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Quick answer: If your child loved Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, try Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell, My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry and The Call of the Wild by Jack London.
In Hatchet, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is the only passenger in a small plane flying to northern Canada when the pilot has a heart attack and the plane crashes into a lake. With nothing but a hatchet his mother gave him, Brian must learn to find food, make fire and survive for months in the wilderness. Gary Paulsen’s novel won a Newbery Honor and is one of the most widely read survival stories for kids. The picks below share its lone hero, its detailed survival skills and its message of resilience. Most suit ages 9 to 14, with a few classic and older-reader options.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Hatchet
Kids love Hatchet because it makes them wonder what they would do. Paulsen describes Brian’s mistakes, from the porcupine attack to the first failed attempts at fire, in such realistic detail that readers learn survival skills without realizing it. The writing is short and direct, and the emotional journey, from panic to self-reliance, is as important as the physical one. It’s a favorite in classrooms because it appeals to reluctant readers, and it has inspired several sequels about Brian’s later adventures.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Hatchet: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian’s Winter | Gary Paulsen | 10–14 | The alternate sequel |
| Dogsong | Gary Paulsen | 11–14 | A quieter wilderness story |
| Woods Runner | Gary Paulsen | 11–14 | Survival in history |
| Island of the Blue Dolphins | Scott O’Dell | 9–13 | A classic survival story |
| My Side of the Mountain | Jean Craighead George | 9–13 | Living off the land |
| Julie of the Wolves | Jean Craighead George | 10–14 | Wolves and wilderness |
| Call It Courage | Armstrong Sperry | 8–12 | A short, gripping tale |
| The Call of the Wild | Jack London | 11+ | Classic wilderness adventure |
| White Fang | Jack London | 11+ | A wolf-dog’s journey |
| The Sign of the Beaver | Elizabeth George Speare | 9–12 | Survival and friendship |
| Robinson Crusoe | Daniel Defoe | 12+ | The original castaway |
| The Swiss Family Robinson | Johann David Wyss | 10+ | Family survival |
| Lord of the Flies | William Golding | 14+ | Teen survival with a dark twist |
| Life of Pi | Yann Martel | 13+ | Older readers who want more |
| Tracker | Gary Paulsen | 10–13 | Hunting and loss |
1. Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen
This book imagines what would have happened if Brian hadn’t been rescued at the end of Hatchet. He faces snow, hunger and bears, and must learn new survival skills. It’s the most direct follow-up and often a favorite of Hatchet readers.
2. Dogsong by Gary Paulsen
A young Inuit boy leaves his village to follow the old ways with a team of dogs and finds a pregnant girl who needs help. It’s a Newbery Honor book, spare and lyrical, with strong detail about surviving in the Arctic.
3. Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen
A boy who knows the woods well must find his parents after a raid during the American Revolution. It combines survival skills with history and is a good next step for Hatchet fans who like historical fiction.
4. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Karana, a young Native American girl, is left alone on an island off California and survives for years. It’s based on a true story and won the Newbery Medal. It’s calm, careful and full of detail.
5. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Sam runs away from his family’s New York apartment and lives in a hollow tree in the Catskill Mountains with a falcon. It’s a Newbery Honor classic that makes survival feel like a dream, and it has detailed advice about wild foods.
6. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
A young Inupiat girl runs away and is lost on the Alaskan tundra, where she survives by earning the trust of a wolf pack. It’s a Newbery Medal winner, with respect for animals and culture.
7. Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry
A Polynesian boy who is afraid of the sea sets out in a canoe to prove himself and ends up marooned on an island. It’s brief and powerful, a good choice for reluctant readers.
8. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Buck, a sled dog stolen from his comfortable home, is taken to the Yukon Gold Rush and must adapt to survive. It’s a classic of American literature, with a vivid, sometimes brutal depiction of nature.
9. White Fang by Jack London
The companion to The Call of the Wild follows a wolf-dog from the wild to civilization. It’s an exciting story about nature, cruelty and kindness, more suitable for older readers.
10. The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Matt, a twelve-year-old boy left alone to guard a cabin in the Maine wilderness in 1768, is befriended by a Native boy who teaches him to survive. It’s gentle, respectful and has strong historical detail.
11. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
A shipwrecked man spends nearly three decades on a remote island. It’s the classic that started the survival story, and it’s best for strong readers or in an abridged edition.
12. The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
A family shipwrecked on a tropical island builds an ingenious life. It’s an old-fashioned adventure with lots of inventions, and best in a modern edition.
13. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
A group of boys stranded on an island tries to govern themselves and descends into violence. It’s a classic often read in high school, and it’s much darker than Hatchet.
14. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
A boy survives a shipwreck on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. It’s a philosophical adventure novel for mature readers, and it raises questions about stories and truth.
15. Tracker by Gary Paulsen
A boy goes into the woods to hunt a deer to feed his family while his grandfather is dying. It’s a quiet story about growing up and the cost of survival, and it contains hunting scenes.
How to Pick Your Child’s Next Read After Hatchet
- Want more Brian? Brian’s Winter and The River.
- Want true-story survival? Island of the Blue Dolphins.
- Want a shorter book? Call It Courage.
- Want animal companions? My Side of the Mountain and Julie of the Wolves.
- Want classic adventure? The Call of the Wild and Robinson Crusoe.
- Want something for a teen? Lord of the Flies and Life of Pi are for older readers.
The Brian Books in Order
The original book is Hatchet, followed by The River, Brian’s Winter, Brian’s Return and Brian’s Hunt. Brian’s Winter is an alternate version of what would have happened if Brian hadn’t been rescued, and it’s a favorite of fans who wanted to see the harsh winter. The River and Brian’s Hunt are adventures that happen after the rescue. They can be read in any order, but most families begin with Hatchet and then move on to Brian’s Winter.
Survival Stories and Real Skills
Survival books are a great way to start conversations about preparation and judgment. After reading, children often want to know how to build a fire, tie a knot or read a map, and that curiosity can be encouraged with safe activities such as a family camping trip or a basic first-aid course. Remind young readers that the adventures in these books are fiction, and real survival takes training, equipment and adult supervision.
Safe Ways to Explore the Outdoors After Reading
Survival stories often inspire kids to get outside. Plan a short, supervised trip: a day hike with a map and compass, a camping weekend where children set up the tent and cook a meal, or a backyard challenge such as building a shelter from sticks. Teach basic safety rules first, including telling an adult where you’re going, carrying water and a whistle, and knowing how to stay warm and dry. Kids who read Hatchet often come away with a new respect for the outdoors and a desire to learn the skills Brian has to figure out the hard way.
Reading Level and Content Notes
Hatchet is written in short, direct sentences and is usually read at a fifth-to-seventh-grade level, which makes it approachable for reluctant readers. It includes a plane crash and the death of the pilot, a tornado, animal attacks and a moment of near despair. The tone is serious but never graphic. Classic picks like The Call of the Wild and White Fang have harsher animal violence, and Lord of the Flies is a dark story intended for high school. If your child is sensitive, start with Island of the Blue Dolphins, Call It Courage or My Side of the Mountain.
Why Survival Fiction Works for Kids
Survival stories give young readers a safe way to imagine independence. They show a child solving problems with limited tools, making mistakes and learning from them, which builds confidence and curiosity. They also teach patience, because the heroes usually succeed through many small steps rather than one big action. For parents, they’re a useful way to talk about resilience and how to handle fear. After finishing a survival book, ask your child what they would have done differently and what they think was Brian’s hardest moment. The answers can be surprising.
Related: what age Hatchet is appropriate for and books like The Maze Runner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like Hatchet?
Brian’s Winter is the closest, since it’s by the same author and set in the same wilderness. Island of the Blue Dolphins and My Side of the Mountain are the most popular classic matches.
What age is Hatchet for?
Hatchet is usually recommended for ages 10 to 14. It includes a plane crash, a pilot’s death and some tense animal encounters.
Is Hatchet based on a true story?
No, but Gary Paulsen drew on his own experiences in the wilderness and wrote the book to show how a young person might survive.
How many Hatchet books are there?
There are five Brian books: Hatchet, The River, Brian’s Winter, Brian’s Return and Brian’s Hunt.
What are other good survival books for teens?
Try The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner and Life of Pi, or the adult nonfiction books Into Thin Air and Endurance.