The novel Hatchet primarily revolves around a boy’s adventure in a forest. The forest is a place he once craved, and he has unforgettable experiences that change his life. To summarize, our main character, Brian, is on summer vacation with his father who lives in a forest located in northern Canada. However, on his way there, the plane he was in crashed because the pilot had a heart attack, and Brian was the only passenger on the plane. Suddenly, Brian found himself faced with a problem, he needs to survive the forest and find a way back to civilization.

Unfortunately, Brian was only thirteen years old when he was stranded in the forest, and he was a boy who grew up on McDonald’s and other fast foods. Interestingly, however, his mother gave him a hatchet, a sharp knife, which would end up helping him quite a bit. Though Brian was in the deep and desolate forest, he used his knowledge about science and chemistry and the hatch from his mother to protect himself, and eventually he was saved.

This is an excellent novel for young readers. It reminds us to learn often and to apply what we’ve learned to the real world. Nowadays, we live safely and comfortably without any enormous problems like the in forest that may threaten our lives. And this is how Brian lived. Before this event, he did not pay much attention to needing survival skills. As we can imagine, he panicked during the first several days in the woods. But, later as he adjusted, he used his knowledge from school and even made a fire with some rocks and oxygen to ignite dry branches. This was the primary reason he was alived and finally saved.

Before this adventure, Brian expected he’d have a grand time in the forest, but the experience was not what he imagined at all. Everything he did after the plane crash became necessary for survival and he had to save himself from the bears, wolves and other animals. He also faced hunger, despair and other negative feelings. So, it is important also for readers to understand the difference between our imagination and the reality of the world.

Finally, an overarching theme of this novel resonates well with readers and it is to be brave and to never give up. During the first couple of days in th forest, Brian literally thought about the past and did not do anything productive to save himself. Later, however, he changed his complicit attitude and became more positive. He even faced the large animals bravely and used his intelligence to protect himself. For instance, he once came face to face with a bear and drove it away by fire without hesitation showing his bravery! Then, there is the issue of never giving up. During his months in the forest, Brian used the hatchet from his mother to build his little house and a raft which could float through the river. He always kept an optimistic mind. And, at last, he was saved and returned to his father.