He wondered what would happen if someone survived the wreck but there were no other people around to help him, so he created Brian Robeson, a character with little experience in life who is alone and has to survive on his own. Paulsen was inspired to write Hatchet after witnessing a plane crash.

He has to have hope that the next person will survive. He remembers traveling a lot, but being unable to save people because it took too long. This is inspired by his own life experiences Paulsen worked as an emergency volunteer and has seen how devastating heart attacks are to everyone else on board. In Guts, Paulsen explains how Brian has no choice but to swim free after he tries to land the plane when the pilot dies of a heart attack. His story is based on Gary Paulsen’s experiences while he was lost for several days when he himself was young. He has nothing but his hatchet, and he learns to hunt, build shelter, craft things and get help from others using his own initiative. The book follows thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson who survives in Northern Canada after being in a plane crash. Hatchet is a part of the Brian’s Saga series by Gary Paulsen. Gary Paulsen has had many life experiences which have helped make him an outstanding writer.

Gary Paulsen’s Guts: The True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books recounts a series of stories that inspired him to write his best-selling books, including plane crashes, dog sled races, and other adventures.

Guts book by raina telgemeier