Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Note: all middle grade fiction is reviewed by my ten-year old son, Alex.

Hatchet is about a thirteen year old boy named Brian Robeson. His parents are divorced, and he knows the secret to why after he saw something happen.

Now he is sitting in the co-pilot seat of a single engine plane to northern Canada to visit his father when a horrible event happens. The plane crashes into a lake after the pilot dies right next to Brian. All the sudden he’s alone in the Canadian wilderness with only a hatchet that his mom gave him. Not knowing what problems he will face. Will he survive?

I’m glad this happened in the summer because if this was in the winter I think he would die. But even so, he has to keep himself alive and there is no food or shelter. He had to eat berries that made him throw up, but then he figures out a way to get food. And he does some really smart things to protect himself.

There are many animal encounters—once he even got charged by a moose. And he ran into a bear while picking berries. One of his worst encounters was with a skunk, and he was temporarily blinded. And he smelled horrible for weeks. But he gets better and better at surviving and then there's another terrible thing he could not foresee.

Dreams of his REALLY help him out.

I rate this book 5 stars one of my favorite books. I loved seeing the ways Brian figured things out to keep himself from dying. I couldn't wait to find out the ending.

Buy HATCHET Here

*Purchasing a book through links provided will return 4%-10% of the purchase cost to the reviewer, which is then donated in full to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation. You can also can locate your local bookstore through indiebound.org.

If you enjoyed this review, please look for for my monthly newsletter with exciting new book recommendations! Sign up on the bottom of the home page.