110-111 “With a fire and a shelter going, Brian could turn to thoughts of being rescued. What things could Brian have done to help in his rescue?” Signal fire, mirrors, signs, or others.

Over time, Brian develops his survival skills and becomes a fine woodsman. He crafts a bow, arrows, and a fishing spear to aid in his hunting. He also fashions a shelter out of the underside of a rock overhang.

Hatchet

The problem that Brian faces at the end of chapter 17 of Hatchet is that he can’t find a way to get inside the wreckage of the airplane to retrieve the survival pack.

Brian has trouble making a raft that will stay together in the water, but he finally figures it out. However, by the time he is done, it is too late to go out to the plane. The next morning, Brian pushes the raft out to the plane, but he cannot find a way inside. Brian examines the plane.

Why didn’t he feel the same hopelessness as when he first landed? He started out with nothing and made everything he had. He had survived a plane crash, tornado and the moose. What did Brian discover while measuring the tornado’s damage?

Brian digs into the sand pile and finds 17 turtle eggs. He thinks of his uncle, Carter, who used to eat raw eggs.

Brian changes dramatically over the course of Hatchet. These changes are mostly tied to his emotional growth. He learns that hopelessness and panic are useless, even dangerous, emotions. Brian learns to carefully observe his environment and identify dangers.

In chapter 11, Brian cleaned his shelter by smoothing out the sand and hanging up his windbreaker. He might have used his hands or sticks to level the disturbed sand.

Brian occupies himself by storing the eggs, cleaning his camp, and stacking wood; these activities help keep him from falling into depression.