Hatchet by Gary Paulsen - Alberto R

 



Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson struggles with the challenges of divorced parents and the hard summer trips from New York to northern Canada to visit his father. However, his view of hardship transforms dramatically when the pilot of the plane he's in suddenly suffers a heart attack, leaving him alone at 70,000 feet with no guidance or idea of his location.


Following the survival of the crash, Brian's story evolves into a story of struggle to survive. With a hatchet from his mother and stripped down to only essentials, he makes a life in the unforgiving Canadian wilderness. Through a 54-day struggle, he battles starvation, faces off against nature's formidable creatures, and learns how to survive through these experiences. His journey includes making critical mistakes that almost cost him his life, yet slowly he evolves into an experienced and skilled survivalist


A tornado tears through Brian's camp, presenting a critical choice between life and death. The unexpected outcome, though surprising, seems sudden, leaving me and likely other readers dissatisfied with the story's conclusion. The book was accompanied by three sequels (Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt) due to criticism of the very abrupt and incomplete ending.


Gary Paulsen's wilderness experiences reflect Brian's experiences in the wilderness, adding a unique authenticity to his storytelling. For those who like to see character development and the struggle of surviving without modern comforts, Gary Paulsen's book is for you. Especially likable for aspiring fantasy writers seeking realistic survival depictions. 7/10, one point off because of the ending.

Comments

  1. DJNovember 13, 2023 at 12:54 PM

    Hi Alberto, this sounds like an entertaining read! I enjoy stories that leave the ending up to the writer's interpretation (Such as the last scene in inception, for example). The premise and plot of this story also sounds really interesting. Thanks for the recommendation!

    ReplyDelete
  2. SamuelNovember 16, 2023 at 3:55 PM

    Hey Alberto! I like the way you described your book, and I might check it out, I like how you talked about the main character's development. Great Blog!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Abdurrahman AlturkiNovember 27, 2023 at 12:01 PM

    Hi Alberto, this book sounds very entertaining. The story of surviving in the wilderness for an extended period of time truly grabs my attention, so I'll make sure to find some time to read this book. Good job!

    ReplyDelete

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