Hatchet

I'm going on a trip... on an airplane, and at the same time thought to my self, "Self, you know what book you should read next? HATCHET!"

In case you don't know, Hatchet is about a plane crash... (What in the world was I thinking?!)

However, Hatchet is also a classic. I am about a fourth of the way through this book, which was recommended to me by my mother who had read it with my younger brother when he was in middle school. She has raved about it for years and I thought I had better read it.

This book is what I would think of as a "guy's book" and I really try not to gender stereotype. The survivalist theme and plane crash in the wilderness never appealed to me.

I was wrong.

This book is a classic for a reason and although I am nowhere near finished with it, I can already see why it is a favorite of teachers and students everywhere.

Brian is a young man who is struggling with the knowledge that his mother is being unfaithful to his father and that his parents are divorcing. He is harboring terrible feelings. He takes a trip to visit his father and on the way, the pilot has a heart attack and the plane goes down. Brian must do all he can to survive in the Canadian wilderness.

I cannot wait to see how this book ends. It is part of a series so I can only assume Brian survives. However, thus far, the book is very well written (by Gary Paulsen so duh it is amazing) and I cannot wait to get into the thick of it.

If you are the parent or teacher of a reluctant reader, particularly those interested in adventure and realistic fiction, I would recommend any Gary Paulsen book, but this one is a great place to start.