Hatchet

In Hatchet, the Newbery Honor-winning novel by Gary Paulsen, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson finds himself stranded in the middle of the northern Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. Alone, with only the clothes on his back and armed with just a hatchet, Brian must radically transform if he is to survive. In fifty-four days, he learns to read nature, rely on his wits, conquer his fears, deal with his physical limitations, and overcome the guilt from his parents’ recent divorce. Paulsen’s fast-paced storytelling and vivid descriptions make this an engrossing read for older middle graders, particularly those who enjoy outdoor adventures.