This book is very good, but also very frustrating because it leaves you with a lot of questions. The author briefly ever talks about Brain’s Secret and the problems with his parents. He tells just enough to know that there is a problem, but never what the problem really is. It’s interesting to me the transformation of the main character, Brian, and how quickly he changes. He has no choice. He has to become less passive and afraid and take control. He first has to learn how to land the plane without killing himself, then he must find food, and finally he learns to build a fire. Through all of this, he’s also dealing with the sadness of his mother and father’s split and the death of the captain of the plane. He even makes statements about the person he “used to be” and he “can’t go back” to that. This book can really show young readers (especially ones with divorced parents) that they can get through struggles, they just have to be strong. I believe that to be Paulsen’s purpose. Brain is someone that the reader can look up to because he changes to fit and survive in the environment he’s in.
Paulsen uses a lot of techniques to tell this story. One thing that he does is foreshadowing. For example, when the pilot begins complaining of pain, the reader begins to suspect it to be something more serious than just a stomachache. Paulsen also does a good job of balancing his use of flashbacks. He gives us just enough information from the past that connects with the present, but gives nothing more. This adds to the suspension of the book because readers really want to know if Brian will get rescue, if he will have to go searching for rescuers or what will happen. His writing style is very interesting, too. He uses short, blunt sentences that go directly to the point, with very little flowery language, yet he still paints a picture of the landscape for readers – the sights, sounds, smells, etc. I feel like I am there. The theme of survival is very present from the very beginning of the book and will continue throughout the rest of the book. Personally, I really liked what Brian’s teacher said – “You are your most valuable asset. Don’t forget that. You are the best thing you have.”
I really enjoyed the beginning of Hatchet and I think it is a very interesting story. I thought the way Brian vaguely talked about the secret was curious. At first it was almost like he was avoiding the issue. I think that is a natural reaction for a child who has gone through a divorce. After the crash he had to face a lot of frightening things that come along with being stranded. I think the thing I admired most about Brian is that he chose to fight for his life and he understood the importance of himself. I really appreciated his positive attitude because I do not know if I would have responded like that. I know that he still doubts himself but he stays pretty positive. I think Brian begins to open up a little more about his parent’s divorce and the secret the longer he is stranded. I am very interested to see the change Brian encounters mentally throughout the rest of the book. Perhaps this situation will allow him to come to terms with the divorce and maybe even forgive his parents.
This book started out normally and then took a turn for the worst. I thought this was going to be a simple plane ride for him to go see his father but then it turns into a horrible tragedy that leaves this thirteen year old kid out in the wilderness by himself. I like the way he conquers his fears and finds a way to survive everything that is thrown at him. I can say that at that age I don't remember retaining that much information about wilderness shows like he did and imagine that I would have been out of luck had I been in this situation. I really can't wait to see if he ever makes it out of the woods or if his father will find out about the Secret. Great book so far.
This book started off as a normal story about a boy who is bitter about his parents’ divorce. He has to fly to his father’s house where I expected him to learn life lessons and find peace about the divorce. The book surprised me and horrified me when the pilot died of a heart attack and Brian was left to fly the plane alone. It amazed me how a 13 year old boy could have handled and even thought of finding water to land the plane in. I think I would panic in that situation and let the plane crash wherever. I found it odd that one of the first things he thought about after the plane crash was his parents’ divorce and how much he resented his mother for cheating. He definitively had a lot of guilt about not telling his father about the “the secret.” I think he thought there was a good chance that he would die out in the woods so he had time to think about the things that really bothered him. I like how Brian always tried to stay positive even during the grimmest times because he said he needed to be hopeful. Kaitlyn
First of all, if I was in the situation that thirteen year old kid is in, I would probably be dead by now, or close to it. His fight for survival is remarkable. It is interesting to see that it is as much of a mental struggle as it is a physical one to stay alive. There are several times where Brian simply breakdowns and cries because he doesn't know how he can take it anymore. However, every single time, he pulls himself together, knowing that in order to survive, there is no option to feel sorry for himself. Another way that Brian shows mental strength is when he finds a way to keep up positivity by continuing to think of "the searchers" in hope that they would not forget about him. He keeps busy so that he will not become depressed thinking of the desolate situation he is in. After Brian had an encounter with the bear, he is thinking about it that night, and it is the first time that "he is not thinking of himself, or his own life" since the plane crash. This really gives a picture of how much time he has had alone to dwell on things. In a terrifying situation like that, he could have thought too much and given up all hope or become too panicked to think straight, but he continues to try to think in a positive way and this is important.
On another note, it's also helpful that he happens to have such enlightening dreams - that wouldn't happen to me. I would just dream about chicken nuggets or something.
