GREAT READS

Hatchet

Gary Paulsen.

Like a young Bear Grylls of Man vs Wild fame, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is a survivor.  After a Cessna crash left him alone in the Canadian wilderness with little chance of rescue, Brian must learn to adapt.  Enduring bears, moose, wolves, porcupines, mosquito swarms, and physical and mental injury, Brian is only equipped with his wits and ingenuity to survive. It's because of its timeless "mind over matter" theme that Hatchet remains a favorite with adults and children, critics and readers. It doesn't hurt that Paulsen really knows what he's talking about. As a naturalist, survivalist, and Iditarod racer, Paulsen understands perseverance and what it really means to make something of nothing. Paulsen said he never intended to write other "Brian" books, but after receiving between 40,000 to 50,000 letters a year pleading for more, he relented.  Brian's saga continues with The River, Winter (an alternate ending for Hatchet), Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt, all of which were based on true events in Gary Paulsen's life.  If you like TV shows like The Alaska Experience, Man vs Wild, Survivorman, and Survivor, you'll love Paulsen's work. Not interested in fiction? Pick up a copy of Paulsen's Guts: The True Stories Behind Hatchet.  I have now read the whole action-packed series, none of which are over 200 pages.  This is a great series for those who love the outdoors and would be a good selection for reluctant readers, and is great to listen to on CD book or read in book form.

Recommended by Tim Andrews