Hatchet Reading Guide

Lesson	Reading Assignment
Characters and Setting in Novels	chapters 1–7
Point of View and Conflict in Novels	chapters 8–13
Theme and Resolution in Novels	chapters 14–epilogue

You will need to obtain a copy of this book. Please contact your teacher for help with locating a copy.

Novel Synopsis

Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet is a thrilling story of survival, growth, and self-acceptance. Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is the only passenger on a small plane headed to Canada, where his father lives. As the flight takes off, Brian is unaware of the dangers he will soon face. During the flight, the pilot dies of heart failure, and Brian’s journey quickly turns into a nightmare. First, he must figure out how to land the plane safely. Then he must work to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness. As he battles hunger, cold nights, and wild animals, Brian must come to terms with his parents’ recent divorce. Will Brian overcome these obstacles? Or will he be lost forever?

Lexile Score: 1020L
Word Count: 42,328

Biography

Gary Paulsen was born in 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a child, he saw little of his parents, and his family was constantly moving. Paulsen always enjoyed reading, even though he wasn’t a strong student. His passion for reading began when a librarian offered him a library card. Having a card with his name on it gave him a sense of identity for the first time in his life. After that day, Paulsen spent hours by himself in his basement reading book after book.

Paulsen also loved adventure as a child. He carried this love with him throughout his life. At the age of 14, he ran away from home and joined a carnival. As an adult, he took on various odd jobs that inspired his captivating stories.

Paulsen’s first experience in the publishing business was as an editor for a magazine in California. He also worked on his writing skills during this time. Soon he left California to rent a lakeside cabin in Minnesota. During his first winter there, he wrote his first novel. Paulsen has since gone on to write more than 175 books and 200 short stories and articles for children and adults.

Paulsen has said that his strong faith in young people motivates him to write. His writing captures the strength of the human spirit and urges readers to try to understand the world around them. These characteristics have made him popular with readers and critics. Three of his best-known works are Hatchet, Dogsong, and The Winter Room. All three books won the Newbery Medal for excellence in children’s literature.

Paulsen is married to artist Ruth Wright Paulsen. They currently own a home in New Mexico and a boat in the Pacific Ocean. They divide their time between those two locations.