2. Hatchet  Author: Gary Paulsen Book Talk by: Jennifer Steele

3. Brian Robeson is a thirteen year old boy who lives in Hampton, New York. Brian’s parents are going through a divorce at the time and he is having a hard time dealing with it.

4. “Divorce. It was an ugly word he thought. A tearing ugly word that meant fights, yelling, and lawyers. A breaking word, an ugly breaking word. Divorce. Secrets. No, not secrets so much as just the Secret. What he knew and had not told anybody, what he knew about his mother that had caused the divorce, what he knew, what he knew---the Secret.” pg. 2-3

5. What do you think the secret is that Brian knows?

6. Brian’s father ends up getting visitation rights during the summer.

7. It is now summer time and Brian is headed towards the Canadian tundra to visit his father.

8. Before boarding a small Cessna plane, with the only other person being the pilot, Brian’s mother gives him a gift.

9. “I got something for you, for the trip said his mother. Brian took the sack and opened the top. Inside there was a hatchet, the kind with a steel handle and a rubber handgrip. The head was in a stout leather case that had a brass-riveted belt loop.” pg. 8

10. While flying towards Canada, the pilot somewhat teaches Brian how to fly and control the plane.

11. Abruptly, the pilot begins having shoulder and stomach pains.

12. “A jolt took the pilot like a hammer blow, so forcefully that he seemed to crush back into the seat. His mouth went rigid as he swore and jerked a short series of slams into the seat, holding his shoulder. Brian knew now. The pilot was having a heart attack and even as the knowledge came to Brian, he saw the pilot slam into the seat one more time, one more awful time he slammed back into the seat and his right leg jerked, pulling the plane to the side in a sudden twist and his head fell forward and spit came.” pg. 10-11

13. What seemed like a simple flight has now turned into the challenge of Brian’s life as he realizes the danger he is about to face.

14. “Brian Robeson was stopped and stricken with a white-flash of horror, a terror so intense that his breathing, his thinking, and nearly his heart had stopped.” pg. 12 “Help! Somebody help me! I’m in this plane and don’t know…don’t know… don’t know…” pg. 18

15. How will Brian react? Will he have to fly the plane alone? What would you do?

16. Suddenly, the plane dies in mid- air and there is no radio transmission!

17. Brian decides that he must take control of the plane and try to land it. Remembering what little advice the pilot told him, he pushes the nose down on the plane, throws up, and prepares to land in the “L” shaped lake.

18. Can Brian land the plane safely or will it crash into the icy cold water?

19. If Brian lives how will he survive in the Canadian woods?

20. Where will he sleep and what will he eat?

21. What kind of wild animals live in the Canadian woods and will they attack him?

22. Will Brian use the hatchet his mother gave him to stay alive?

23. How long will Brian have to live in the woods until he is rescued? Will he be rescued?

24. Is Brian resourceful enough to stay alive? Would you be?

25. Read Hatchet and find out!