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Quick answer: If your child loved Hatchet, try Brian's Winter, The River, My Side of the Mountain, Julie of the Wolves, Island of the Blue Dolphins and Woodsong. They tell survival stories about kids and teens in the wild.
Gary Paulsen's 1987 Newbery Honor book follows 13-year-old Brian, who survives alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash, with only a hatchet. It is tense, short and full of practical details. Kids who finish it want more survival stories. These 15 books suit ages 9 to 14 and mix fiction and true stories.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian's Winter | Gary Paulsen | 10-14 | readers who liked Hatchet |
| The River | Gary Paulsen | 10-14 | series readers |
| Woodsong | Gary Paulsen | 11-14 | readers who want true stories |
| My Side of the Mountain | Jean Craighead George | 9-13 | nature lovers |
| Julie of the Wolves | Jean Craighead George | 10-13 | readers who love wolves |
| Island of the Blue Dolphins | Scott O'Dell | 10-13 | readers who like history |
| Call It Courage | Armstrong Sperry | 9-12 | readers who want a short classic |
| Stone Fox | John Reynolds Gardiner | 8-12 | dog lovers |
| A Long Walk to Water | Linda Sue Park | 10-13 | reluctant readers |
| Peak | Roland Smith | 10-14 | mountain fans |
| The Cay | Theodore Taylor | 10-14 | older readers |
| Lost in the Barrens | Farley Mowat | 10-14 | adventure fans |
| Wolf Brother | Michelle Paver | 10-14 | readers who like history |
| The Swiss Family Robinson | Johann David Wyss | 10+ | readers who like building |
| The Wild Robot | Peter Brown | 7-11 | younger readers |
1. Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
An alternate sequel in which Brian must survive the winter with no rescue. Tough and gripping.
Best for: readers who liked Hatchet.
2. The River by Gary Paulsen
Brian returns to the wilderness with a government survival expert. A sequel with new challenges.
Best for: series readers.
3. Woodsong by Gary Paulsen
Paulsen's true stories of running dogs in the Iditarod and living in the wild. Short and vivid.
Best for: readers who want true stories.
4. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Sam runs away to live in a hollow tree in the Catskills. A classic of self-reliance.
Best for: nature lovers.
5. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
Miyax, an Inuit girl, survives on the tundra with help from a wolf pack. A Newbery winner.
Best for: readers who love wolves.
6. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Karana survives alone on an island for years. A quiet, strong Newbery winner.
Best for: readers who like history.
7. Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry
A Polynesian boy afraid of the sea sails alone to prove himself. Short and strong.
Best for: readers who want a short classic.
8. Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
A boy enters a dog sled race to save his grandfather's farm. Short and moving.
Best for: dog lovers.
9. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Two stories, one about a Sudanese Lost Boy and one about a girl fetching water, come together. Short and powerful.
Best for: reluctant readers.
10. Peak by Roland Smith
Fourteen-year-old Peak is drawn into climbing Mount Everest. Fast and thrilling.
Best for: mountain fans.
11. The Cay by Theodore Taylor
Phillip, blinded in a shipwreck, survives with an old man. A story about race and trust.
Best for: older readers.
12. Lost in the Barrens by Farley Mowat
Two boys survive in the Canadian Arctic. A classic of cold and courage.
Best for: adventure fans.
13. Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver
Torak, a boy in the Stone Age, travels with a wolf cub. Prehistoric adventure.
Best for: readers who like history.
14. The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
A family is shipwrecked and builds a home on an island. Adventurous and cozy.
Best for: readers who like building.
15. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
A robot learns to live with animals on an island. Short and touching.
Best for: younger readers.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Hatchet: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Brian, read Brian's Winter or The River. For nature, try My Side of the Mountain. For true stories, pick Woodsong. For girls' survival, read Julie of the Wolves or Island of the Blue Dolphins. A simple plan is to follow a survival story with a nonfiction field guide to your local plants, and try a camping trip. Some books contain animal death and danger. If you want a real-life connection, plan a short camping trip, learn to read a map and compass, or read a field guide for edible plants together. Audiobooks make a good trail companion, and they include the tension without the scary dark.
Related: 15 Books Like Hatchet by Gary Paulsen You’ll Love: Survival Adventures for Young Readers · What Age Is Hatchet Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Hatchet for?
It is recommended for ages 10 to 14.
Is Hatchet based on a true story?
No, but Paulsen drew on his own outdoor experience.
How many Brian books are there?
Five: Hatchet, The River, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return and Brian's Hunt.
Is it good for reluctant readers?
Yes. The story is simple, fast and gripping.
Is Hatchet too intense for 9-year-olds?
It has danger and a plane crash, so many parents wait until age 10 or 11.
What skills does Brian learn?
He learns to make fire, find food and shelter, and keep hope alive.