‘Hatchet’: An iconic and inspiring story for young adults

by Joan Tucker

Gary Paulsen is a three-time Newberry Honor Author and captures the attention of young readers by writing this story from the perspective of Brian Robeson, a 13-year-old boy starting an adventure in a small Cessna 406 airplane.

So many emotions are going through Brian’s head at the start of his journey. Top of mind are the struggles with his parents’ recent separation, but he is happy to be heading to a visit with his father in the oil fields of Canada.

Admittedly, fear is what Brian feels when sitting in the co-pilot’s seat in the plane’s cockpit. He has never been in an airplane, let alone this very small aircraft that feels like a tin can. His discomfort is palpable, and to make matters worse, the pilot is a man of few words. Later in the flight, though, the reticent pilot surprises Brian by explaining the instruments and then offering his co-pilot a chance to fly the plane—truly a young boy’s dream.

Unfortunately, an emergency ensues, requiring Brian to be more than just the co-pilot on this trip.

What’s so inspiring are the lessons Brian learns along the way by making mistakes—such as pulling too hard on the controls and putting the plane into a nosedive or testing out controls he’s unsure about. Miraculously, Brian is able to crash-land the plane in a lake deep in the Canadian forest. However, this landing is not without mishap and injury to the plane and Brian. He survives and painfully makes it to the shore, and passes out. When he wakes, he realizes he has nothing but the clothes he is wearing and the hatchet his mother had gifted him strapped to his belt.

Thus begins the survival lessons for a young boy stranded in the wilderness. It takes him awhile to figure things out. For example, he is starving and eats too many gut berries (Brian’s term for what is known as chokeberries) and becomes very sick. Just as with flying, through his mistakes, he learns—slowly sometimes—that persistence pays off in the end.

One of my favorite lessons is when Brian discovers that striking his hatchet against rock can make sparks. But starting a fire seems to take forever. Through trial, error, and patience, his efforts pay off in the end. He uses that patience again and again through his day as he tries to spear fish and then figure out how to cook them over his fire.

Often, Brian gives in to tears of overwhelming emotions, but eventually he realizes it is up to him to survive. He thinks the tears do him no good, but personally, I think the tears were necessary to help him deal with his scary situation. Once the emotions were dealt with, his problem-solving abilities took over. As a result, Brian becomes a stronger, more confident, teenager.  

I love how Brian wakes slowly to the light of the day and birdsong in the wilderness. He really takes notice of his environment around him and appreciates the beauty of the sky, clouds, lake, and trees, as well as the stars at night. There is no one to talk to, so he whistles to the birds and they call back. What’s most amazing is Brian’s self-discovery of how to be present in the moment and enjoy what is around him.

He doesn’t forget this lesson when he is back home with his mother, his friends, and the life he is familiar with. Seeing the beauty that resulted from catastrophe is something he won’t forget.

Read “Hatchet” to find out how Brian learns the survival skills on his own in the wilds of the Canadian forest. Discover aspects of his journey that help him become a strong, self-confident teenager.

“Hatchet” is a story that moves readers, with an ending that won’t disappoint.

Joan Tucker is a lifelong learner who appreciates books she can share with family and friends. She enjoyed her career as a registered nurse of 40 years.