Parent reviews for Hatchet

This was my favorite book as a child, rereading it at least once a year from age 10 until I was 21. I just read it for the first time as an adult, checking for problematic things I may have missed as a child, before recommending it to my 10 & 11 year old nieces. I still think it’s a really good book for kids to read, especially for children that are interested in nature and survival. It does talk about cheating and divorce, and Brian is very angry about it in the beginning, but grows and doesn’t seem to hold a grudge by the end. There is also the mention of suicide - Brian being depressed and trying to cut his wrists. This didn’t trigger me as a child, it was more a quick description of what most people in this situation would probably face at one point or another. It didn’t linger on it, a page worth of description, and then moves on to Brian being stronger and surviving. I would recommend this book to most kids 10+ years old.

Have you ever been stranded in the woods as a 13 years old? In the book, Hatchet, Brian Robeson was stuck in the woods left to survive on his own at 13 years old. This book was written in 1986 and the author is Gary Paulsen. This book is the first in a series with 4 other books other than Hatchet. The plot of this book is pretty scary. A 13 year old boy named Brian gets stuck in the woods for 54 days. His parents are also divorced. He was on a small bush plane to visit his father at an oil plantation when the plane crashed in the middle of the Canadian woods. He then has to survive on his own. One thing I like about this book is that parts of it are very action packed and exciting to read. For example when he crashes in a plane it is very scary and exciting at the same time. One thing I don't like about this story is that after he crashes the plane it isn't super exciting because he’s just trying to get food and survive. I would recommend this book for 11-14 year olds but really anyone could like this book if you like adventure and exciting plot twists. I would give this a 4.5 stars.

Hatchet is by Gary Paulson and was written in 1981. It is also the first book of a 5 part series. 13-year old Brian’s parents are divorced and the brain is flying to his dad’s house in Canada. On the way, the pilot has a heart attack and dies so it is brian's job to fly it himself but he does not know where he is going and crashes into a lake. He is then stranded in the Canadian forest and left to fend for himself with nothing but a hatchet. I like that it is a survival book about a 13-year-old boy and not an adult. The book is someone repetitive, it has some good peeks where it bets very interesting but, it is a lot of the same things. I think that 11-13 would like this book.

Hatchet is by Gary Paulson and was written in 1981. It is also the first book of a 5 part series. 13-year old Brian’s parents are divorced and the brain is flying to his dad’s house in Canada. On the way, the pilot has a heart attack and dies so it is brian's job to fly it himself but he does not know where he is going and crashes into a lake. He is then stranded in the Canadian forest and left to fend for himself with nothing but a hatchet. I like that it is a survival book about a 13-year-old boy and not an adult. The book is someone repetitive, it has some good peeks where it bets very interesting but, it is a lot of the same things. I think that 11-13 would like this book.

My children and students absolutely love this book! It’s an exciting read. A 13-year-old boy is in a plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness. The story revolves around his survival as we anxiously await whether he’ll be rescued. I read some negative talk about the fact that the story touches on his parents going through a divorce because of his mother having an affair. This is a real life issues that children this age understand more than you think. It also touches on suicide. Again, most children this age also understand this topic. You can always discuss it with your child ahead of time, and use it as a teachable moment.

A fabulous book of survival, by a 13-year old boy named Brian. This book was assigned to my 5th grader, but I stayed up way too late to finish it myself. An absolute page-turner. I’m very surprised at some of the other reviews that object to “adult” content. Divorce is a true thing that kids of all ages, classes, race, gender, religous affiliation, etc have to confront, even if it’s through a friend, family member, or other trusted adults. This book, while it briefly outlines his mother’s affair, is more important about what it teaches in his healing process, and Brian’s outlook about it after a profound coming of age experience in the remote woods of Canada. As far as the suicide references that others found objectionable, again, there is a short period of time when Brian is absolutely gutted about his situation and considers ending his life. But he just can’t. He can’t give up. In fact, as the story progresses, his mindset shifts from that of self-pity to that of a tough survivor. That’s obviously not the course of thinking for many young people considering suicide, but this story offers a gateway for trusted adults to begin conversations with the young people in their lives. They’re going to hear about suicide from their peers, from the news, and even from their schools... so you can bet I want to talk about it with them as well. But all that aside, the shift in mindset from desolation to fortitude was a more important theme in this book than any “adult” reference to suicide. What I especially enjoyed about this book was how it so accurately described the power and beauty of nature, and how we city-folk have forgotten (not entirely) how to survive and improvise in a culture where we can just buy whatever we need. While my children won’t become survivalists reading this book, their eyes are opened, if just a fraction, to the abundance of the world that they inhabit now.

I am in 6th grade, had to read this for school. Firstly, I would like to say that this book is quite redundant. It repeats a lot of things and I also didn't like the way he always mentioned the secret. Sometimes it was just annoying: ex. (the meat was sizzling and it smelt good, reminding Brian of home. Then he remembered the Secret, like a knife twisting in his heart, etc.) Of course this didn't really happen in the book, but similar things were written. Brian is quite dramatic, also. He likes to exaggerate things a lot, making them seem worse than they really are. Another thing is that maybe he could have an animal that takes a liking to him, a companion, or more flashbacks. I think Paulsen just ran out of things for Brian to do or say, somewhere near the middle. Overall the plot was really good and the start of the story nice, but, as you can see, it went a bit downhill shortly after. If there was 2 and a half stars I would have chosen that. It gets a bit boring, but I guess it's ok. I would be reluctant to read another Paulsen book. Don't judge a book by its cover.

I cant believe so many people have children that are 4th graders that think this book is scary at all....the watch and see scary stuff in cartoons or video games or hell even the news!!!! Also any of the adults that think there are inappropriate issues brought up? Divorce, cheating parents, suicide... sad to say but this is almost a damn norm now in 4th grade life, maybe even younger. Do for this to be in a book that perhaps a child can relate to and if it helps them.see things more clear or even let them know it's going to be ok then yes please let them read!! This book is great! My son loved it! And he has read 4 other of his books all with the same excitement to read them.