72 pages • 2 hours read
Gary PaulsenHatchet
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1987A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson must survive in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash leaves him stranded. Facing challenges such as finding food and building shelter, Brian uses a hatchet his mother gave him to endure his ordeal and gain newfound self-reliance and adaptability. The story is a gripping tale of resilience and personal growth. The book includes themes of divorce and infidelity.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Gary Paulsen's Hatchet is highly acclaimed for its gripping narrative and well-crafted portrayal of survival, engaging young readers with vivid descriptions and an immersive storyline. Critics praise the protagonist's development and realistic challenges. Some note repetitive elements and occasional pacing issues, but overall, it's lauded as a compelling read for adolescents.
Who Should Read Hatchet?
A reader who would enjoy Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is typically a young adult or middle-grade reader interested in survival adventures, resilience, and personal growth. Fans of books like My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George or Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell will find this novel compelling and inspiring.
RecommendedReading Age
10-14yearsLexile Level
1020LBook Details
Action / Adventure
Natural World: Environment
Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Life/Time: Coming of Age