---
product_id: 211879
title: "Hatchet"
price: "$33.88"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/211879-hatchet
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# 4.7/5 from 27,573 readers Top #1 Teen & YA Fiction Authentic survival storytelling Hatchet

**Price:** $33.88
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🔥 Master survival through storytelling—because every leader needs a hatchet mindset!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Hatchet
- **How much does it cost?** $33.88 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/211879-hatchet)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
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## Key Features

- • **Award-Winning Bestseller:** Ranked #1 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction and Survival Stories—join the millions who can't put it down.
- • **Cross-Generational Appeal:** Perfect for teens, managers, and retirees alike—because great storytelling knows no age.
- • **Unmatched Survival Realism:** Dive into Brian's gripping wilderness journey that feels like you're right there with him.
- • **Reluctant Readers’ Secret Weapon:** Transforms even the most hesitant readers into adventure lovers with its clean, exciting narrative.
- • **Series Starter with Endless Thrills:** Not just a book, but the gateway to an entire acclaimed series—don’t miss out on the full experience.

## Overview

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a critically acclaimed survival novel ranked #1 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction, boasting a 4.7-star rating from over 27,000 readers. It follows 13-year-old Brian’s intense journey of self-reliance after a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness, blending authentic survival skills with compelling storytelling that captivates readers across generations.

## Description

desertcart.com: Hatchet: 9781416936473: Paulsen, Gary: Books

Review: Great book to entice male nonreaders into reading - Excellent book for teens to retirees who love the outdoors! It is the first book in a series of books that are clean and exciting. Read the whole series. Possibly more appropriate for men and boys, but my wife also thoroughly enjoyed them all.
Review: A taut survival tale! - Review # 1239 with 1238 posted 15 days ago about "Hatchet," a book written 20 years ago by Gary Paulsen-- The point is: What new thing can I say about such a book? The answer is probably nothing with the point being that desertcart allows each of its customers an individual voice, despite how many there might be. As a children's librarian (including those middle school children), I know that "Hatchet" is a great recommended read for reluctant readers for whatever reasons. Why haven't I read this book, I continued to ask myself. So--this summer I asked my great-niece and -nephew, 12 and 10, if we could all read and discuss this book? All agreed, no one finished. Here's how the first couple of chapters go: Brian, aged 13, is flying to a remote area in Northern Canada to stay with his dad. Because the area is so remote, a private plane must be hired. That means one pilot, one passenger in a tiny two-seater. Then, as it so happens from time to time in the real world--out of nowhere, the pilot has a heart attack and dies. In a rush of panic, Brian takes over and flies the plane until fuel runs out. Then he must land. Therein lies the difficulty. With so many lakes and rivers in the Canadian wilderness, where he is, at that point and moment in space and time, reveals an unsatisfactory water bed, but he must land anyway. Water is like concrete to a flying object on impact. Brian hits his head and wrenches his whole body in the crash, but he makes it out and swims to shore in icy water. Now that's an exciting beginning. Who wouldn't want to read further, but I didn't. Finally, when I discovered that none of us had finished the book, I picked it up again and continued reading. At exactly that point begins one incredible episode after the other in Brian's personal and up close experience with a life threatening adventure. A city boy, Brian knows nothing about survival skills or even simple camping. What resources he calls on are two: television programs and a teacher's mantra that each of us is the person to most rely on. As an aside, Paulsen spent a few nights camping in his backyard, using stones and sticks to start a fire. Finally, his wife asked what in the world was he doing? (I think this is just a neat story to relate about the background for his book and not really true.) He replied, "Trying to start a fire." "Well, why don't you just use matches?" she asked. "I don't have any," he responded. And neither did Brian, so the description of his efforts to start a fire ring true--because they are. In his two month sojourn (not intentional, mind you), Brian meets a bear, fool birds, chokeberries, a crazed elk, rabbits, a tornado, and a continuing incredible (but believable) array of obstacles and milestones and little victories. Brian fully expected to be rescued within 24 hours until he remembered how off-course he probably flew the plane himself. Hours turned into days, days into weeks, and .... I wish I could comment on the ending because I have some things to say, but in whatever subtle way I said it, I would reveal spoilers. Allow me this: I had been right there with Brian the whole way. The ending stunned me. I mean it--I was stunned! Because of the ending I began researching what else Paulsen had written, and discovered more Brian books. I cannot say anything about them either, but I've ordered them for my school library. Now I know why I can recommend this book to reluctant readers--and of course, anyone who loves a good story!! Hatchet? Didn't I mention it? It's really not the hatchet that saves Brian for so long--it is Brian himself wielding the hatchet. This book is definitely a great read!