I liked the beginning of this book because it shows how quickly your life can take a turn for the worse. Something as simple as a plane ride to see your dad could turn into a life threatening situation. The young boy in the story really stepped up and helped himself. Most kids his age wouldn't have even made it out of the plane. He did panic but he was able to calm himself down enough to make the right decisions so that he could survive on his own. He knows that he could die from many different things but he does a good job of thinking positive. If he didn't think positive like he did I don't think he would have lasted through the first night.
Reading this book reminds me of the times back in the Boy Scouting program. We had a campout every year that consisted of building our place for us to sleep in for the night, using nothing but a hatchet (or saw) and rope. And especially as a thirteen-year-old, it is really hard to think to do everything he did. It was hard for me, yet i had the training! So i find that in this book, like we talked about with the last book, it comes down to a lot of coincidences. He just so happened to throw his hatchet at the porcupine and made sparks. He just so happened to have the dream of his friend telling him about the fire. On a different note. i love how much the author spends not using dialog. In fiction writing, it's so much easier to explain things by having your characters talk. It's showing the reader what's going on. But what the author does in this book is show. The author shows what's going on. The only reason Brian says anything is because that's what any human would do.
I love this book, though i feel it could do with a little less luck Jacob Poettker
By the end of the book, Brian has evolved to become the consummate "bad mother." After all kinds of hell, trial, error, victory, and defeat, his rescue finally arrives and he meets it like Bilbo Baggins inviting someone into his Hobbit-hole for tea. His survival is no longer a big deal.
However, for all that he's conquered, something remains. The Secret. He won't give it up. As far as the reader knows, he never tells his dad. So, after all of what he has just experienced, of all the new-found strength, resilience, courage, and drive he's discovered, he is still defeated by the Secret.
But is it really defeat? Does he need to tell it? Would it give him a sense of closure, along with his father? Is it toxic for him to withhold the information? We are given no hints to the external situation past this point, so it is impossible to tell aside from what we can gather from his past interaction with the psychological conflict of the Secret. I think that, if there were a moral to the story, it would concern the dynamic between all that Brian has done and his inability to let go of the Secret. Though he's survived in an arboreal hell where he is the forest's plaything, he cannot put the last nail in the coffin of his parent's relationship.
This book is very good, but also very frustrating because it leaves you with a lot of questions. The author briefly ever talks about Brain’s Secret and the problems with his parents. He tells just enough to know that there is a problem, but never what the problem really is. It’s interesting to me the transformation of the main character, Brian, and how quickly he changes. He has no choice. He has to become less passive and afraid and take control. He first has to learn how to land the plane without killing himself, then he must find food, and finally he learns to build a fire. Through all of this, he’s also dealing with the sadness of his mother and father’s split and the death of the captain of the plane. He even makes statements about the person he “used to be” and he “can’t go back” to that. This book can really show young readers (especially ones with divorced parents) that they can get through struggles, they just have to be strong. I believe that to be Paulsen’s purpose. Brain is someone that the reader can look up to because he changes to fit and survive in the environment he’s in.
ReplyDeletePaulsen uses a lot of techniques to tell this story. One thing that he does is foreshadowing. For example, when the pilot begins complaining of pain, the reader begins to suspect it to be something more serious than just a stomachache. Paulsen also does a good job of balancing his use of flashbacks. He gives us just enough information from the past that connects with the present, but gives nothing more. This adds to the suspension of the book because readers really want to know if Brian will get rescue, if he will have to go searching for rescuers or what will happen. His writing style is very interesting, too. He uses short, blunt sentences that go directly to the point, with very little flowery language, yet he still paints a picture of the landscape for readers – the sights, sounds, smells, etc. I feel like I am there. The theme of survival is very present from the very beginning of the book and will continue throughout the rest of the book. Personally, I really liked what Brian’s teacher said – “You are your most valuable asset. Don’t forget that. You are the best thing you have.”
ReplyDelete~Sheridan W.
I really enjoyed the beginning of Hatchet and I think it is a very interesting story. I thought the way Brian vaguely talked about the secret was curious. At first it was almost like he was avoiding the issue. I think that is a natural reaction for a child who has gone through a divorce. After the crash he had to face a lot of frightening things that come along with being stranded. I think the thing I admired most about Brian is that he chose to fight for his life and he understood the importance of himself. I really appreciated his positive attitude because I do not know if I would have responded like that. I know that he still doubts himself but he stays pretty positive. I think Brian begins to open up a little more about his parent’s divorce and the secret the longer he is stranded. I am very interested to see the change Brian encounters mentally throughout the rest of the book. Perhaps this situation will allow him to come to terms with the divorce and maybe even forgive his parents.
