Matt's+book+report+(Feb)


 * Name: **
 * __Book Report__ **

The title of my book is __Hatchet__. The author of my book is Gary Paulsen. **
 * 1. ****What is the title of your book and who is the author?

Brian Robeson is the main character in the book. He is 13 years old and his parents recently got divorced. Following a plane crash, Brian is very scared about whether he will survive or die in the wilderness. Being a city slicker, he does not know how to survive in the wilderness by himself. I would not want to be Brian!!!
 * 2. ****Name and describe two main characters.**

In the book __Hatchet__ by Gary Paulsen, Brian Robeson is on an airplane flying to visit his father in Canada. He is going there because his parents recently got divorced. The pilot lets Brian sit in the co pilot seat. Brian was able to see the pilot flying the plane, and even had a short flying lesson. During the flight the pilot suddenly had a heart attack and died. Brian had to take control of flying the plane. He put on the pilot's headset and tried to communicate with anyone to help fly the plane. The plane had drifted off course and over a remote mountainous region. Brian judged that his only escape was to crash into a nearby lake. Just before he crash landed, he thought, "I'm going to die." Brian screamed as the plane plummeted into the mountain lake and began sinking. Lucky to be alive from the crash, Brian then desperately climbed through the shattered windshield, and swam to shore.
 * 3. ****Write a summary of your book.** (5-12 sentences)

Brian was freezing when he came out of the water. He looked around but did not see anything. Brian did not know how to make a fire. All he had was winter coat and a hatchet his mother had given him. He did not know anything about surviving in the wilderness. Collecting his thoughts, Brian built a basic shelter. During that first night, something came into Brian's camp. Frightened, Brian swung his hatchet at the ground to hit the intruder. He missed and got pricked, telling him it was a porcupine. But, when Brian had thrown his hatchet, it hit a rock which caused a spark. That gave Brian an idea: he could hit the rock with his hatchet and create sparks to make a fire. Brian's first try did not work. Then, he struck again but it did not work. It took Brian several more times to get the fire going using dry tinder, twigs and small pieces of wood. Brian thought it would be important to collect more wood to keep the fire going.

After days of eating nothing but wild berries, Brian was desperate for food. He craved the cheleseburgers, milkshakes and french fries he used to eat at home. One day, he decided he was going to try to catch fish. Brian made a simple spear from wood sharpened with his hatchet. He went to the water to see if there were any fish but there were none to be seen. He next made a bow and arrow from branches he found in the forest. He went hunting for any food he could find. After a few unsuccessful hours, Brian saw something move: it was a foolbird. The bird was camouflaged to blend right in with a tree or rock. Brian tried to hit one but it was too fast for him. The birds were too fast for Brian, so he gave up.

Days later, Brian again tried fishing. After many tries, he put his spear in the water. This time he finally stuck his spear in the fish. Brian now had food! He cooked his fish and enjoyed a delicious meal. Brian took the bad parts of the fish and used them for bait to fish again. On a later night, Brian heard a dragging sound in the sand near the lake. The next morning, Brian discovered a turtle burying its eggs. Brian took the eggs and ate them hungrily without cooking them. He later took his bow and arrow and finally shot and hit a foolbird. Brian took the bird and cooked it on the fire he had made. As time went on, Brian made a pond at the edge of the lake that he used to catch fish. Brian was starting to thrive in the wilderness and not just survive.

Just as things were getting better, one day while fishing, a moose attacked Brian. It pounced on him and dragged him into the water. As Brian tried to run away, the moose came back a second time and attacked him again. Finally, the moose left Brian, and he quietly sneaked back to his shelter. Brian had to put more wood on the fire for the night. Bruised from the moose attacks, Brian tried to sleep. That night, Brian awoke to a familiar sound he had heard on TV before. It was a tornado! Brian could hear the trees cracking and then his shelter too. The wind scattered his shelter, his fire and all his belongings. Brian was having no luck.

The next day, Brian found his spear and decided to try to catch some fish. While he was eating his catch, Brian saw the tail of the plane sticking out of the water. The tornado had blown the water and exposed the plane. He had an idea: he could go into the tail of the plane and get the survival kit. The survival kit would have everything he needed. Brian made a raft out of wood and vine and floated out to the plane. Brian took his hatchet and smashed at the side of the plane. It took Brian a few minutes to break through, but finally, Brian broke in. He found the survival kit! It had matches and lighters, a sleeping bag, a rifle, a cookset with utensils, and a first aid kit. Then on the bottom of the kit, Brian found food packages. Brian took his new treasure back to his camp and put some food onto the cooking pan. He was getting ready for a feast when suddenly, Brian heard a motor. He saw a plane right above him. The plane had sighted the crashed plane and the fire, and landed on the lake near Brian's shelter. The pilot took Brian in the plane and they were gone!

Hours later, Brian arrived safely at his Dad's house. Brian was happy to be home, even though his parents stayed divorced. Brian's Dad returned to the oil fields and his Mom stayed in the city. Brian lived through a dangerous and scary journey, but had survived!

This book is good because the challenges Brian faces are interesting, as is the way he overcomes them.
 * Big Question #1: What makes this book good? **

This book would be better if Brian had no bad luck.
 * Big Question #2: What would make this book better? **

The author wants you to know that if you overcome your fears, you can suceed.
 * Big Question #3: What’s the one most important thing the author wants you to know? **

The author wrote this to show you can overcome your adversity if you try and keep a positive attitude.
 * Big Question #4: Why did the writer write this? **

The audience needs to know that Brian's parents are divorced, and also that Brian does not know how to survive in the wilderness by himself. He must overcome these challenges and his fears.
 * Big Question #5: What does the audience need to know to understand and enjoy the book? **