Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Study Notes

Hatchet is a 19-chapter fictional novel written by Gary Paulsen and published in 1986.
The novel is a survival story about a 13-year-old boy named Brian Robeson who finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with only a hatchet.

Gary Paulsen was inspired to write Hatchet by his own survival experiments and tendencies.
Paulsen had a difficult upbringing with parents who suffered from alcoholism and poverty.
He learned to forage for food and acquired other survival skills from a young age.

The story begins with Brian Robeson, a 13-year-old boy, who knows "The Secret" about his mother's affair, which led to his parents' divorce.
Brian boards a single-engine plane to visit his father in the Canadian oil fields, but the pilot has a heart attack and dies in flight.
Brian crash-lands the plane into a lake and escapes with only his clothes and the hatchet his mother gave him.
He must survive in the wilderness, learning to forage for food, make a shelter, and start a fire.
Brian faces various challenges, including a tornado, a porcupine and moose attack, and a struggle to retrieve a survival pack from the plane wreckage.

The first half of the novel emphasizes the theme of positive thinking and perseverance.
The second half explores the theme of harmony with nature, as Brian learns to appreciate and respect the natural world.

The novel is a thrilling tale of survival that raises questions about the reader's ability to cope in similar situations.
Paulsen uses the literary device of flashbacks to reveal Brian's backstory and character development.

Hatchet received the Newbery Medal and was adapted into a film.
The novel's success inspired Paulsen to write other books in the Hatchet series, cementing his reputation as a well-known author.