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Hatchet  By  cover art

Hatchet

By: Gary Paulsen
Narrated by: Peter Coyote
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Publisher's summary

Newbery Award-winner Gary Paulsen's best-known book comes to audio in this breathless, heart-gripping drama about a boy pitted against the wilderness with only a hatchet and a will to live.

On his way to visit his recently divorced father in the Canadian mountains, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is the only survivor when the single-engine plane crashes. His body battered, his clothes in shreds, Brian must now stay alive in the boundless Canadian wilderness.

More than a survival story, Hatchet is a tale of tough decisions. When all is stripped down to the barest essentials, Brian discovers some stark and simple truths. Self-pity doesn't work. Despair doesn't work. And if Brian is to survive physically as well as mentally, he must discover courage.

©1992 Gary Paulsen (P)1992 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, An Imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"Brian Robeson, the sole passenger in a single-engine plane, is on his way to visit his father in the Canadian oil fields when his pilot suffers a heart attack. Alone and desperate, Brian guides the plane to a landing on an isolated lake. In a straightforward but compelling narration, Coyote captures Brian's terror, anguish and exultation as he learns to survive alone in the wilderness.... Musical effects underscore an air of suspense, mystery and dread." (AudioFile magazine)

"A dramatic, heart-stopping story." (Publishers Weekly)

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What listeners say about Hatchet

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fantastic

great description almost makes you feel like you're actually there read the actual book before it was great then and is great now

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Perfect

It’s simply the best book to have ever been created. As of it has been sculpted by the hands of God himself.

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Nice book

I liked the book
I liked the book it was very good book yes yes

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Excellent reafing

I loved this book. It was beautifully read and the story kept me on the edge of my seat.

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Love this book!

I read Hatchet years ago, and it's one of those survival tales that sticks with you and makes you think. The fact that the main character - really the only character - is 13 yo, and has no survival skills, makes it even more fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed the narration, and have already purchased the sequel (which I own in print) in audiobook format.

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Fantastic Book

I heard the title of this book while listening to the podcast Meat Eater and thought I would give it a try. I absolutely loved the book and can't wait for my children to read it. Surviving in the woods was always my childhood dream of adventure, just not in the same way he came about to his.

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5 star story and reader

This book and reader were great! It was so fun to listen to with my son!

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I'm happy to have revisited this tale as an adult.

I first heard this story in fourth grade and remember enjoying it. Now I'm going back to listen and it's really a great tale of bravery and ingenuity that is actually quite inspiring.

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Memories

When my son was 11 I enjoyed reading books to all my children but my son always got to pick the adventure books. I read him this book, hatchet, and over the years. We’ve talked about it numerous times and how we would survive. We really enjoyed it and it was fun to revisit. My son is now 44 and has read it to his two children very enjoyable read.

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The hatchet

It was a great book I really liked the gritty survival story ten out of ten

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