The Girl (age 11) read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen for her assigned summer reading. She wanted to share her thoughts with you all, but she wanted me to ask her questions about the book, rather than write up a review.
Tell us about Hatchet in 5 sentences or less.
A 13-year-old boy named Brian is on a small plane with just him and the pilot on the way to visit his father. The pilot has a heart attack, and the plane crashes. He has to figure out a way to survive with just the stuff in his pockets and the hatchet on his belt that his mother gave him before he left.
Tell us about the main character, his personality, conflicts, etc.
Brian is upset about “the secret” that broke up his parents’ marriage. He has to stay alive in the wilderness, with bad weather, no food, and wild animals. I think he’s a smart boy. He takes time to think about his situation before acting.
What 3 words best describe the book?
Suspenseful, interesting, action
What did you think of the author’s writing style?
It could have been more exciting. It was descriptive, but I really didn’t like how it was so repetitive.
Divorce.
Secrets.
No, not secrets so much as just the Secret. What he knew and had not told anybody, what he knew about his mother that had caused the divorce, what he knew, what he knew — the Secret.
Divorce.
The Secret. (page 3)
There were some more parts like that.
Did you learn anything from the story or the main character?
I learned that you can start a fire with a hatchet and a stone.
Did you like the book? Would you recommend it to your friends? Would you recommend it to adults?
It was the best book the school has chosen for summer reading so far, but it’s definitely not one of my favorites. It was a bit slow, and I think the author spent too much time having the character find food over and over again. But when the action happened, it was pretty good. I guess I would recommend it to a friend if they were interested in survivor stories. I guess adults could find it interesting, too.
Have any of you read the book? What did you think?
Disclosure: I purchased The Girl’s copy of Hatchet. I am an IndieBound affiliate and an Amazon associate.
© 2011 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I haven’t heard of this nor read it. Sounds like it could have been better with more editing…and less repetition. Seems similar to Lord of the Flies…except less intense.
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I only read the first chapter. We were going to read it together, but she ended up reading it at summer camp.
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I loved this book, but I kept thinking, “I’ve got to remember this in case I ever get stranded!” (of course nowadays, we wouldn’t be allowed to take a hatchet with us…) Thanks for the great review!
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So true! I think an updated version of this story without the hatchet would be interesting.
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I enjoyed the Q & A format of this review. The book sounds good. Very nice job. 🙂
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Thanks, Suko! The Girl has another review coming soon, and she wants to reuse this format.
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I really enjoyed The Girl’s review which definitely made me interested in this book! I really appreciated her honest opinion of the author’s writing and the story, too. This sounds like a good book to read if you might possibly get lost in the wilderness. I’m also curious about Brian and how he manages to survive on his own after the plane crash…I’d be petrified. I also want to know The Secret
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I did make her tell me “the secret.” My curiosity got the better of me.
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I haven’t read the book, but The Girl’s review has piqued my interest. I enjoy survival stories because I always wonder if I have what it takes to endure something like that.
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What I found interesting was the about the author information and how Paulsen did all these things in his backyard to help him with the book, like start a fire with a hatchet.
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I read this one when my daughter had to read it in school last year. It wasn’t my favorite Paulsen, but she seemed to like it well enough, especially for required reading! Great review The Girl!
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Thanks, Tricia! The Girl just took a book out of the library by Paulsen dealing with the Civil War, so she’s obviously willing to give his writing another try.
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I love Paulsen and this is the author that I use a lot for my reluctant readers. Great review The Girl!!!!
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Thanks, Staci! It does seem like it would be exciting enough to get them interested in reading.
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I’ll have to ask The Boy 🙂 the same questions and see what he says. I think he liked the book best when we took turns reading it outloud on the beach. Wasn’t exactly walking around everywhere reading it to find out what happened. 2nd book he’s working on is It’s the First Day of School Forever by R L Stine which he says is “Awesome” so far. That book seems to be sucking him in. sorry Award winning Hatchet!
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The Girl got that Stine book for her birthday, so I’ve told her that it’s good and she should read it soon!
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Why would his mum give him a hatchet? Now that is all i can think of
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From what I remember from reading only the first chapter, Brian was going to be working in the wilderness with his dad or something like that. Don’t quote me on that, though. 😉
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I’m glad she liked it. When I read it in the fifth grade I absolutely loved it. I think it might have had something to do with how tomboyish and woodsy I was at that age. 🙂
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I’d never heard of the book until it was assigned to her!
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Nice review — I wasn’t wild about this book when I read it in school but we just talked an adult friend of ours into giving it a try — it seems right up her alley. The Girl is quite savvy — loving her reviews!
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Thanks, Audra!
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I remember this book! I remember reading a bizarre number of outdoor survival type books at that age… And books about loyal pets dying. How strange, really!
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The survival books would have worked with me at that age, but I still can’t read about pets dying!
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I loved Gary Paulsen when I was in junior high and high school. It’s been awhile since I’ve read him!
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He’s an author I have yet to try!
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I really like the format you used in this review. I like that she gave her honest opinion, too. I don’t think this sounds like one my daughter would enjoy.
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Thanks, Carol!
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You did great with this review! Sorry to hear the book was a bit slow. I do enjoy survivor stories though.
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Thanks, Naida!
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Sometimes repetition can really work in a book but sometimes it can really grate on a reader’s nerves. Sounds like the later was the case for you. Like the format of your review!
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It certainly was repetitive enough for her to mention it!
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It’s funny that now that I have a son I am already thinking ahead to what kind of books might appeal to him. This one may do it.
Great review 🙂
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Thanks, Stacy! This definitely is a book that should appeal to boys.
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[…] thought this book was amazing! Gary Paulsen wrote Hatchet, which I thought was just okay, but this book proved he could do better. He makes you feel like […]
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