Hatchet

Author: Gary Paulson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Copyright: 1987
Pages: 195
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 5/10
Blogger: Cookie Monster

Brian is 13 years old and he flies from the Hamptons in New York to somewhere in Canada to visit his father. While he is in the plane the captain has a heart attack. The plane crashes into a lake in Canada and Brian forces his way out. He is hurt, but nothing is broken. While he is trying to recover he falls asleep and has flashbacks of his mother and the secret of his parent’s divorce.

Brian has many adventures on his L shaped island. He stayed there for 54 days. During this time, he taught himself how to make a fire, how to catch fish, how to kill birds, how to protect himself, and how to cook on a fire. He does everything with his hatchet, which was a present from his motherTowards the end of his stay on the island, there is a tornado. Everything was destroyed, but the plane in the lake becomes visible. He spends days getting into the plane and getting to a survival bag. He again uses his hatchet. He pulls out the survival bag and finds dried food, soap, a rifle, and an emergency transmitter. He turns it on and off and then leaves it on and walks away.

Even though I didn't really like this book, I kept on reading just to find out what would happen next. The ending was weird and disappointing. The whole book was a bit disappointing. This is a good book for readers who like a living adventure.