Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a young adult novel of adventure and survival. Published in 1986 to critical acclaim, it was named a Newbery Honor Book in 1988.
Hatchet tells the harrowing story of 13-year-old Brian Robeson, who finds himself stranded in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. Brian's ordeal begins during a flight to visit his father in the Canadian oil fields, following his parents' divorce. Tragedy strikes when the pilot suffers a fatal heart attack, leaving Brian to crash-land the plane in a remote lake. With nothing but his clothing and a hatchet— a parting gift from his mother—Brian faces the daunting task of survival. Alone and equipped with minimal resources, he has no choice but to gather his resolve and survive. To make it through, Brian must confront not only the physical challenges of the wilderness but also his internal struggles stemming from his family's breakdown and a burdensome secret about his mother.
As the days pass, Brian learns to adapt to his surroundings. He masters the art of fire-making with his hatchet, forages for food, and constructs a makeshift shelter. His encounters with wildlife, ranging from a curious porcupine to menacing bears and wolves, test his resilience and ingenuity. A chance discovery of a survival pack in the submerged airplane shifts his fortunes, providing him with additional resources. However, it is his sheer willpower and newfound courage that enable him to persevere. Hatchet culminates with Brian's rescue, facilitated by an emergency transmitter found in the survival pack. Despite the extraordinary challenges, he emerges from the experience with a profound transformation.
Brian's story does not end with his rescue. Paulsen expands the tale through four sequels—The River, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt. Making up the Brian Saga series, these books explore Brians' further adventures in the wilderness and his life thereafter. Hatchet remains a popular work among young readers, celebrated for its gripping depiction of survival and self-discovery.
Themes
Survival in the wilderness
Personal growth and self-discovery
Adaptation and resilience in the face of adversity
Isolation and its psychological impacts
Reconciliation with personal and family issues
Man vs. nature conflict
The importance of resourcefulness and perseverance
Setting
Hatchet unfolds against the expansive and untamed backdrop of the Canadian wilderness. The 13-year-old protagonist, Brian Robeson, finds himself in this remote and unforgiving setting following a plane crash. He is en route to visit his father in the oil fields of Northern Canada for the summer when the pilot of his small prop plane suffers a fatal heart attack. Stranded and alone, Brian begins his tale of survival in a dense forest area, surrounding an L-shaped lake where the crash occurs.
The story is set in the mid-1980s, a time before cellular communication. This setting poses unique challenges for Brian, who must rely solely on his wits and the eponymous hatchet—a gift from his mother— to overcome the relentless obstacles presented by nature. The vast Canadian wilderness influences Brian’s actions and growth throughout the novel. The detailed descriptions of the area—from the flora and fauna to the changing weather patterns—immerse readers in Brian's ordeal as he learns to adapt to his surroundings, hunt for food, and create shelter. Through Gary Paulsen's storytelling, the remote Northern Canadian wilderness is depicted as both beautiful and brutal, a place where courage and resilience are essential for survival.
Paulsen's portrayal of the wilderness reflects a deep appreciation and respect for nature, presenting the setting as a pivotal element in Brian's journey of self-discovery and survival. Through the lens of a young boy's struggle, Hatchet explores the timeless themes of resilience, adaptability, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.
Characters
Brian Robeson: A 13-year-old boy who survives a plane crash and has to live in the Canadian wilderness.
The Pilot: Suffers a heart attack mid-flight, leading to the plane's crash. His death forces Brian to fend for himself.
Brian's Mother: Gave Brian the hatchet before he left, plays a significant role in his thoughts and motivations.
Brian's Father: Brian is flying to visit him in Canada when the plane crashes.
FAQs
What is the book about?
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a young adult wilderness survival novel. It follows the story of 13-year-old Brian Robeson, who is the sole survivor of a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness. Armed with only a hatchet, Brian must learn how to survive alone in the vast wilderness.
Who are the main characters?
The main character is Brian Robeson, a 13-year-old boy who finds himself stranded in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. Hatchet primarily focuses on Brian's journey and his struggle for survival.
What are the key events in the story?
The key events in Hatchet include the plane crash, Brian's attempts to find food and shelter, his encounters with various wildlife (including bears, wolves, and a moose), the discovery of the survival pack from the plane's tail, and his eventual rescue.
What challenges does Brian face?
Brian faces numerous challenges in the wilderness, such as finding food and water, building shelter, dealing with weather conditions (including a tornado), fending off dangerous animals, and battling loneliness and despair.
How does Brian develop as a character?
Throughout Hatchet, Brian develops significant survival skills and inner strength. He learns to be self-reliant, resourceful, and resilient, overcoming his initial self-pity and despair. The experience transforms him from a city boy into a skilled woodsman.
What themes are explored in the book?
