Hatchet- (1) Realistic Fiction Chapter Book

Hatchet

By: Gary Paulsen

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Award: Newbery Honor Book

Grade Level: When considering the tone, word choice, and length of this novel I would deem it appropriate for sixth grade. Additionally, the main character Brian is thirteen years old, closer in age to sixth graders and thus more relatable. Hatchet is a serious novel, not for the faint of heart. Students need to have background knowledge of basic survival skills, geography, and climate conditions and how they can affect survival. This book consists of many conflicts and action thus grabbing the attention of all readers, and I believe the skills discussed in the book are completely appropriate for a school setting. For example, perseverance, motivation, and creativity are a few character traits maintained throughout the story.  

Summary: Hatchet is an amazingly addictive adventure and survival story about Brian Robeson, who struggles to stay alive against the elements in an unfamiliar wilderness. The book starts by introducing Brian as a regular kid going to visit his dad over the summer, but on his way the pilot of the small plane Brian is in suffers and dies from a heart attack mid flight. Brian must then find a way to land the plane and survive until he is found. He faces many trials including injuries, wild animal attacks, elements of nature, insect infestations, the constant upkeep of a shelter and a gnawing hunger. After being trapped for fifty-four days, Brian is eventually rescued by a fur trapper, yet the life skills he learned from the wilderness will stay with him forever. The main character Brian is easily relatable because he is just a regular boy who utilizes the trial and error process to stay alive. The situational realism of this novel allows the plot to seem extremely realistic thus making the book more dramatic and interesting to readers. 

Classroom Strategies:

Though Brian is in unfamiliar territory he is not empty handed. Instruct students to list what Brian finds as he sorts through his possessions and have the make predictions about how he might use what he finds to help him survive.

Throughout the story Brian goes through many character changes. Have students construct a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the ‘old Brian’ with the new one with specific details and quotes from the novel.  For example: the ‘old Brian’ was afraid of wolves, where as the new Brian stands, watches, and nods at wolf packs.

ESOL: Classification and categories, comparing and contrasting, identifying main ideas, summarizing, making predictions, Venn diagrams, graphic organizers, and brainstorming are all ESOL strategies identified through the classroom activities.

Read Aloud: I would read only the first chapter aloud to my sixth grade class because the whole story is set up from the first chapter. It gives slight background information about the main character, what he is doing, and keeps the reader guessing what this ‘secret is’. Simply reading the first chapter will entice students to continue to read the remainder of the book because it ends on a huge cliff hanger: the pilot of the plane that this thirteen year old boy is on just died and he must find a way to take control of the situation.  

Personal Opinion: Hatchet is one of my all time favorite novels. The setting is so realistic and the conflicts that Brian faces are all so believable and terrifying that the reader is absorbed into the story and pictures himself in those woods on the L shaped lake. The survival instincts and determination to survive allow this book to be an inspiration. Thanks to this story I will be forever scared of moose.