This award-winning contemporary classic is the survival story with which all others are compared—and a page-turning, heart-stopping adventure, recipient of the Newbery Honor. Hatchet has also been nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read. Thirteen-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.

In the heart of the Canadian wilderness, 13-year-old Brian Robeson finds himself thrust into an unimaginable situation when a small plane crash leaves him stranded and alone. Armed only with a hatchet gifted to him by his mother, Brian must learn to survive in the wild with no experience or resources, relying solely on his wit and determination. As days stretch into weeks, and his hope of rescue dwindles, Brian embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery, resilience, and adaptation against overwhelming odds.

Through each challenge, he learns the harsh and forgiving nature of the wilderness that becomes both his adversary and teacher.

Brian learns survival skills that forge inner strength and resilience. The wilderness shapes Brian’s character through intense challenges and introspection. Hatchet explores the profound transformation and growth of overcoming adversity.

Brian Robeson a city-born boy is suddenly thrust into the vast Canadian wilderness after a plane crash with only a hatchet by his side. As he navigates the terrifying isolation Brian discovers an unforeseen inner strength that reshapes his perceptions of nature and himself. Survival becomes visceral as Brian learns to draw sustenance from the environment relying on his newfound resourcefulness and adaptability to face unfamiliar dangers.

The wilderness transforms into a relentless instructor where Brian encounters not just physical obstacles but also confronts the emotional turmoil of his parents' divorce. In this poignant tale by Gary Paulsen readers witness a young boy's evolution as he is endlessly forged by the challenges of solitude and survival.

Hatchet stands out for its raw authentic portrayal of survival against a backdrop of pristine wilderness immersing readers in vivid believable scenarios Gary Paulsen's masterful storytelling captures the essence of a young boy's growth reflecting the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit The novel’s introspective nature invites readers to explore profound themes of courage independence and personal transformation set against the stark beauty of nature.