AN INTRODUCTION TO HATCHET

Written by Gary Paulsen

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About the Author Name: Gary Paulsen Born: May 17, 1939 In 1985 he started

focusing on writing 18-20-hours a day

Written more than 175 books and some 200 articles and short stories

Newbery Honor Books : Hatchet, Dogsong, and The Winter Room

Hatchet

A book about Survival Nature Life

What is a Newbery Honor Book? The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-

century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

One purpose of the Newbery Medal was stated as follows: "To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children.”

It is the first children’s book award in the world, and is still recognized as the most discussed book award in this country.

Characters

Brian Robeson: The main character, 13 years old. On the way to visit his father in the Canadian Oil Fields.

Brian’s mother: Recently divorced from Brian’s father. She gave Brian the hatchet as a gift before he left to go see his father for the summer.

Brian’s father: Lives in the Canadian Oil Fields. He is awaiting Brian’s visit, as he is recently divorced from Brian’s mother.

The Pilot: Taking Brian to see his father.

Terry: Brian’s good friend from New York.

Setting of Hatchet

Hampton, New York: Where Brian meets the plane that will take him to visit his father.

The Canadian North Woods: Where Brian’s plane crashes, and he learns to survive.

New York City: Where Brian has spent much of his life.

1980’s

Plot of Hatchet

Brian, a boy of 13, survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness while on the way to visit his father, who is newly divorced from his mother. Brian is terribly unhappy about the divorce.

With only a hatchet his mother gave him a as gift before the trip and the clothes on his back, Brian has to figure out how to survive while he battles the elements of nature: weather, wildlife and all the challenges that come with it.

Brian changes and grows as a person as a result of this experience. Will he survive? Will he be rescued? Read the book to find out!

Answer the following questions using your knowledge of survival and the wilderness.

Some questions

When Brian, the main character, crashes

in the wilderness, he only has the items

that he had on him. What three items

would you most likely have if you were

to crash? How would you use them?

When the plane crashed, the pilot was off course. If you were Brian, would you stay where you were until help came or would you try to walk out?

People need food, clothing, and shelter. If you were in Brian’s situation, which would you try to provide for first? Why?

What would be the most painful thing about being totally alone? Who would you miss most? Who would miss you most? What would you miss most?

“The End” of this presentation;

“The Beginning” of your journey into Brian’s adventure. Enjoy the ride!