“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”– St. Francis of Assisi

Reading Level: Grades 5-6

Interest Level:  Grades 5-8

Review and Comments:

As Brian buckles his seat belt and settles in the small plane to begin a trip to visit his father for the summer, he never dreams his life is about to change forever. He is distracted by angry, raging thoughts about his parents’ divorce.  In the tangle of all of those emotions is a secret about his mom and that “Secret” is like an anchor weighing him down not only in his heart but in his thoughts. Those thoughts again assault his mind as he begins his flight. After a lengthy period of silence, he and the pilot finally begin to talk a bit. Brain is surprised when the pilot shows him how to use the rudder, and he actually flies the plane on his own.  After that things go horribly wrong.  The pilot has a heart attack and dies leaving Brian alone flying over the vast Canadian woods. Continue reading Strength in the Face of Danger: A Review of ‘Hatchet’ by Gary Paulsen →