Hatchet

Hatchet is a survival novel written by Gary Paulsen.

The story follows Brian Robeson, a 13-year-old boy who is traveling to visit his estranged father in the Canadian oil fields when the pilot of the small plane he is in suffers a heart attack and dies.

Brian, with no prior flying experience, manages to crash-land the plane into a lake.

With only the clothes on his back and a hatchet given to him by his mother, Brian must learn to survive in the harsh Canadian wilderness.

He faces numerous challenges, including finding food, making shelter, and dealing with various dangers such as wild animals and natural elements.

Throughout his ordeal, Brian also grapples with the emotional burden of his parents' divorce and the secret he carries about his mother's affair.

The novel explores themes of survival, positive thinking, and personal growth as Brian adapts to his new environment and ultimately finds a way to be rescued.