1. Hatchet By Gary Paulsen Published by The Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Copyright 1999 Genre: Realistic fiction Report by Ethan Bouyea

2. Gary Paulsen Gary Paulsen is an extremely interesting person. He was born on May 17, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is the son of Oscar and Eunice Paulsen. His father served in the army during World War II as a General. When World War II ended, Gary’s father was stationed in the Philippines. Gary moved there with his mother. The family stayed in the Philippines for two and a half years. In 1949, The Paulsen family moved to Minnesota after his father left the army. Gary Paulsen is an extremely interesting person. He was born on May 17, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is the son of Oscar and Eunice Paulsen. His father served in the army during World War II as a General. When World War II ended, Gary’s father was stationed in the Philippines. Gary moved there with his mother. The family stayed in the Philippines for two and a half years. In 1949, The Paulsen family moved to Minnesota after his father left the army. Growing up, Gary had a very miserable life. His parents were alcoholics and usually left him alone and unsupervised. He spent many summers with various relatives to get away from his parents and his terrible home life. Gary had difficulty making friends and spent much of his time building model airplanes, reading books, and being outdoors. Gary became excited about reading when a librarian gave him a book and his own library card. Growing up, Gary had a very miserable life. His parents were alcoholics and usually left him alone and unsupervised. He spent many summers with various relatives to get away from his parents and his terrible home life. Gary had difficulty making friends and spent much of his time building model airplanes, reading books, and being outdoors. Gary became excited about reading when a librarian gave him a book and his own library card. As a teenager, Gary worked various summer jobs. He worked as an engineer, construction worker, sailor, and completed two rounds of the Alaskan Iditarod dog sled race. At the age of 16, he ran away from home and worked on a sugar beet farm. Gary ended up quitting the farm job and spent the rest of the summer working as a "carnie." After working in a carnival, Gary returned home and went back to school. He struggled through high school and graduated in 1957. He graduated with a D- average. Gary then joined the army and served his country for 3 years. Upon graduation, Gary began work at an aerospace company in California. While working at the aerospace company, he realized that he was meant to be an author. He suddenly left his job and went to northern Minnesota to write his first novel. As a teenager, Gary worked various summer jobs. He worked as an engineer, construction worker, sailor, and completed two rounds of the Alaskan Iditarod dog sled race. At the age of 16, he ran away from home and worked on a sugar beet farm. Gary ended up quitting the farm job and spent the rest of the summer working as a "carnie." After working in a carnival, Gary returned home and went back to school. He struggled through high school and graduated in 1957. He graduated with a D- average. Gary then joined the army and served his country for 3 years. Upon graduation, Gary began work at an aerospace company in California. While working at the aerospace company, he realized that he was meant to be an author. He suddenly left his job and went to northern Minnesota to write his first novel. Gary uses many of his own life experiences in his writing. He attempts to encourage young readers to pay attention to the environment and their surroundings. Gary has written various types of genres. They include: adult mysteries, how-to manuals, biographies, sports books, young adult stories, and nature books. He has also received many awards and honors such as Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, ALA Quick Picks, IRA- CBC Children’s Choice Award, ALA Notable Children’s Book, and the Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year award. Gary uses many of his own life experiences in his writing. He attempts to encourage young readers to pay attention to the environment and their surroundings. Gary has written various types of genres. They include: adult mysteries, how-to manuals, biographies, sports books, young adult stories, and nature books. He has also received many awards and honors such as Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, ALA Quick Picks, IRA- CBC Children’s Choice Award, ALA Notable Children’s Book, and the Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year award. Today, he lives in New Mexico with his wife, Ruth Wright Paulsen. Ruth has illustrated many of Gary’s books. Today, he lives in New Mexico with his wife, Ruth Wright Paulsen. Ruth has illustrated many of Gary’s books. To learn more about Gary’s exciting life, To learn more about Gary’s exciting life, you should go on his own website, Garypaulsen.com or mail a postcard to him at: Gary Paulsen c/o Children's Publicity 1540 Broadway New York, NY 10036

3. Interest Level: 11-13 years old Reading Level: Fifth grade

4. Theme: Theme: The theme of survival runs throughout the entire book. It begins when Brian must land the Bush plane and ends when Brian finds an emergency transmitter. I enjoyed this book tremendously and could not set the book down. I am looking forward to reading another survival story written by Gary Paulsen. The theme of survival runs throughout the entire book. It begins when Brian must land the Bush plane and ends when Brian finds an emergency transmitter. I enjoyed this book tremendously and could not set the book down. I am looking forward to reading another survival story written by Gary Paulsen.

