Reread September 28th, 2020
Divorced parents. Short, terrible flight which ended in being stranded in the wilderness. Isolation and struggle. Outside of the parental situation, these are all hallmarks of any plane crash story including Gary Paulsen's Hatchet.
Why are we so fascinated with the worst case scenario? I think there are several elements humans are drawn to in these stories. And I think Paulsen's take on this type of narrative was an elevated take putting it safely in my pool of favorite, five-star reads.
Fear and panic are often what provides a controlled anxiety readers are looking for in survival stories. Brian is hit hard with this when the pilot who is taking him to his father has a heart attack right in front of him. This feeling will revisit him throughout the plot – moments of overwhelm at all that needs to be done just to survive. Panic when things go very fucking wrong. I think experiencing these heavy emotions can serve to remind us all the creature comforts we take for granted. All of the major things we think will be the end of the world that don't really fucking matter.
The lasting impact this book made on me was Brian's resilience. We get to see him struggle. We get to see him want to quit. But we see him use every ounce of will to fight for his own survival. He recognizes shortcomings and works towards eliminating them. He's clever and resourceful making choices I could never conceive of having to make.
I think Paulsen having a younger character go through these trials added to making this book more engaging. Readers likely expect someone so young to fail. But Brian proves time and time again survival isn't about age or experience. It's about an inner strength all humans have to draw from in extreme situations.
Paulsen also makes readers consider the nitty gritty. Illness could break you. Fauna may already be a consideration in your attempts to maintain your camp, but there will always be the unexpected.
I think the first time I read this book as a middle schooler, I couldn't have as rich of an appreciation. I could engage with the story with childlike wonder, which has its own benefits. But rereading as an adult opened my eyes to the way such a short, easy read could resonate so deeply on the strength of the human spirit when faced with what seems like the impossible.
What I'm currently reading:
The Intruder by Freida McFadden