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A Conversation About “Hatchet” a Novel about Survival in the Wilderness
After reading the novel “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen I was inspired to write about thirteen year old Brain’s survival in the wilderness. For almost three months he only relied on himself.
I cannot resist. I must tell at least part of the story before I give any opinions, thoughts, or insights.
Brian sat in the copilot seat of a small Cessna 406 — — a bush plane. He was looking out the window and all he could see was green forest. Hours had passed, Brian was bored and almost asleep when he was startled by the pilot’s loud voice.”Hey kid you want to learn how to fly the plane?”
Brian had never flown in a plane before, much less fly one. All the instruments and the controls were right before him, the pilot instructed him to put his feet on the rudder, then to take the wheel in his hands. Then the pilot took his feet off the rudder and his hands off the wheel. The pilot said “See kid you’re flying the plane.” They were flipping every which way until Brian learned to ease up on the rudder and not jerk the wheel. Brian relaxed and kept the plane straight ahead. After a while the pilot took back the controls. Now Brian settled back and looked out the window, but he could feel his eyes burning and tears streaming down his cheeks. He could not forget the ugly word — — divorce.
