Gary Paulsen is an author known for writing survival stories for young adults. One of his most famous works is Hatchet, about a 13-year old boy named Brian who survives 54 days alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. Brian has only a hatchet that his mother gave him as a gift. The story follows Brian as he learns to find food, make shelter, and endure the harsh conditions in nature. Through his ordeal, Brian matures and grows stronger while battling the challenges of being lost and isolated in the forest.

1. AN INTRODUCTION TO
HATCHET
Written by Gary Paulsen
(.wav)

2. About the Author
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Name: Gary Paulsen
Born: May 17, 1939
In 1985 he started
focusing on writing 1820-hours a day
Written more than 175
books and some 200
articles and short stories
Newbery Honor Books :
Hatchet, Dogsong, and
The Winter Room

3. Hatchet
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A book about
Survival
Nature
Life

4. What is a Newbery Honor Book?
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The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century
British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually
by the Association for Library Service to Children,
a division of the American Library Association, to the
author of the most distinguished contribution
to American literature for children.
One purpose of the Newbery Medal was stated as
follows: "To encourage original creative work in the field
of books for children.”
It is the first children’s book award in the world, and is
still recognized as the most discussed book award in
this country.

5. Characters
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Brian Robeson: The main character, 13 years old. On
the way to visit his father in the Canadian Oil Fields.
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Brian’s mother: Recently divorced from Brian’s father.
She gave Brian the hatchet as a gift before he left to go
see his father for the summer.
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Brian’s father: Lives in the Canadian Oil Fields. He is
awaiting Brian’s visit, as he is recently divorced from
Brian’s mother.
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The Pilot: Taking Brian to see his father.
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Terry: Brian’s good friend from New York.

6. Setting of Hatchet
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Hampton, New York: Where
Brian meets the plane that will
take him to visit his father.
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The Canadian North Woods:
Where Brian’s plane crashes,
and he learns to survive.
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New York City: Where Brian has
spent much of his life.
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1980’s

7. Plot of Hatchet
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Brian, a boy of 13, survives a plane crash in the Canadian
wilderness while on the way to visit his father, who is newly
divorced from his mother. Brian is terribly unhappy about
the divorce.
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With only a hatchet his mother gave him a as gift before the
trip and the clothes on his back, Brian has to figure out how
to survive while he battles the elements of nature: weather,
wildlife and all the challenges that come with it.
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Brian changes and grows as a person as a result of this
experience. Will he survive? Will he be rescued? Read the
book to find out!

8. Some questions
Answer the following questions using
your knowledge of survival and the
wilderness.

9. When Brian, the main character, crashes in
the wilderness, he only has the items that he
had on him. What three items would you
most likely have if you were to crash? How
would you use them?

10. When the plane
crashed, the
pilot was off
course. If you
were Brian,
would you stay
where you were
until help came
or would you
try to walk out?

11. People need
food, clothing,
and shelter. If
you were in
Brian’s
situation, which
would you try to
provide for
first? Why?

12. What would be the most painful thing
about being totally alone? Who would
you miss most? Who would miss you
most? What would you miss most?

13. “The End” of this presentation;
“The Beginning” of your
journey into Brian’s
adventure. Enjoy the ride!