Hatchet explores themes of survival, self-reliance, resilience, personal growth, and the human capacity for adaptation in extreme circumstances. It also touches on themes of family, divorce, and coming of age.
What is the significance of the hatchet?
The hatchet, given to Brian as a gift from his mother before the plane trip, becomes a crucial tool for Brian's survival. It helps him build shelter, hunt, and even start fires, symbolizing his resourcefulness and resilience in the face of adversity.
How does the book deal with Brian's personal struggles?
Hatchet explores Brian's inner struggles, including his feelings about his parents' divorce and his guilt over his mother's infidelity. His time in the wilderness provides him with an opportunity for self-reflection, personal growth, and finding inner strength.
How did the book perform critically and commercially?
Hatchet was a critical success, winning the 1988 Newbery Honor and being ranked as one of the Top 100 Children's Novels by School Library Journal in 2012. It has also been widely popular and influential in the young adult literature genre.
Are there any sequels or adaptations?
Yes, Gary Paulsen continued Brian's story in four more novels—The River, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt. Hatchet was also adapted into a film titled A Cry in the Wild in 1990.
Quotes
“‘'Patience’, he thought. 'So much of this was patience—waiting, and thinking and doing things right. So much of all this, so much of all living was patience and thinking.’”
“And the last thought he had that morning as he closed his eyes was: I hope the tornado hit the moose.”
“That's all it took to solve problems—just sense.”
“When he sat alone in the darkness and cried and was done, all done with it, nothing had changed. His leg still hurt, it was still dark, he was still alone and the self-pity had accomplished nothing.”
“He could not play the game without hope; could not play the game without a dream. They had taken it all away from him now, they had turned away from him and there was nothing for him now...He was alone and there was nothing for him.”
“The most important rule of survival was that feeling sorry for yourself didn’t work.”
“He could see it now. Oh, yes, all as he ran in the sun, his legs liquid springs.”
“I am full of tough hope.”
Quick facts
The author, Gary Paulsen, wrote the first draft of Hatchet in less than two weeks.
Paulsen's own experiences as an outdoorsman, including running the Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska, informed the detailed survival tactics described in Hatchet.
Paulsen himself experienced a "Hatchet moment" when he was forced to survive alone in the wilderness, which heavily influenced the realism of Brian's survival story.
Despite being fictional, many schools use Hatchet to teach young readers about survival skills and the importance of resilience and self-reliance.
Gary Paulsen decided to expand on Hatchet and write the subsequent books in the Brian's Saga series after receiving letters from fans asking what would happen to Brian if his story continued in different scenarios.
Hatchet has been translated into numerous languages, reflecting its universal appeal and the global interest in adventure and survival stories.
Paulsen's working title for Hatchet was Plane Crash, but he ultimately changed it to reflect the significance of the hatchet, both symbolically and practically, in Brian's survival.
The film adaptation, A Cry in the Wild, takes several creative liberties from the book but remains the most recognized adaptation of Gary Paulsen's work.
In 2012, Hatchet was ranked number 23 on School Library Journal's list of the Top 100 Children's Novels.
Hatchet received the Newbery Honor, one of the most prestigious awards in children’s literature, in 1988.
About the author
Gary Paulsen was an American author, acclaimed for his work in children's and young adult fiction, especially novels set against the backdrop of wilderness and coming-of-age stories. He has written more than 200 books, over 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, aimed primarily at a teenage audience. His most notable works include Hatchet and its four sequels (The River, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt), Dogsong, and The Winter Room. Three of his novels—Hatchet, Dogsong, and The Winter Room—were recognized as Newbery Honor books. In 1997, he received the prestigious Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association for his significant lifetime contribution to young adult literature.
Paulsen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1939. His early life was marked by adversity and adventure, which greatly influenced his writing. His parents struggled with alcoholism. When his father was deployed during World War II, he moved to Chicago with his mother. Later, he lived with relatives on a farm, experiencing both hardship and neglect. Despite these challenges, he developed a profound connection with nature and the ability to adapt, themes prevalent throughout his works. His adolescence was largely self-sufficient; he supported himself through various jobs and honed his survival skills. He briefly attended Bemidji State University and served in the US Army, experiences that eventually led him to New Mexico, a place he often called home.
Over his career, Paulsen's narratives often focused on the natural world, reflecting his critical views on technology and modern conveniences. His literature emphasized survival, not only in the physical sense but also through overcoming emotional and psychological adversities, drawing heavily from his own life experiences. Despite his success as an author, Paulsen lived modestly, spending his later years between Alaska, New Mexico, Minnesota, and the Pacific. An avid outdoorsman, he participated in the 1,150-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which inspired several of his books. He died at his home in Tularosa, New Mexico, on October 13, 2021.
