A Review of Gary Paulsen’s Novel Hatchet

Brian Robeson was on his way to visit his father for the summer up in the northern woods of Canada, he flew from New York to Canada in a small aircraft with only himself and the pilot. During the flight Brian reminisces the fights between his parents, and the many long talks about divorce him and the lawyer shared. After much silence the pilot, seeing how closely Brian is glimpsing at the controls, offers him a chance to fly the plane, at first Brian declines but is later persuaded by the pilot. Suddenly the pilot had pains in his shoulder, and the plane jerks, the pilot continues to have increasing pains.

Brian is recalling the time before he left for Canada, he remembers his mother giving him his hatchet to carry with him, at first he thought it was stupid but he humored her and attached it to his belt. Brian is then snapped out of his memory daze, and realizes what is really going on, the pilot tries to use the radio and call for help but he is jolted back into the seat. After the pilots heart attack has ended, and brain understand what has just happened before his eyes, the pilot has just died from a heart attack. The plane continues flying with no assistance, Brian finally coming to terms that he must fly the plane, but he has no idea where he is or how to land the plane, he tries the radio but loses the signal. After awhile the plane starts to go down, Brian realizes he must land the plane in one of the lakes, as there is no flat land for hundreds of miles, he prepares and the plane drives into a lake.

Brian awakens, and is shocked at his survival, and then remembers the pilot, but through all the sadness he keeps positive that rescue will come very shortly. Brian flashes back to when the pilot was having his heart attack, the plane jerked many ways, for all he knows his hundreds of miles off the route the search planes were looking for. Brian sets out to keep himself calm, get food and make shelter. Brian first finds a cave in which he makes his shelter then he finds berries, its his first meal alone in the wilderness, but he his awakened in the night when he is violently ill, the berries he now called Gut cherries. The next day he finds raspberries and his hunger has subsided. That night he wakes up and senses something in his shelter, he throws his hatchet at it but it misses, the porcupine they impales him with many painful quills. Its then Brian realizes he must use the hatchet to make fire. After many attempts, he finally makes fire and is very cautious at getting the fires to stay going. After this Brian finds other food, at first its turtle eggs, then he makes s spear out of wood so he can catch fish. His first meat was something he would never forget. After many many days alone, Brian hears a plane fly near him but they turn around before they have a chance to see Brian. He is upset but sets forth to making the best out of this, he reinforces his shelter, putting his food up high, and even making a bow and arrows. He shots his first bird and is overjoyed.

Order custom essay A Review of Gary Paulsen’s Novel Hatchet with free plagiarism report

450+ experts on 30 subjects Starting from 3 hours delivery

Get Essay Help

Brian still realizes sooner or later he will have to find more food. One day he was by the lake and a moose charges him over and over again, throwing him into the water. Days pass as Brian gains strength, he eats and he recalls all that has happened. Then one day he sees the tail of the plane sticking out of the water, and remembers there is a survival pack in the plane, but how will he get down in the plane and not drown. He builds a raft and after a grueling amount of paddling he reaches the plane. He decides to start chopping a whole in the tail so he can go through it to get the pack. But while hes doing this he loses the hatchet in the water, he furiously tries to reach the bottom of the lake he finally grasps the hatchet and comes back up to the surface and resumes chopping.

He finishes and slips inside the plane, the pack being at the front of the plane, brain sees the pilot and starts throwing up in the water, he grabs the pack and swims to air. He stays there for a little bit, processing what he just seen. He swims back and starts going through the pack. Hes so happy, theirs dozens of dozens of food and drinks, that will last him a long time, but he must eat them sparingly. He had matches, and a sleeping bag, a gun and pots. Hours later Brian decides he will have a feast. His first feast, he starts to cook a steak and potatoes dinner with orange juice and pie. Just then a rescue plan lads near the lake. Brian tries to process it, the man steps out of the plane and asks Brian if he was the boy that has been missing. Brian reply's " My name is Brian Robeson, would you like something to eat." After 54 days alone in the woods, Brian was rescued and was alive.

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Run a free check or have your essay done for you

Check my essay Hire Writer