Hatchet (novel)

Hatchet is a 1986 Newbery Honor-winning coming-of-age survival novel written by Gary Paulsen. The story centers around thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson, who is the sole survivor of a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness. The pilot of the small plane, experiencing a heart attack, dies mid-flight, leaving Brian to crash the plane into a lake.

Equipped only with a hatchet his mother gave him before the trip, Brian must learn to survive in the harsh environment. He faces challenges such as finding food and water, building shelter, dealing with wild animals (including bears, wolves, and moose), and coping with the loneliness and despair of isolation.

The novel details Brian's transformation as he develops resourcefulness, resilience, and self-reliance. He learns practical survival skills such as creating fire, hunting, and fishing, but also undergoes significant personal growth, confronting his parents' divorce and discovering his own inner strength.

Hatchet is notable for its realistic depiction of survival techniques and its exploration of themes such as self-discovery, the importance of observation and adaptation, and the relationship between humans and nature. The book has spawned a series of sequels, following Brian's continued adventures and development. These sequels include The River, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt.