Guts

The True Stories behind Hatchet and the Brian Books

While this book is a narrative nonfiction, it certainly differs from others recently covered.  Why?  A couple of summers ago I bought Hatchet for my son to read.  He was NOT interested.  So I let it be as we were really encouraging him to find his path to a love of reading.  Fast forward and he now loves to read. The other day he pulled Hatchet off the shelf and decided to 'give it a go'.  And...he liked it!  So when I saw this book that Gary Paulsen wrote about his life experiences that guided him in writing the Hatchet I wanted to read it and see if I could 'sell it' to my son for a nonfiction reading experience. 

As an adult in the end, I'll say I'm neutral on the book.  I will encourage my son to read it as soon as he finishes his current fantasy action fiction.  I'm intrigued to see what he will say.  

But back to the book, Paulsen accounts for many personal experiences in the woods, most in Minnesota and Alaska, and how he drew upon those experiences as he wrote Hatchet. If you have read Hatchet you will be intrigued to read about his life experiences. However, I feel he shared those experiences in a non cohesive timeline making it difficult for the reader. 

The title is Guts, and it does describe some experiences that some readers might find upsetting, but he covers those points because they were a valuable part of his experiences and how he wrote them in Hatchet.  

My hope with my son is that this book will help to bridge the gap between reading fiction and nonfiction.  I think this book should be paired with Hatchet because together they can help encourage fiction readers to try nonfiction and vice versa. It could also pair with his other fiction books such as The River and Brian's Winter.  It can also pair with other adventure books for boys and girls alike.  Books such as The Dangerous Book for Boys, The Outdoor Book for Adventurous Boys: Essential Skills and Activities for Boys of All Ages, The Daring Book for Girls, and Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival.  These books and others like them can encourage learning and active outdoor play instead of inside play with video games!  I think these books would make a good addition to a children's library.

I was disappointed that Paulson only included four real life pictures in this book, although it is understandable that he wouldn't have had images of his lone hunting and camping adventurous, there could have been pictures of his experiences as an adult in the military, mushing dogs and learning to fly.  

When you read this book you will find that each chapter begins with a brief introduction- using parts of Hatchet.  For example, chapter two is labeled "Moose Attacks"..."he saw a brown wall of fur detach itself from the forest to his rear and come down on him like a run-away truck.  He just had time to see that it was a moose...when it hit him." (p. 30) Or in the example below he starts is chapter call the Joy of Cooking with a part of Hatchet that describes Brian's first hunt for survival.

While Guts hasn't won any awards it is noteworthy that Paulsen is a 3 time Newbery Honor Awards as well as Parents Choice Awards and several books have been on the ALA Best Books for Young Adults list.  

Paulsen, G. (2001). Guts: The true stories behind hatchet and the brian books. New York: NY, Delacorte Press.

Lexile Reading Level: 1230, grades 7-9