Letter to an Author

Dear Gary Paulsen,

            Being stranded on an island with no food, no water, and no help. These things have never happened to me, and I hope they never do! But after reading your book Hatchet, I think I would have a little knowledge of what to do. Building a fire, skinning a raw animal, or using all those rocks or bones for tools. I live on a farm and know the basics about hunting and fishing. But when it came to reading, I liked to forget I knew how to read. I used to be one of those kids that would shy away when it came to reading books. My parents always told me it was a good life tool, but I never believed them. That is, until I read your book Hatchet. Not very often will I ever just find a book and be so glued to it.  I read while I was supposed to be sleeping! But now, if I ever see your name on a book or something similar to your books, I’m all in.

           

            While I was reading your book I felt like I was Brian; building the fire, picking berries, or shooting a game bird for food. I am big time into hunting, and I know what it means to survive out there. You have to do, what you have to do. I remember way back when, I would “hunt” my little brothers like they were deer. After they were “shot”, I would drag them around showing all my family. Once I shot my first deer, I changed. I realized the value of life more than I used to.  I read more books related to hunting, but only because I had to. Those other books just never satisfied my survival and hunting desire when it came to my reading drive. But then I found Hatchet. Well, my dad did. He listens to audio books, and he completely recommended it to me. So I asked our school librarian if they had the book. In fact, they had just ordered the book. So I waited and waited, until it finally came. I dove right in, and I never came out. I was diving into pretend lakes, grabbing a hatchet and food. Eating berries from a bush, and throwing them back up. But I never quite was sprayed by the skunk.

            I always loved that no matter how hard things were, Brian would always stay somewhat positive. Talking to imaginary people and animals, and even calling the skunk his “pet.” I too, find myself talking to imaginary things when I’m working by myself. We as people always take food for granted, and I find myself doing this exact thing. But in Brian’s case, he might do anything for food. He was alone with nobody to come make him some hamburgers. He had to learn to live on his own. Even when I’m at home by myself, I feel like I’m Brian. Searching through the woodland cupboards, silent in the bright, cold fridge. I sometimes find myself feeling crabby thinking that I’m starving. But after reading Hatchet, I know I’m not starving. And I hope I’m never starving. Because I’m hungry enough after my sports.

            Now that I have read Hatchet, I no longer complain how nasty dirty something is. I’m glad that my dad recommended Hatchet to me, or I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Nowadays, I’m still thinking how awful it must have been to be ambushed by a lousy skunk!

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                        Matt Wilson