"Hatchet" is about a 13 year old boy named Brian Robeson who lives with his mom in Hampton, New York. He is traveling to visit his dad, who lives in the Canadian north woods, for the whole summer. He is traveling on a Cessna 406 bush plane, when all of a sudden the pilot suffers and heart attack. The pilot dies, and Brian is forced to take over the controls of the plane. He crashes into a lake in the Canadian woods where he realizes he's stranded. He learns to survive with nothing but his hatchet his mother had given him shortly before his plane departed. Brian goes through a difficult journey of a lot of defeats, but worthy victories. He suffers through various threats of nature, but also learns how to make a fire, shelter, and learns how to hunt and cook his own food. Brian also struggles with memories of home, and the bittersweet memory of his parents together, who recently divorced (prior to, he caught his mother cheating on his father). At the beginning of the book he tries to commit suicide with the hatchet, but survives the attempt and emerges from the experience determined to embrace life and to take an active role in his own fate.Towards the end of the book, Brian notices the weather has shifted the tail end of the plane towards the shore of the lake, and this gives him the idea that there may be a survival pack of some sort of the plane. He dives in the water and gets inside the plane. and he retrieves the survival pack. Inside of it he finds a "Emergency Transmitter", and he fiddles with it but it appears not to function, so he throws it aside. However, his distress call is heard by a passing airplane, and he is rescued.
Reasoning:
I chose this book because I think it's a perfect example of coming-of-age, and perseverance. Brian struggles through so my difficulties that it could be inspiring for someone else going through struggles as well. Brian not only goes through the struggles of trying to survive, but he's going through the struggles of his parents of being divorce, and seeing his mom cheat on his dad. Divorce is such as common thing in the United States, and I think if students read this book they'll see they can come to terms with divorce as well.
I think this book is perfect for 6th-12th grade students because it's not a difficult read, especially only being 185 pages. Brian is also 13 years old, and I think students around that age can relate to the way he thinks and acts. I also think this book is full of valuable lessons that are easy enough to grasp with students this age.
Teaching Methods:
I think this book can be used to teach students the different types of conflict, such as man vs self and man vs nature. I also think it could be used as an example for teaching on coming-of-age. Lastly, it could be used as a recommendation or students looking for this type of book.
Complications:
The only major problem I see that might occur with this book is when Brian is thinking/attempting to commit suicide. Today, suicide is very sensitive subject, and it's important we address this with our students. I think forewarning students, faculty, or whomever that it does occur in the book will help with this situation.
There also is a small graphic scene in the book where Brian is diving into the lake to board the tail end of the plane, but he drops his hatchet in the water. So, he dives in to retrieve it, but also sees the decay body of the pilot partially eaten by fish. This scene may cause a disturbance with some students, and I think adding a forewarning about this scene may help with this situation as well.
Other:
- The book is the first book of a 5 part series
- "Hatchet", "The River", "Brian's Winter", "Brian's Return", "Brian's Hunt"
- There is a film adaptation titled "A Cry in the Wild" (1990)
- "Hatchet" was a recipet of the 1988 Newbery Honor (children's book award)
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