"The Hatchet" by Gary Paulson

Paper Summary:

"The Hatchet" is an adventure about a young boy's survival in the Canadian wilderness. The writer explains how Brian, the protagonist in the story, is faced with many challenging situation that require maturity and strength. Paulson's book thrives on themes of survival, courage, self-discovery, and hope. It shows that through conscious detail, Paulson successfully integrates positive learning experiences about survival in nature into a believable story that is well suited for younger readers.

From the Paper:

"Paulson focuses on the theme of courage by constantly placing Brian in situations that test his courage. Brian's first test is landing the plane. Brian witnesses the pilot of the plane suffering a heart attack and although Brian might not have known what was happening at first, he did know it was something bad and it was up to him to take charge of things. This scene is foreshadowed when the pilot innocently lets him put his hands on the controls of the plane. While trying to guide the plane, it runs out of fuel and lands in a lake. Brian's trip to see his father has suddenly turned into an a frightening experience. Surrounded by water, Brian's courage is further tested as he has to find his way out of the crashed plane. By placing Brian in a situation that demands quick-thinking, Paulson is showing the reader how a courageous person responds to a dangerous situation."

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