“The most important rule of survival, which was that feeling sorry for yourself didn’t work.”
Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet is one of the most acclaimed wilderness survival stories in the world of fiction. One of the all-time American coming-of-age tales, it follows a young man named Brian who, on his way to meeting his estranged father, is left exhausted, alone and terrified in the Canadian wilderness after the pilot chartering his plane suffers a heart attack. It may have been the book that ruined many a student’s English lesson back in the day, but it remains a compelling tale of transformation and survival. Still inspiring countless readers to venture into the wilderness themselves, join us at What We Reading for the best high-stakes survival books like Hatchet!
Running On The Roof Of The World – Jess Butterworth
Kicking off our list of the best survival books like Hatchet is Jess Butterworth’s beloved historical fiction story, Running on the Roof of the World. Set against the mesmeric backdrop of the Himalayan landscape of Tibet and India, it is a heartwarming exploration of friendship, love and courage.
Twelve-year-old Tash, her best friend Sam, and their two trusty Yams are forced to flee Tibet, looking to escape to India and win the help of the Dalai Lama after Chinese soldiers seize Tash’s parents. But, in order to get there, the group must cross mountains, dodge snipers and endure freezing blizzards.
Alone – Megan E. Freeman
Nominated for Best Middle Grade & Children’s in the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards, Alone blends high-stakes survival with a YA dystopian premise. Written in verse, it also offers a unique reading experience. After twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a plan for a secret sleepover, she wakes up to a nightmare.
Her entire town has disappeared, leaving her alone and forced to fend for herself. Her only companions are a Rottweiler named George, and the mountains of books she has to read. Gradually, she learns to survive against the looters, natural disasters and demands of a life with no one to rely on, before learning that the greatest challenge she has to endure is her loneliness.
Island Of The Blue Dolphins (Island of the Blue Dolphins #1) – Scott O’Dell
In Island of the Blue Dolphins, author Scott O’Dell introduces readers to a remote island in the Pacific. There, otters play, blue dolphins swim and sea birds are aplenty. Natives once lived on the island too, until one day when they sailed east, leaving one young girl behind. Karana has lived on the island on her own for years, waiting for a ship to sail by and pick her up. While waiting, she fastened together a life of survival – building shelter, foraging for food and fighting off the wild dogs on the island.
In O’Dell’s classic coming-of-age tale, readers are not only treated to a unique story of survival but also one of the most beautiful tales of discovery and natural beauty.
The Bridge Home – Padma Venkatraman
Padma Venkatraman’s The Bridge Home follows sisters Viji and Rukku. Fleeing from their abusive father, they find themselves attempting to survive on the teeming streets of Chennai.
There, they encounter two young boys and a stray dog. Sleeping under a bridge, sorting through the rubbish bins, selling jewellery and relying on the kindness of a select few adults, they soon begin to revel in the freedoms and skills that come from their perilous position. But, when two members of the party fall ill as the rainy season hits, they are forced to question whether to reach out for help from a world that has otherwise proven itself to be totally untrustworthy. The Bridge Home is a stunning survival book like Hatchet that is sure to capture the imagination of the young readers who find themselves picking it up!
The Outsiders – S.E. Hinton
S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders is a classic coming-of-age tale like Hatchet, whose survival elements come with more of an urbanised setting than Paulsen’s work. Told from a first perspective by teenage protagonist Ponyboy Curtis, Hinton sets the stage by introducing the turf war between two gangs on opposite ends of the socioeconomic scale, the Greasers and the Socs.
Capturing all of the excitement and emotion that comes with being young, The Outsiders is a reminder of all children’s need to feel wanted and connected. It remains one of the most provocative and discussed books in American literature, making it a must-read for anyone who loved Brian’s escapades in the wilderness.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Outsiders
May B. – Caroline Starr Rose
Another stunning historical fiction book like Hatchet that explores survival in the North American wilderness is Caroline Starr Rose’s May B. May is helping out at a neighbour’s prairie homestead on the frontier, fifteen miles away from her own family. Her father promised it was only until Christmas.
Until the unthinkable happens, and she is left completely on her own with the wintry months snowing her in, isolated and trapped from any outside help. In another story written entirely in verse, May documents her struggle to survive the winter through a series of diary memoirs. It makes for a compelling and fast-paced read that any fan of Gary Paulsen’s books will surely love.
Call It Courage – Armstrong Sperry
Call It Courage is a snappy survival story of one boy attempting to overcome his fear of the sea from Newbery Medal award-winning author, Armstrong Sperry. This classic tale follows Mafatu, a Polynesian boy branded a coward for avoiding the sea.
Determined to overcome his fears and tired of the jibes from those around him, he sets off in his own canoe with just his pet dog and albatross for company. A storm leaves him shipwrecked on a desert island, where his determination and resourcefulness help him find his courage and return home. Still as enchanting today as it was when it was first published, Call It Courage remains one of the best survival stories for young readers.
Check Out The Best Shipwreck Books Like The Wager
The Skeleton Tree – Iain Lawrence
A thrilling adventure survival story set in the Alaskan wilderness, Iain Lawrence’s The Skeleton Tree is one of the contemporary homages to Hatchet. After their boat sinks, two young boys named Chris and Frank find themselves as the only survivors.
The pair instantly find themselves disliking one another, but they are forced to get along in order to forage, fish and endure the hostile elements around them. But, as the nights get colder and the salmon migration ends, the pair soon discover a bond they didn’t think possible. They soon discover that shared compassion and teamwork are their only hope for rescue.
Falcon Wild – Terry Lynn Johnson
After a destructive car crash leaves her father and brother in need of help, thirteen-year-old Karma is lost in the Montana wilderness with her pet falcon, Stark, and a wild boy named Cooper.
An aspiring falconer, Karma’s bond with Stark only grows stronger as they are forced to battle the hazardous mountain region, injuries, hazardous weather conditions and hostile animals. One of the most thrilling books like Hatchet, Terry Lynn Johnson’s Falcon Wild is an adventure that vividly explores the special relationships humans and animals can form.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
