Hatchet

media type="custom" key="8697642" Written by Gary Paulson

__Summariser:__
Brian Robbs is on a bush plane, at age 13. He was flying from Hampton, New York. He was heading to north-west after his Mum and Dad **__divorced__**. He was so upset from this that he could only just hold back tears. The pilot started talking to him, and the pilot taught Brian how to fly. Brian finds out that its easier than it seems. He is scared at first but then starts to enjoy flying. Memories of the fights and secrets that had taken place before the divorce came rushing into his head. He was set to live with his Dad in the Summer and his Mum during the school years, and thats where he was heading, to spend his first Summer with his Dad and his Dad only. Before he had left Hampton, his Mother gave him a gift which was a hatchet. There is a strange odour and Brian sees that the pilot was in pain. The pilot was having a heart attack. The pilot jerked all around like he was having a fit. He went white and the stench became unbearable. The pilot was either **__dead__** or in a **__coma__**. Brian just stopped. He didn't no what to do. He was in a plane on his own, 7000 feet above the ground of lakes and swamps and he didn't know what to do.

__Discussion Director__
What was the pilots name? He didn't know Who did Brian hate? Judges and lawyers What was in the paper bag that his mum gave him? A hatchet Why was there a strange feeling of silence and being alone? Because the pilot was dead What did Brian think was a very bad word? Divorce and secrets

__Vocabulary Enricher__
altitude- vertical height, height above sea level rudder- flat piece hinged to stern of ship or aircraft cock pit- space for pilot gratitude- being thankful visitation- official visit odour- pleasant or unpleasant smell wince- start movement of pain rigid- stiff, unyeilding, inflexible initial- of or relating to the beginning drone- to make dull, continued, monotonous sounds divorce-the dissolution of the marriage contract legal- established or authorised by law seeping- to pass gradually slewed- to turn or twist, especially upon it's own axis or without moving from it's place lurched-sudden leaning to one side hatchet- a small, short handled axe jolt- to jar or shake as by a sudden rough thrust

__Travel Tracer__
Brian was on a bush plane, sitting in the co-pilot's seat. They were heading north-west, flying from Hampton, New York. Brian had a turn of flying and turned the plane all the way around. He kept having flashbacks of the divorce between his parents. He remembered when his mother gave him a hatchet in the car. Suddenly. the pilot had chest problems - he was having a heart attack! The pilot was either dead or in a serious coma. Now, Brian was all alone, flying in a plane which was thousands of feet in the air.

__Literary Luminary__
The burning eyes did not come back but the memories did. Divorce. Fights. Secrets. Split. Divorce. I chose these sentences because it really describes how Brian feels and how hurt he was from the separation of his parents.

__Connector__
Everything so far could be real Planes are really boring and you can't really do ant\ything when the only person you know is the pilot. Sometimes you hate something if you have a bad expirience. When your parents divorce most of the time you split between the two parents.

__Summariser:__
Brian could do nothing at all. He was looking for ways to help him. The plane hit turbulence and he needed to help but he couldn't. Brian tapped on the pilots chest. Nothing was happening he wasn't breathing. Brian had to try and fly the plane. He had no idea how tho fly the plane. He pulled on the wheel and kept making mistakes. He aimed it at the right position and held it there not touching it. He was looking at the dashboard searching for a compass. He could not find one anywhere. Where was he? Brian was puzzled. he found a radio and started trying to use it. The headset were on the pilots ears. He reached for the headset, his elbow bumped the wheel and the plane swerved around. He had finally reached the headset. Brian started talking into the microphone. He was screaming into the microphone but nobody was there. He gets contact with the station but it is short lasted and the signal is lost. He chooses to decesnd by running the fuel low. He radios the station every ten minutes and thinks of how he is going to land. His procedure was to run the fuel low and lower the nose, then land on the edge of the lake and halt it before it went into the water. Then the engine runs low and without warning Brian is lowering the nose.

__Travel Tracer__
Brian is just standing in the cock pit wondering what to do. He attempts to control the plane, then he desperately shouts into the radio for help.

__Vocabulary Enricher__
Cowling - A removable metal cover over an engine Altometer - An instrument measuring altitude Dashboard - A panel with dials and controls in front of the driver in some vehicles

__Discussion Director__
How did Brian describe how his arms and legs felt? @ Like metal What couldn't Brian feel on the pilot? @No heartbeat and no rise of his chest How did Brian know to pull the stick? @He had read it in the book What kind of day was it? @A clear blue sky with fluffy clouds scattered What was the number on the dial with the needle? @70 What would happen if the plane ran out of fuel? @The plane would fall What did Brian say into the radio every 10 minutes? @I need help. Is anyone listening? How many times did he repeat this into the radio? @17 times

__Summariser:__
Brian thought he was going to die as the plane went very fast and was losing altitude. Brian couldn't find a lake to land into even though there were so many before. Just before Brian lost hope he saw a L-shaped lake but when Brian turned to land in the lake he lost his speed. Brian absolutely lost hope until he just landed in a clearing that led into the lake. The trees on the sides of the clearing ripped the wings apart. Finally Brian landed into the lake. The impact was shocking. Brian was in pain and just made it out of the lake in time and then Brian fainted.

__Discussion Director__
How many lakes were in front of Brian when he was crashing? @0 What shape was the lake he found? @**L**

__Vocabulary Enricher__
Altitude: the height above sea level Momentarily: for a moment Wallowed: to roll the body about Raked: to find with difficulty

__Literary Luminary__
'His stomach became a pile of knots.......' I liked this part because it is a good way to describe his feelings phisically and mentally.