ReplyDeleteMacKenzie Woods
This book started out normally and then took a turn for the worst. I thought this was going to be a simple plane ride for him to go see his father but then it turns into a horrible tragedy that leaves this thirteen year old kid out in the wilderness by himself. I like the way he conquers his fears and finds a way to survive everything that is thrown at him. I can say that at that age I don't remember retaining that much information about wilderness shows like he did and imagine that I would have been out of luck had I been in this situation. I really can't wait to see if he ever makes it out of the woods or if his father will find out about the Secret. Great book so far.
ReplyDeleteThis book started off as a normal story about a boy who is bitter about his parents’ divorce. He has to fly to his father’s house where I expected him to learn life lessons and find peace about the divorce. The book surprised me and horrified me when the pilot died of a heart attack and Brian was left to fly the plane alone. It amazed me how a 13 year old boy could have handled and even thought of finding water to land the plane in. I think I would panic in that situation and let the plane crash wherever. I found it odd that one of the first things he thought about after the plane crash was his parents’ divorce and how much he resented his mother for cheating. He definitively had a lot of guilt about not telling his father about the “the secret.” I think he thought there was a good chance that he would die out in the woods so he had time to think about the things that really bothered him. I like how Brian always tried to stay positive even during the grimmest times because he said he needed to be hopeful.
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn
First of all, if I was in the situation that thirteen year old kid is in, I would probably be dead by now, or close to it. His fight for survival is remarkable. It is interesting to see that it is as much of a mental struggle as it is a physical one to stay alive. There are several times where Brian simply breakdowns and cries because he doesn't know how he can take it anymore. However, every single time, he pulls himself together, knowing that in order to survive, there is no option to feel sorry for himself. Another way that Brian shows mental strength is when he finds a way to keep up positivity by continuing to think of "the searchers" in hope that they would not forget about him. He keeps busy so that he will not become depressed thinking of the desolate situation he is in. After Brian had an encounter with the bear, he is thinking about it that night, and it is the first time that "he is not thinking of himself, or his own life" since the plane crash. This really gives a picture of how much time he has had alone to dwell on things. In a terrifying situation like that, he could have thought too much and given up all hope or become too panicked to think straight, but he continues to try to
ReplyDeletethink in a positive way and this is important.
On another note, it's also helpful that he happens to have such enlightening dreams - that wouldn't happen to me. I would just dream about chicken nuggets or something.
Marianna Mercer
I liked the beginning of this book because it shows how quickly your life can take a turn for the worse. Something as simple as a plane ride to see your dad could turn into a life threatening situation. The young boy in the story really stepped up and helped himself. Most kids his age wouldn't have even made it out of the plane. He did panic but he was able to calm himself down enough to make the right decisions so that he could survive on his own. He knows that he could die from many different things but he does a good job of thinking positive. If he didn't think positive like he did I don't think he would have lasted through the first night.
ReplyDeleteReading this book reminds me of the times back in the Boy Scouting program. We had a campout every year that consisted of building our place for us to sleep in for the night, using nothing but a hatchet (or saw) and rope. And especially as a thirteen-year-old, it is really hard to think to do everything he did. It was hard for me, yet i had the training! So i find that in this book, like we talked about with the last book, it comes down to a lot of coincidences. He just so happened to throw his hatchet at the porcupine and made sparks. He just so happened to have the dream of his friend telling him about the fire.
ReplyDeleteOn a different note. i love how much the author spends not using dialog. In fiction writing, it's so much easier to explain things by having your characters talk. It's showing the reader what's going on. But what the author does in this book is show. The author shows what's going on. The only reason Brian says anything is because that's what any human would do.
I love this book, though i feel it could do with a little less luck
Jacob Poettker
By the end of the book, Brian has evolved to become the consummate "bad mother." After all kinds of hell, trial, error, victory, and defeat, his rescue finally arrives and he meets it like Bilbo Baggins inviting someone into his Hobbit-hole for tea. His survival is no longer a big deal.
ReplyDeleteHowever, for all that he's conquered, something remains. The Secret. He won't give it up. As far as the reader knows, he never tells his dad. So, after all of what he has just experienced, of all the new-found strength, resilience, courage, and drive he's discovered, he is still defeated by the Secret.
But is it really defeat? Does he need to tell it? Would it give him a sense of closure, along with his father? Is it toxic for him to withhold the information? We are given no hints to the external situation past this point, so it is impossible to tell aside from what we can gather from his past interaction with the psychological conflict of the Secret. I think that, if there were a moral to the story, it would concern the dynamic between all that Brian has done and his inability to let go of the Secret. Though he's survived in an arboreal hell where he is the forest's plaything, he cannot put the last nail in the coffin of his parent's relationship.
Mason Trupe.
DeleteDerp.