hatchet

Reader Response to Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

The back cover reads:
"Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single engine plan in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the tachet his mother has given him as a present--and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart ever since his parent's divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, secrets, or despair- it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than knew he possessed to survive."

My Rxn:
Quick read. Reminds me a lot of How I Live Now.... but without the war element. I always like to read stories of how people survive in the wild. this one is great, and it doesn't expect you to suspend much of your disbelief... it's realistic and not outrageous. Anyone who has any interest in the outdoors would like this book. I think that it's a great male-protagonist counterpart to How I Live Now. Doesn't drag. I read it in a day. It was a great book, but I'm not turning backflips over it.