Being Alone in the middle of nowhere isn’t very fun, but being cold and alone takes it to a whole other level; just ask Brian Robeson. Im thrilled to read the next book in the Hatched series as soon as it arrives. In the meantime my final statement to this book is: Amazing and must read! He would have to find some way to protect himself, some weapon. The fire worked well when it was burning, but it had burned down. His hatchet and knife would have done nothing more than make the bear really angry -- something he did not like to think about -- and his bow was good only for smaller game. He had never tried to shoot anything bigger than a fool bird or rabbit with it and doubted that the bow would push the arrow deep enough to do anything but -- again -- make the bear really mad. Each state in the United States has game laws. Many states require a hunting and fishing license. Ask students to find out the laws regarding hunting and fishing in their state. Why is it important to have such laws? Everything I have already written about this book is still true. It continues to be one of my all time favorites and holds up even while reading it for so many times now. I love the tight writing and the emotional journey of Brian. The survival topic is perfectly written and especially the failures and mistakes that the protagonist makes really sets this book apart from any other simple living in the wilderness story.

Students may also enjoy locating a camp in another part of the country. How does the locale of the camp affect the type of survival skills taught? Encourage students to discuss the pros and cons of Brian’s choices. What are the many factors that Brian considers before making his decision? Ask students to find incidents in Brian’s Winter where Brian is faced with making important decisions. How do his decisions impact his health and safety? I feel that the author's purpose in writing this book it to try and tell people to get out of their comfort zones, because you never know what can happen to you or someone you love. I feel the author did a great job portraying that. In the Newbery Honor-winning Hatchet, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson learned to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness, armed only with his hatchet. As millions of readers know, he was rescued at the end of the summer. But what if that hadn’t happened? What if Brian had been left to face his deadliest enemy–winter?The main character of this book is Brian. He is a very brave, tough, and intelligent boy who is trying to survive in the northwoods during the winter. Brian finds many struggles on his journey but what he finds hardest to deal with is not being able to see his family. He talked a lot about how much he missed his mom and dad. At the end of the book Brian meets a nice little trapper family that get him home. Language Arts — Gary Paulsen uses imagery to appeal to all of the senses–sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Allow students to browse the books and find examples of such imagery. Ask them to use Paulsen’s images to create similes. In Hatchet, 13-year-old Brian Robeson learned to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness, armed only with his hatchet. He was rescued at the end of the summer. Brian’s Winter begins where Hatchet might have ended: Brian is not rescued, but must build on his survival skills to face his deadliest enemy–a northern winter. First, he killed small game with a makeshift bow and arrow he made. He realized however, these small animals would not sustain him throughout the winter-moose and deer were his next targets.

Survival — There are wilderness camps located throughout the nation to teach people survival skills. Encourage students to use the Internet to locate a wilderness camp in their state or region. What is the age range of the campers? What type of activities does the camp offer? How long is the camp in session? How much does it cost? Brian's Winter is a 1996 young adult novel by Gary Paulsen. It is the third novel in the Hatchet series, but second in terms of chronology as an alternate ending sequel to Hatchet.Until last month, I didn’t even realize that Hatchet had a sequel. Turns out, it has four. How did I not know this?! I skipped over The River, the first sequel, for the time being, as it seemed like a repeat of the first but with an audience. Although I have to confess, I’ll probably be reading it sooner rather than later. But I was intrigued by the synopsis of Brian’s Winter. What if Brian hadn’t been rescued, and had to ride out the winter in the Canadian wilderness? Would he survive? Appreciation of Nature — While Brian must depend on nature for food and clothing, he also develops a keen appreciation for the wilderness and has great respect for the animals that inhabit the woods. Find evidence throughout the novels that Brian is a careful hunter and understands the concept of wildlife conservation.