We start the story of the
hatchet with Brian who is lost in thought as he flies over the forest to go to
his dad’s house. He thinks about a number of things such as his parents’
divorce, and as he thinks about it he recalls the trial. He remembers the lawyers
talking to him and there he remembers how much he hates lawyers, he remembers
the judge and he remembers how much he hates judges. And then another hatred
boils out, the hatred towards his mom, because of the secret. By remembering
the trial he also makes it clear where he is headed. He is going to live with
his father for the summer in Canada, in the trial it was decided that his
mother would stay with him during the school year and his father would have him
during the summer. After the pilot interrupts his train of thought we learn
that he is travelling on a small plane the pilot and him alone. After that the
pilot teaches Brian how to fly and lets him take the wheel for a moment.
However after that the pilot has a heart attack and dies, Brian takes the
command of the plane but goes astray and after hours trying to find
civilization he crashes, because he was running out of gas. However using his
intelligence he crashes on a lake, the crash is hard. But he survives.
“‘All flying is easy. Just takes learning. Like everything
else. Like everything else.’“ Pg. 5
I chose this quote because it shows the pilot giving Brian a
life lesson that will help him in life. And that is that if you are willing to
learn something and work hard to achieve it, you will achieve your goals. Also
I thought this was important because that is the part where Brian learns how to
fly. And that saved his life
“‘You are your most valuable asset. Don’t forget that. You are the best thing you have.’“ Pg 21
Here Brian starts realizing that if help does not go there and saves him soon then he will have to start on relying on himself and he will have to learn how to survive by himself without anyone going there to save him because he is the best asset he has for everything he needs to do.
