Em with Hatchet and hatchet!

Hatchet is the story of a boy named Brian Robeson surviving in the Canadian wilderness after his plane has crashed.  This book was recommended to me by my 9-year old daughter, Em, who is a great reader!  She recently read this for her book club at school and was very surprised that it took me less than 3 days to complete when it took her about 3 weeks.  (I haven’t told her yet about the difference in YA books versus literature…).

Although pretty straightforward, there is some questions I have.  A sub-plot was that Brian’s mother was involved in some sort of secret (obviously an affair) with another man, which Brian referred to as the “Secret”.  There was a lot of mention about this being the possible reason (you think?) his parents were divorced at the beginning of the story but then it is not mentioned again until the epilogue where SPOILER ALERT Brian is rescued.  Why bother introducing this at all?  Do kids need to have a reason to feel guilty about their parent’s divorce?  Does any kid?

Em tells me that there are sequels to this book, one of which we bought a few weeks back called The River and I think there is another book called Brian’s Winter.  Um, I thought he was SPOILER ALERT rescued?

I may have to read those as well, just so Em and I can have some more book club discussion.

Good Canadian writer.  I’d recommend this book for ages 8-11, for both boys and girls.

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