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HatchetPaperback – December 26, 2006
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Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson, haunted by his secret knowledge of his mother’s infidelity, is traveling by single-engine plane to visit his father for the first time since the divorce. When the plane crashes, killing the pilot, the sole survivor is Brian. He is alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother had given him as a present.
At first consumed by despair and self-pity, Brian slowly learns survival skills—how to make a shelter for himself, how to hunt and fish and forage for food, how to make a fire—and even finds the courage to start over from scratch when a tornado ravages his campsite. When Brian is finally rescued after fifty-four days in the wild, he emerges from his ordeal with new patience and maturity, and a greater understanding of himself and his parents.
- Print length192 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level5 - 9
- Lexile measure1020L
- Dimensions5.13 x 0.6 x 7.63 inches
- PublisherSimon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication dateDecember 26, 2006
- ISBN-101416936475
- ISBN-13978-1416936473
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What's it about?
A thirteen-year-old boy must learn to survive in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash leaves him as the sole survivor.Popular highlight
My name is Brian Robeson and I am thirteen years old and I am alone in the north woods of Canada.3,555 Kindle readers highlighted thisPopular highlight
Maybe it was always that way, discoveries happened because they needed to happen.2,340 Kindle readers highlighted thisPopular highlight
And the last thought he had that morning as he closed his eyes was: I hope the tornado hit the moose.1,990 Kindle readers highlighted this
From the Publisher
![Hatchet](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/02c0f4f2-e46b-4934-992f-185bb9a858f1.__CR0,0,970,300_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg)
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Editorial Reviews
Review
--Kirkus Reviews,starred review
"Riveting."
--Booklist,starred review
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition (December 26, 2006)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 192 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1416936475
- ISBN-13 : 978-1416936473
- Reading age : 9+ years, from customers
- Lexile measure : 1020L
- Grade level : 5 - 9
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.13 x 0.6 x 7.63 inches
- Best Sellers Rank:#221 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Go on a thrilling adventure with Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Beth Chaddick
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Hatchet: 30th Anniversary Edition (Brian's Saga Book 1)
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About the author
![Gary Paulsen](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/313l0DRU9VL._SY600_.jpg)
Gary Paulsen is one of the most honored writers of contemporary literature for young readers. He has written more than one hundred book for adults and young readers, and is the author of three Newberry Honor titles: Dogsong, Hatchet, and The Winter Room. He divides his time among Alaska, New Mexico, Minnesota, and the Pacific.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the plot great, intense, and shocking. They also describe the book service as awesome and easy. Readers find the storyline exciting to the end, revealing much about Brian's past, thoughts, and grit. They say the themes are one of survival but also one of growth and deep soul searching. Customers say the book is great for a certain age group and a perfect way to connect on an academic level. They find the writing quality readable, has lots of description, and generates many conversations in their household. Customers also mention the content as nice and teaching survival life skills.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book has a great storyline and teaches perseverance and self-reliance. They also say it's a good what-if survival book.
"...His only tools are his brain and the hatchet.Really good."Read more
"...It was a good book.(Henry) When he saw the dead pilot in the plane after the storm. (Ayana) I like how he pulled the porcupine quills out.... "Read more
"...I think the book teaches two main things:Perseverance and Self reliance.The book is written at the Middle Schoolers vocabulary level.... "Read more
"...This book isdefinitely a great read!"Read more
Customers find the storyline exciting, adventurous, and classic. They also say the book is engrossing, fast-moving, and passionate.
"...To sum it up Brian was a great,passionate,lanky, young, depressed 12-year-old boy stranded in the Canadian wilderness after him and his pilot... "Read more
"Classic story,good read. I read as adult although target for >age 12.... "Read more
"...Hatchet has adventure and suspense– you will always want to know what is going to happen next!... "Read more
"...A lot of trial and error. But as the story progresses, itstarts to get very interesting.... "Read more
Customers find the book readable, simple to understand, and excellent for middle schoolers. They also appreciate the detailed description and say it generates discussion in English. Customers also say the book is not long and exciting.
"Loved the detailed descriptionof Brian's gut cherry experience. (Max) It was funny when he got jumped by the moose.... "Read more
"Classic story,good read.I read as adult although target for >age 12.... "Read more
"...I know that" Hatchet "is agreat recommended read for reluctant readersfor whatever reasons.... "Read more
"...Not long.189 pages. You can read it in a day or so. It just did not hook me. Which is sad because my nephews love this book.... "Read more
Customers find the book appropriate for a certain age group, providing important insight for children who may have problems. They also say it's an excellent teaching book without being preachy, a perfect way to connect on an academic level, and a great unit study for educating homeschoolers.
"...They also unanimously suggest that 6-7th graders are theperfect age for enjoying the book."Read more
"Anexcellent book for Middle School kids,especially Boys. I think the book teaches two main things: Perseverance and Self reliance.... "Read more
"...He loves the outdoors. This story is still agreat read for kids today."Read more
"This is agreat book for kidsin the middle school range. A classic tale of survival in the Alaskan wilderness. "Read more
Customers find the plot of the book great, intense, and shocking. They also say the book is an excellent intro that explains some details and explains what might have happened. Readers also mention that the ending is perfect, and the book has a gripping beginning.
