Hatchet (Chapters 11-19 & Epilogue)

Come on, he thought, baring his teeth in the darkness—come on. Is that the best you can do—is that all you can hit me with—a moose and a tornado?

- Chapter 16

In the second half of Hatchet, Brian continues to learn how to survive in the unforgiving wilderness. He makes a bow and arrows that he uses to catch fish, improves his shelter, and begins to feel almost welcome among the wild animals.

After failing to be rescued by a passing airplane, Brian plunges into depression and even tries to end his own life. He comes to accept that he is no longer the same person who crashed so many weeks ago. Rather, he is stronger and more resilient. He even refers to his actions as things that "new Brian" does and things that "old Brian" would have done. "New Brian" is able to survive a moose attack and a tornado - talk about a bad day!

Click below for many, many spoilers.

The tornado brings the plane wreckage to the surface of the lake, prompting Brian to retrieve the survival pack hidden in the plane. He hardly gets a chance to use the rifle, sleeping bag, food packets, and other items because he notices a strange electrical device. It turns out to be a transmitter, which is ultimately the catalyst for his rescue.

The epilogue wraps up rather quickly, much to my disappointment. It's a testament to Paulsen's writing that I didn't want the story to end. I had so many questions about how Brian would readjust to life back in the "real world." The reader learns that Brian never tells his father The Secret, but his parents do still continue with their divorce. He is forever changed by his time in the woods, though he still recalls many memories of it fondly. I'm glad that Paulsen continued this series because he does an excellent job of leaving you wanting more at the end.

I also found it interesting that the epilogue mentions how difficult it would have been for Brian to survive in the wilderness through winter. That's because the third book in the series, Brian's Winter, is actually an alternate ending in which Brian didn't activate the transmitter. Apparently, Paulsen did not plan this in advance. Rather, he wrote Brian's Winter, as a response to criticism that he left Brian's story unfinished in the original.

Difficult Themes

Brian's suicide attempt is a tricky part of the story, when it comes to discussing this book with students. I don't think that the topic of suicide should automatically mean the book can't be read by middle schoolers. However, I do think it should be handled delicately. Even though Brian comes to believe in his ability to survive without being rescued, he still struggles with loneliness and having to overcome many failures. It can be dangerous to convey the idea that one can simply "toughen up" and get over depression because that's just not the nature of the beast. It's more beneficial to focus on the theme of learning from failure, rather than just on the power of positive thinking.

I would consider using this as a read aloud depending on the age and maturity level of my students. Even if I didn't read it aloud or assign it as independent reading, I would definitely have it in my library and recommend it to students who enjoy stories about survival.

STEM Connections 

Brian's struggle to survive in the wild lends itself perfectly to challenge-based learning. The students can use math, science, and engineering to devise their own plan for surviving. You could even look at different areas that Brian may have been stranded to see if your survival plans change based on the location. 

Sources

Paulsen, G. (1987) Hatchet. New York, NY: Bradbury Press.

New York Public Library (Producer). (2016, August 31). Live chat with author Gary Paulsen (K. Ralston, interviewer). [Live IM chat transcript]. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2011/04/22/135634400/science-diction-the-origin-of-the-word-robot