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A review by inkdrinkers
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“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.”
Brian is a normal thirteen year old boy, on his way to visit his father after his parent's split - when the worst happens. The pilot of the small bush plane he's on has a heart attack and dies in the middle of the flight, leaving Brian to survive crashing in the Canadian wilderness, by himself save for a hatchet strapped to his waist.
I did not remember how freaking intense this book was. I think I read it fairly young, potentially in middle school because it was popular and I read just about everything I could get my hands on, but it doesn't quite register as a child just how WILD this plot is. As an adult, I marveled at the way Paulsen strung this story together, keeping it realistic to what a mostly city-dwelling kid could do to keep himself alive. This book covers so much in barely 200 pages, but what I enjoyed most is that Paulsen didn't shy away from the mental health effects of being stranded in this situation.
My only gripe is the beginning is particularly slow, but it does a decent job of establishing Brian before the crash, compared to who he is at the end of the book. Overall, this was a good read and I'm glad I tapped through it for some research for a project I'm considering writing!
Content warnings: Death (witnessed), Animal death (multiple), Injury/Injury detail (not too heavy on gore), Vomit, Blood, Suicide attempt, Infidelity (mentions in regards to his parents), Suicidal thoughts, Self harm (blood mention)
Brian is a normal thirteen year old boy, on his way to visit his father after his parent's split - when the worst happens. The pilot of the small bush plane he's on has a heart attack and dies in the middle of the flight, leaving Brian to survive crashing in the Canadian wilderness, by himself save for a hatchet strapped to his waist.
I did not remember how freaking intense this book was. I think I read it fairly young, potentially in middle school because it was popular and I read just about everything I could get my hands on, but it doesn't quite register as a child just how WILD this plot is. As an adult, I marveled at the way Paulsen strung this story together, keeping it realistic to what a mostly city-dwelling kid could do to keep himself alive. This book covers so much in barely 200 pages, but what I enjoyed most is that Paulsen didn't shy away from the mental health effects of being stranded in this situation.
My only gripe is the beginning is particularly slow, but it does a decent job of establishing Brian before the crash, compared to who he is at the end of the book. Overall, this was a good read and I'm glad I tapped through it for some research for a project I'm considering writing!
Content warnings: Death (witnessed), Animal death (multiple), Injury/Injury detail (not too heavy on gore), Vomit, Blood, Suicide attempt, Infidelity (mentions in regards to his parents), Suicidal thoughts, Self harm (blood mention)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death
Moderate: Blood, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm