Hatchet (Brian's Saga, #1) in Around the World in 80 Books

Jun 18, 2022 Tanya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: with-dd2, kids-1001-books-12plus, kids-1001-books-12, list-newbury-award-or-honoree, kids-1-001-books, kids-1001-12-plus, 2022

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Grateful my daughter picked this up and it inspired me to read. It has been on my list for six years now as it is both a Newbury Honor book and one on the 1,001 books to read before you grow up list. While I had heard some young adults describe this as a main character that is whiny, I definitely didn’t feel that way about Brian at all. Right at the outset, he deals with many difficult situations—he is flying to visit his dad who now has custody of him during the summers due to his mom’s “Secret Grateful my daughter picked this up and it inspired me to read. It has been on my list for six years now as it is both a Newbury Honor book and one on the 1,001 books to read before you grow up list. While I had heard some young adults describe this as a main character that is whiny, I definitely didn’t feel that way about Brian at all. Right at the outset, he deals with many difficult situations—he is flying to visit his dad who now has custody of him during the summers due to his mom’s “Secret” affair. He struggles with this and it certainly undermines his trust of his two closest adults, then the pilot flying the plane he is on has a heart attack and does, causing his plane to crash into a lake. Traumatic, right?

Then his first night, exhausted, hungry, and based on symptoms, likely suffering a mild concussion, must face the dark with only a very rudimentary shelter, a stomachache due to an over abundance of berries consumed and relentless mosquito attacks. I think I would be much more whiny than Brian ever was. Even the first time he cries, it is only for three to four minutes. But the next time he cries and it is much longer, but comes with a realization that feeling he needs to take action if he is going to improve his situation and especially to find a reliable source of food.

The kid deals with porcupine quills in his legs, a skunk attack on him after the critter discovered Brian’s source of eggs. He even encounters a wolf and a bear, and rumbles with a persistent and disconcerting moose. I just can’t imagine the kids in my area being this competent and self-reliant.

I was surprised he didn’t think to go to the plane before the tornado, as I would have considered that first to see if there was a possibility of radio communication, a flare fun, or even fresh water source as well as any tools that could be obtained or devised from the items in the plane. He could have also used the pilot’s clothing as his were becoming tattered over time. But, I do believe he was initially concussed and may not have had a sense of direction to the plane nor those kind of planning thoughts.

Overall, a very enjoyable read that lends itself to lots of discussion questions and thoughts about the virtues of courage, hope, and patience. I feel like those are always relevant in self-development. ...more

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Jan 21, 2021 Jean-Marie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nature, middle-grade, realistic-fiction

My 13-year-old and I are continuing our effort to "pandemic clean" the TBR books on our shelves. While neither of us would call classic survival stories our jam, we enjoyed this one. It was a little disappointing, however, that Brian finally got some real provisions only minutes before he was found. It was a lot of work with a fast, clean ending. I can see why many young readers enjoy this book. It's a quick, engaging read that offers readers the chance to imagine what it's like to survive on th ...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Sara rated it it was amazing

Read for 2015 Reading Challenge: A book from your childhood

This is definitely a GUY book. It was recommended by my husband, who says it was his favorite book growing up.
Great story of survival and coming of age.

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