"Hatchet is a novel that will appeal to many people who love adventure,action,and crazy scenarios.... "Read more
"...The epilog was a nice follow up. Itexplains some detailsand explains what might have happened. "Read more
"...As other reviewers have alluded to, at points thestory is told in a rather simplistic wayand has a very distracting and rather odd repetitive... "Read more
"my friend and myself bought these books and they aretruly great storyline."Read more
Customers find the themes in the book good, inspiring, and captivate adults and children alike. They say the book has a great message about how to handle tough situations. Readers also say it helps them bond through reading and achieves it without pompous moralizing.
"...The book also hasvery many lessonsthat need to be learned in life. "Read more
"...It is a quick read and youcan learn some things about survival skills.I passed it on to another grandchild. Worth the read. "Read more
"...problems of the parents and the attempted suicide in avery positive and understanding wayand is definitely not a negative, but rather an important... "Read more
"I am so impressed with Gary Paulsen's books! Theysomehow captivate adults and children alike.... "Read more
Customers are satisfied with the book service. They mention that it came quickly and as described, and was packaged good.
"Product was packaged good.Exactly as I expected "Read more
"Fast safe delivery"Read more
"My son has been wanting this book! Good price,shipped quickly!"Read more
"Excellent servicesand faster delivery. Five stars "Read more
Customers are mixed about the pacing. Some find the book captivating, fast-moving, and engrossing, while others say it's repetitive, boring, and slow at the beginning. They also say the sentences go on and on. Overall, some customers feel the book is unrealistic, simple, and graceless.
"...On the other hand sometimes itseems a tad unrealistic.His luck swings back and forth from good to bad and back again.... "Read more
"...I wascompletely captivated all the way through,learning life lessons—willpower, patience, courage, and trust—right along with the main character,... "Read more
"...at points the story is told in a rather simplistic way and has avery distractingand rather odd repetitive style of narration.... "Read more
"...and after 54 days alone in the wilderness --completely unrealistic in its depiction-- he still never learns the most important lesson any person,... "Read more
Reviews with images
![Mixed feelings...spoilers](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
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Top reviews
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My students really enjoyed the book. We watched the movie that was based on the book (A Cry In the Wild) as a culminating activity. The students unanimously preferred the book. They also unanimously suggest that 6-7th graders are the perfect age for enjoying the book.
The point is: What new thing can I say about such a book? The answer is probably nothing with the point being that Amazon allows each of its customers an individual voice, despite how many there might be.
As a children's librarian (including those middle school children), I know that "Hatchet" is a great recommended read for reluctant readers for whatever reasons. Why haven't I read this book, I continued to ask myself. So--this summer I asked my great-niece and -nephew, 12 and 10, if we could all read and discuss this book? All agreed, no one finished. Here's how the first couple of chapters go: Brian, aged 13, is flying to a remote area in Northern Canada to stay with his dad. Because the area is so remote, a private plane must be hired. That means one pilot, one passenger in a tiny two-seater. Then, as it so happens from time to time in the real world--out of nowhere, the pilot has a heart attack and dies. In a rush of panic, Brian takes over and flies the plane until fuel runs out. Then he must land. Therein lies the difficulty. With so many lakes and rivers in the Canadian wilderness, where he is, at that point and moment in space and time, reveals an unsatisfactory water bed, but he must land anyway. Water is like concrete to a flying object on impact. Brian hits his head and wrenches his whole body in the crash, but he makes it out and swims to shore in icy water.
Now that's an exciting beginning. Who wouldn't want to read further, but I didn't. Finally, when I discovered that none of us had finished the book, I picked it up again and continued reading. At exactly that point begins one incredible episode after the other in Brian's personal and up close experience with a life threatening adventure. A city boy, Brian knows nothing about survival skills or even simple camping. What resources he calls on are two: television programs and a teacher's mantra that each of us is the person to most rely on.
As an aside, Paulsen spent a few nights camping in his backyard, using stones and sticks to start a fire. Finally, his wife asked what in the world was he doing? (I think this is just a neat story to relate about the background for his book and not really true.) He replied, "Trying to start a fire." "Well, why don't you just use matches?" she asked. "I don't have any," he responded.
And neither did Brian, so the description of his efforts to start a fire ring true--because they are. In his two month sojourn (not intentional, mind you), Brian meets a bear, fool birds, chokeberries, a crazed elk, rabbits, a tornado, and a continuing incredible (but believable) array of obstacles and milestones and little victories.
Brian fully expected to be rescued within 24 hours until he remembered how off-course he probably flew the plane himself. Hours turned into days, days into weeks, and.... I wish I could comment on the ending because I have some things to say, but in whatever subtle way I said it, I would reveal spoilers. Allow me this: I had been right there with Brian the whole way. The ending stunned me. I mean it--I was stunned!
Because of the ending I began researching what else Paulsen had written, and discovered more Brian books. I cannot say anything about them either, but I've ordered them for my school library.
Now I know why I can recommend this book to reluctant readers--and of course, anyone who loves a good story!! Hatchet? Didn't I mention it? It's really not the hatchet that saves Brian for so long--it is Brian himself wielding the hatchet. This book is definitely a great read!
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Het verhaal van het boek is leuk en leerzaam, ondanks dat er weinig dialogen in zitten. Heel soms valt de schrijver in herhaling van bepaalde zinsdelen maar om Engels te leren vond ik het niet storend.
Zeker aan te bevelen voor kinderen vanaf 10/11 jaar. Maar ook voor volwassenen...
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