Chapter 1 · Hatchet

Copywork

He didn't cry now. Instead his eyes burned and tears came, the seeping tears that burned, but he didn't cry. He wiped his eyes with a finger and looked at the pilot out of the corner of his eye to make sure he hadn't noticed the burning and tears.

Read the passage aloud. Why might Brian check that the pilot has not noticed?

Discussion

Narration Tell the chapter back in order: the flight north, the car ride that led to it, and how it ends with Brian alone in the plane.

Brian puts on the hatchet "to humor her." What else might be going on in him as he does it? Character
Again and again Brian's mind comes back to short words: Divorce, Split, the Secret. Why might Paulsen repeat them instead of explaining? Author's choice
Brian thinks the pilot's smell and pain are "Probably something he ate." Why might he not see the real danger sooner? Inference
Brian's mother asks if they can talk this out, and he shakes his head. How might that silence look from her side of the car? Inference
Brian sees the pilot as "Part of the plane, not human." What does that picture add to the mood at the start of the flight? Tone

Make a Connection Tell about a time someone you know kept quiet about something that was hard to say.

Vocabulary

seeping: Instead his eyes burned and tears came, the seeping tears that burned, but he didn't cry. Leaking out slowly.
noticed: to make sure he hadn't noticed the burning and tears Became aware of.
catalog: tried to catalog what had led up to his taking this flight To list things one by one.
humor: and so to humor her he loosened his belt To go along with someone to please them.
hollow: But the words sounded hollow, even to Brian. Empty, without real feeling.
tenderness: And there was the tenderness in her voice Gentle, loving feeling.
grimacing: who had both hands on his stomach and was grimacing in pain Twisting the face because of pain.
discomfort: who was obviously in some discomfort Mild pain or unease.
lurched: Now the plane lurched slightly to the right Moved suddenly and unsteadily.
stricken: stopped and stricken with a white-flash of horror Struck hard by a strong feeling.

Critical thinking

Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Brian gets from the moment when he flies the plane.
Brian hates the judges and lawyers. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he thinks they get wrong.
At the end, Brian feels alone even with the engine roaring. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why.