We know how busy life gets when the school bells stop ringing, but we also know how vital it is to keep our students' imaginations growing over the break. Reading is such a lovely way to keep those minds active while avoiding the "summer slide."
Continuing our summer reading series, we have a very special recommendation from Mrs. Rocheford! Writing to us right from the road, she shares a classic adventure that students in 4th through 8th grades will absolutely love. We hope you and your children enjoy this story!
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
This is such an engaging read! I’m writing to you this week from the road! Looking out my RV window at the massive, green forests and robust wildlife of Yellowstone got me thinking about one of my favorite survival stories: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. If you are looking for a book that will completely grip your child this summer, this is the one.
The story follows a young boy named Brian who finds himself stranded alone in the wilderness after a plane crash. From the very first page, Paulsen masterfully weaves high-stakes survival with the authentic emotional voice of a teenager. One of my absolute favorite parts of the book is how Brian interacts with nature. While stuck in the wild, he has to invent his own names for the flora and fauna just to make sense of his world—like calling ruffed grouse "foolbirds" and chokecherries "gut cherries". It isn't until the very end of the book, in the epilogue, that Paulsen provides a wonderful sort of "glossary" as Brian researches the real, scientific names of everything he saw to survive. It’s a fantastic nod to growth and curiosity.
Hatchet is an interesting, powerful, and deeply moving story. It’s an ideal summer read for anyone in the 4th to 8th-grade range, especially if you have a reader who loves adventure or the great outdoors.
I hope you and your family find some quiet, cozy moments to curl up with this book this summer. Safe travels, happy reading, and stay tuned for more teacher favorites coming soon!