Hatchet

Hatchet cover
Good Books rating 4.2
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Technical
  • ID: 8695
  • Added: 2025-12-22
  • Updated: 2026-01-05
  • ISBN: 9781442403321
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2009-08-25
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Newbery Honor–winning survival novel Hatchet with a pocket-sized edition perfect for travelers to take along on their own adventures. This special anniversary edition includes a new introduction and commentary by author Gary Paulsen, pen-and-ink illustrations by Drew Willis, and a water resistant cover. Hatchet has also been nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read. /n/nThirteen-year-old Brian Robeson, haunted by his secret knowledge of his mother’s infidelity, is traveling by single-engine plane to visit his father for the first time since the divorce. When the plane crashes, killing the pilot, the sole survivor is Brian. He is alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother had given him as a present. At first consumed by despair and self-pity, Brian slowly learns survival skills—how to make a shelter for himself, how to hunt and fish and forage for food, how to make a fire—and even finds the courage to start over from scratch when a tornado ravages his campsite. When Brian is finally rescued after fifty-four days in the wild, he emerges from his ordeal with new patience and maturity, and a greater understanding of himself and his parents.

Reviews
Goodreads · 2026-01-05
engrossing 3.80

This book is adventurous and engrossing, full of suspense and thought-provoking questions. It makes you ponder what you would do in a similar situation.

The reviewer on Goodreads describes 'Hatchet' as an adventurous and engrossing read, filled with suspense that keeps you hooked. The story's thought-provoking nature makes you question what you would do in a similar survival situation, adding depth to the reading experience. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to engage readers with its suspenseful narrative and thought-provoking themes, making it a standout read.


Quick quotes

    It's adventurous, engrossing, and full of suspense.

    Not only that, it's thought-provoking and makes you ask questions about what you'd do in a similar situation.

    It's thought-provoking and makes you ask questions about what you'd do in a similar situation.

Reddit - r/books · 2025-12-22
great 4.50

The book is engaging and suspenseful, with a constant sense of uncertainty that keeps the reader addicted. It's easy to grasp and far from boring.

This Reddit reviewer found the book to be incredibly engaging, with a constant sense of suspense that makes it hard to put down. They particularly enjoyed the uncertainty about what would happen next, which they found addictive. The reviewer appreciates how the book is easy to grasp and far from boring, making it a compelling read. They highlight the book's ability to keep the reader hooked throughout the story, making it a great choice for those looking for an adventurous and thought-provoking read.


Quick quotes

    It was easy to grasp, far from boring, and the constant suspense and uncertainty about what would happen next was truly addicting.

    I'd rate it a 4.5 out of 5.

    The book is engaging and suspenseful.

Jane H Green · Jane H Green · 2022-12-05
excellent 4.50

This book is a thrilling coming-of-age adventure that highlights Brian's resourcefulness and survival skills. It's a clean read full of action and suspense.

Jane H Green highly recommends this book, praising its clean and engaging narrative. She highlights how the story is a powerful coming-of-age tale, filled with action, adventure, and a strong sense of resourcefulness. The constant suspense and the protagonist's journey make it a gripping read that keeps the reader hooked. She appreciates the way the book explores themes of survival and self-discovery, making it a compelling adventure story.


Quick quotes

    It is a very clean read.

    It is full of action, adventure, and resourcefulness.

    It is a coming of age for Brian.

Paper Breathers · 2014-01-19
engrossing 4.00

The book is an enlightening and engrossing read about self-discovery, nature, family, and societal values. It reveals the strong survival instincts of the protagonist.

The reviewer from Paper Breathers describes Hatchet as an enlightening and engrossing read, highlighting its exploration of themes such as self-discovery, nature, family, and societal values. They appreciate the book's ability to reveal the strong survival instincts of the protagonist, Brian, and how his journey is both thought-provoking and inspiring. The reviewer finds the book to be a powerful story that delves into the complexities of human nature and the will to survive, making it a memorable and impactful read.


Quick quotes

    Hatchet is an enlightening and engrossing read about self-discovery, nature, family, and societal values.

    It reveals the strong survival instincts of the protagonist.

    The book is a powerful story that delves into the complexities of human nature.