Hatchet By: Gary Paulsen Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a survival story and I would recommend this book for 7 and up. And I would rate this book a 9/10 because it shows you never to give up. Hatchet is an amazing book because it shows a kid how to grow up even when he or she is alone. The kid's name is Brian and he was going to visit his dad on a small bush plane but they crashed. The pilot died but Brian was still alive; he got out of the bush plane and landed at a lake and trees all around him in Canada . Brian has a personality like no one has. He is someone who will never give up and keeps going. But until help arrives he is on his own.