movie.