Hatchet (Brian's Saga #1)
User reviews
1 reviews with 4 stars
12 reviews
Overall rating
3.2
Plot
3.3(12)
Characters
2.8(12)
Writing Style
3.4(12)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
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Hatchet
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
3.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Overall, Hatchet is an amazing book that is recommended for young adults and for readers who want to read a deep and emotional story, while also including a mix of action. There are deep themes and strong emotions, which help to carry readers through the story and encourage further reading. This book is a compelling tale that is perfect through the lens of a young adult reader.
Good Points
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Hatchet, written by Gary Paulsen, is an extremely descriptive and compelling story about a young boy named Brian Robeson flying to see his dad after his parents' divorce, but the plane he was flying on crashes, leaving him in the Canadian wilderness alone with the secret that tore his parents apart and his lone hatchet, gifted to him by his mother. This story shows how even in the most unlikely of times, you always need to press forward.
Brian, after his parents' divorce, is sent on a single-engine plane to visit his father in Alaska; however, the pilot has a heart attack midway through the flight and ends up dead. Brian, now having to take control of the plane, uses the knowledge he learned from the pilot earlier in the flight to be able to fly the plane and try to reach his landing, but the pilot had moved the plane to the left, which left Brian with the option to only keep flying and hope someone hears him over the radio. He runs out of fuel and ends up landing in a lake, which Brian only barely manages to escape with his life. Brian is left after the crash with only his torn windbreaker and his hatchet, gifted by his mother. Brian has to forage for scraps, build shelter, and fight through his anger, sadness, and remorse for the secret that led to his parents’ split. He is forced to learn to hunt for food, fish, defend against the weather, and learn to be able to continue forward through his emotional and physical pain.
Paulsen writes this book with incredible detail in each chapter to illustrate a picture in people’s minds. It makes this story able to be understood on a deeper level than what other books can accomplish without pictures. This book also uses a certain POV that lets you understand Brian's feelings throughout the book, which helps with the picture that the author is trying to make you see. There is also a secret that is kept, which is still a mystery, that helps to build emotional suspense. The theme that this book likes to carry in its text is to never give up. Brian has deep emotions that he is forced to continue through in order to survive and live. Brian has several different methods in order to keep pressing forward, which also helps support the theme of this book.
Hatchet, written by Gary Paulsen, is an extremely descriptive and compelling story about a young boy named Brian Robeson flying to see his dad after his parents' divorce, but the plane he was flying on crashes, leaving him in the Canadian wilderness alone with the secret that tore his parents apart and his lone hatchet, gifted to him by his mother. This story shows how even in the most unlikely of times, you always need to press forward.
Brian, after his parents' divorce, is sent on a single-engine plane to visit his father in Alaska; however, the pilot has a heart attack midway through the flight and ends up dead. Brian, now having to take control of the plane, uses the knowledge he learned from the pilot earlier in the flight to be able to fly the plane and try to reach his landing, but the pilot had moved the plane to the left, which left Brian with the option to only keep flying and hope someone hears him over the radio. He runs out of fuel and ends up landing in a lake, which Brian only barely manages to escape with his life. Brian is left after the crash with only his torn windbreaker and his hatchet, gifted by his mother. Brian has to forage for scraps, build shelter, and fight through his anger, sadness, and remorse for the secret that led to his parents’ split. He is forced to learn to hunt for food, fish, defend against the weather, and learn to be able to continue forward through his emotional and physical pain.
Paulsen writes this book with incredible detail in each chapter to illustrate a picture in people’s minds. It makes this story able to be understood on a deeper level than what other books can accomplish without pictures. This book also uses a certain POV that lets you understand Brian's feelings throughout the book, which helps with the picture that the author is trying to make you see. There is also a secret that is kept, which is still a mystery, that helps to build emotional suspense. The theme that this book likes to carry in its text is to never give up. Brian has deep emotions that he is forced to continue through in order to survive and live. Brian has several different methods in order to keep pressing forward, which also helps support the theme of this book.
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