5. Overview: Hatchet is an interesting survival book. The story begins with Brian, a young thirteen year old boy, riding on a yellow, Cessna 406 bush plane to Canada. He is visiting his father over summer vacation. Brian’s parents have recently divorced. Before boarding the plane, Brian’s mother gives him a hatchet which he clips onto his belt. While flying, the pilot suffers a massive heart attack and dies at the controls. Brian is left to land the plane. There are many deadly trees, numerous lakes, and large rock formations that Brian must navigate around. Brian lands the plane in a lake. The plane then sinks to the bottom. Brian swims to land and is hopeful that he will be found by a rescue party. Hatchet is an interesting survival book. The story begins with Brian, a young thirteen year old boy, riding on a yellow, Cessna 406 bush plane to Canada. He is visiting his father over summer vacation. Brian’s parents have recently divorced. Before boarding the plane, Brian’s mother gives him a hatchet which he clips onto his belt. While flying, the pilot suffers a massive heart attack and dies at the controls. Brian is left to land the plane. There are many deadly trees, numerous lakes, and large rock formations that Brian must navigate around. Brian lands the plane in a lake. The plane then sinks to the bottom. Brian swims to land and is hopeful that he will be found by a rescue party. After several days, Brian realizes that he may be in the wilderness alone for awhile. He is in an unpredictable place with no assistance. After days of depression and anger, Brian begins to learn how to live in the wilderness. Throughout the story Brian thinks of his family and what his life used to be like. After several days, Brian realizes that he may be in the wilderness alone for awhile. He is in an unpredictable place with no assistance. After days of depression and anger, Brian begins to learn how to live in the wilderness. Throughout the story Brian thinks of his family and what his life used to be like.

6. Problem and Solution: Brian faces many difficult problems in this book. His challenges begin when his plane crashes and he must learn how to live in the wilderness on his own and survive. Brian becomes very resourceful in his survival and eventually is able to turn on the emergency transmitter and obtain help.

7. Setting and Point of View: Hatchet is a survival story, told in the third person from Brian’s point of view. Brian makes his home near a lake in the Canadian wilderness. Hatchet is a survival story, told in the third person from Brian’s point of view. Brian makes his home near a lake in the Canadian wilderness.

8. Characters: Brian has many qualities that I wish to have if I were placed in a similar situation. Throughout the story Brian was hard-working, brave, intelligent, and resourceful. Brian used his knowledge from science classes, television shows, and personal experiences in the local park to help him survive in nature. He always tried to stay one step ahead by gathering 3 days worth of wood, having a signal fire, and having a continual source of food. These strengths allowed him to survive for two months in the wilderness. Brian has many qualities that I wish to have if I were placed in a similar situation. Throughout the story Brian was hard-working, brave, intelligent, and resourceful. Brian used his knowledge from science classes, television shows, and personal experiences in the local park to help him survive in nature. He always tried to stay one step ahead by gathering 3 days worth of wood, having a signal fire, and having a continual source of food. These strengths allowed him to survive for two months in the wilderness.

9. Discussion Questions: Discussion Questions: Chapter 1 and 2 Chapter 1 and 2 What is “the secret” that Brian is talking about? Will Brian land the plane safely with all of the deadly trees in his way? What is “the secret” that Brian is talking about? Will Brian land the plane safely with all of the deadly trees in his way? Chapter 3 and 4 Chapter 3 and 4 Will Brian land the plane in the trees or in the lake? Now that Brian has survived the plane crash, what will he do first in the wild? Will Brian land the plane in the trees or in the lake? Now that Brian has survived the plane crash, what will he do first in the wild? Chapter 5 and 6 Chapter 5 and 6 What will Brian do for food? Why did Brian’s parents get divorced? What will Brian do for food? Why did Brian’s parents get divorced? Chapter 7 and 8 Chapter 7 and 8 Is Brian going to make a fire with his hatchet? How is Brian going to figure out what food or water is edible? Is Brian going to make a fire with his hatchet? How is Brian going to figure out what food or water is edible? Chapter 9 and 10 Chapter 9 and 10 Is anyone searching for Brian yet? Can Brian use the fire to signal other search planes? What is the mysterious water creature? Is anyone searching for Brian yet? Can Brian use the fire to signal other search planes? What is the mysterious water creature? Chapter 11 and 12 Chapter 11 and 12 Will Brian be able to create a tool to catch fish? Will people make another attempt to save Brian? Will Brian be able to create a tool to catch fish? Will people make another attempt to save Brian? Chapter 13 and 14 Chapter 13 and 14 Does Brian want to leave the wilderness now that he knows he can survive? Will Brian discover a new food source for himself? Does Brian want to leave the wilderness now that he knows he can survive? Will Brian discover a new food source for himself? Chapter 15 and 16 Chapter 15 and 16 Is Brian going to use the feathers from the fool bird to improve his arrows? Will Brian get any supplies from the crashed plane? If Brian were to be rescued, would he go back to a normal life or would he want to go back and live in the wilderness? Is Brian going to use the feathers from the fool bird to improve his arrows? Will Brian get any supplies from the crashed plane? If Brian were to be rescued, would he go back to a normal life or would he want to go back and live in the wilderness? Chapter 17 and 18 Chapter 17 and 18 Will Brian continue to eat the fish from the lake, now that he knows the fish have been eating the dead pilot? Brian now understands that all materials can be useful. How will he use the aluminum that he removed from the plane? Will Brian continue to eat the fish from the lake, now that he knows the fish have been eating the dead pilot? Brian now understands that all materials can be useful. How will he use the aluminum that he removed from the plane? Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Did Brian make it back safely to his family? Did Brian make it back safely to his family?

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