"The Hatchet" is an adventure about a young boy's
survival in the Canadian
wilderness. The writer explains how Brian, the protagonist in the
story, is faced with many challenging situation that require maturity and strength. Paulson's book thrives on themes of survival, courage, self-discovery, and hope. It shows that through conscious detail, Paulson successfully integrates positive learning experiences about survival in nature into a believable story that is well suited for younger readers.