Review of "Hatchet"

"He had nothing."

     In Hatchet, author Gary Paulsen explores the mind of a boy for whom survival is not guaranteed. Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is the only one who knows about the Secret. His mother thinks he's oblivious, and his dad...well, no one is rushing to fill him in. What he does know, as far as Brian can tell, is that something happened, there is a divorce, and how his son has to fly up to visit him in a fragile Cessna 406 airplane. Brian feels alone because of the Secret, but he does not yet know what "alone" truly means. When his pilot has a heart attack and the Cessna nosedives into a lake, it will take all his strength and courage to make it out alive. He has no food, no tools, only a hatchet his mom gave him as a traveling gift, and that has to be enough to keep him safe until help arrives. Assuming they can find him.

     For the vast majority of this novel, exactly one character appears on the pages, and it is Brian. While we get to know the people in his life through brief recollections, our only direct contact is with Brian, who is not a Boy Scout or a veteran camper. In fact, when it comes down to it there really is nothing special about him. He is simply a victim of circumstance, a young boy trapped in an impossible situation. And that is what makes this story so remarkable: that this kid, who is an all-around average city boy, fares so well in the wild.

     From an overdose of mosquitoes to dangerous animals and an empty stomach, thousands of threats put Brian at risk every day. All he has are the clothes on his back, the money in his pocket, and the hatchet his mom insisted he wear on his belt when he left. This is the ultimate test for any writer, and Paulsen rises admirably to the challenge. Without the distractions of everyday conveniences, Brian's natural ingenuity is given a proper chance to shine. Every problem he faces has a solution, however difficult it may be, and the way he goes about it is well worth reading. As time goes on, he transforms from an ordinary city boy to someone quite different. And, most importantly, he does so without losing that sense of realism that makes his story so absorbing.

     The only issue with the writing style is, debatably, its repetitiveness. In order to capture as honest a glimpse into Brian's mind as possible, the prose is written in a very stream-of-consciousness manner--meaning words, phrases, and whole sentences are often used multiple times in the same scene. While this is a useful tool, it is sometimes overutilized for a less-than-exciting effect. On the other hand, it provides an underlying emotional current that adds a great deal to our hero's inner turmoil.

     There aren't many eyebrow-raisers in this tale. Aside from one animal attack and a brief mention of self-harm, violence is surprisingly absent. There is no romance, though Brian remembers two adults kissing, and the few instances of speech contain absolutely no profanity. Sensitive readers may worry about Brian's need to hunt; however, it is not very graphic and the animals don't go through much pain before the end.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fairly quick read about a boy who must fight every odd to survive. Brian Robeson is a compelling protagonist with an intriguing past and a terrifying problem. While the idea of a tale based solely around life after a plane crash may seem overly simple, Gary Paulsen pulls it off with incredible skill. The only downside is the repetitive prose, and even that does not detract from the plot. Gripping, original, and thought-provoking, Hatchet is a wonderful four-star addition to any bookshelf.