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #347 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1 in Teen & Young Adult Parents Fiction #1 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Being a Teen (Books) #6 in Teen & Young Adult Survival Stories |
| Book 1 of 5  | Brian's Saga |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (27,689) |
| Dimensions  | 5.13 x 0.6 x 7.63 inches |
| Edition  | Reissue |
| Grade level  | 5 - 9 |
| ISBN-10  | 1416936475 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1416936473 |
| Item Weight  | 2.31 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 192 pages |
| Publication date  | December 26, 2006 |
| Publisher  | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |
| Reading age  | 9+ years, from customers |

## Images

![Hatchet - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71CCsU8HiTL.jpg)
![Hatchet - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/515rI7Qcq9L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book to entice male nonreaders into reading
*by C***G on October 28, 2025*

Excellent book for teens to retirees who love the outdoors! It is the first book in a series of books that are clean and exciting. Read the whole series. Possibly more appropriate for men and boys, but my wife also thoroughly enjoyed them all.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A taut survival tale!
*by J***S on September 2, 2010*

Review # 1239 with 1238 posted 15 days ago about "Hatchet," a book written 20 years ago by Gary Paulsen-- The point is: What new thing can I say about such a book? The answer is probably nothing with the point being that Amazon allows each of its customers an individual voice, despite how many there might be. As a children's librarian (including those middle school children), I know that "Hatchet" is a great recommended read for reluctant readers for whatever reasons. Why haven't I read this book, I continued to ask myself. So--this summer I asked my great-niece and -nephew, 12 and 10, if we could all read and discuss this book? All agreed, no one finished. Here's how the first couple of chapters go: Brian, aged 13, is flying to a remote area in Northern Canada to stay with his dad. Because the area is so remote, a private plane must be hired. That means one pilot, one passenger in a tiny two-seater. Then, as it so happens from time to time in the real world--out of nowhere, the pilot has a heart attack and dies. In a rush of panic, Brian takes over and flies the plane until fuel runs out. Then he must land. Therein lies the difficulty. With so many lakes and rivers in the Canadian wilderness, where he is, at that point and moment in space and time, reveals an unsatisfactory water bed, but he must land anyway. Water is like concrete to a flying object on impact. Brian hits his head and wrenches his whole body in the crash, but he makes it out and swims to shore in icy water. Now that's an exciting beginning. Who wouldn't want to read further, but I didn't. Finally, when I discovered that none of us had finished the book, I picked it up again and continued reading. At exactly that point begins one incredible episode after the other in Brian's personal and up close experience with a life threatening adventure. A city boy, Brian knows nothing about survival skills or even simple camping. What resources he calls on are two: television programs and a teacher's mantra that each of us is the person to most rely on. As an aside, Paulsen spent a few nights camping in his backyard, using stones and sticks to start a fire. Finally, his wife asked what in the world was he doing? (I think this is just a neat story to relate about the background for his book and not really true.) He replied, "Trying to start a fire." "Well, why don't you just use matches?" she asked. "I don't have any," he responded. And neither did Brian, so the description of his efforts to start a fire ring true--because they are. In his two month sojourn (not intentional, mind you), Brian meets a bear, fool birds, chokeberries, a crazed elk, rabbits, a tornado, and a continuing incredible (but believable) array of obstacles and milestones and little victories. Brian fully expected to be rescued within 24 hours until he remembered how off-course he probably flew the plane himself. Hours turned into days, days into weeks, and .... I wish I could comment on the ending because I have some things to say, but in whatever subtle way I said it, I would reveal spoilers. Allow me this: I had been right there with Brian the whole way. The ending stunned me. I mean it--I was stunned! Because of the ending I began researching what else Paulsen had written, and discovered more Brian books. I cannot say anything about them either, but I've ordered them for my school library. Now I know why I can recommend this book to reluctant readers--and of course, anyone who loves a good story!! Hatchet? Didn't I mention it? It's really not the hatchet that saves Brian for so long--it is Brian himself wielding the hatchet. This book is definitely a great read!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lesson’s Learned the hard way!
*by C***R on January 23, 2026*

When a young city boy finds himself alone on an island after a plane crash, he has to rely on instincts and former knowledge to piece together survival skills. He learns many things like making a fire, making crude weapons to catch fish & spear small game, finding shelter, and co existing with bears, wolves & an angry moose.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Hatchet
- Holes (Holes Series)
- Where the Red Fern Grows

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-02-25*