Hatchet – Gary Paulsen

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a story of survival. Brian begins the book as a fairly average kid. His parents have recently divorced and he is feeling betrayed, and mad, and uncertain. On the way to the airport his mother gives him a hatchet. He’s embarrassed, but attaches it to his belt. The small plane pilot has a heart attack and dies mid-flight. Brian steers the plane away from the treetops and manages to land in a lake. The plane has veered so far off course that the rescue planes can’t find him. Brian finds himself alone in the wilderness … Continue reading

Media Week in Review June 2nd-7th

Welcome to our Week in Review for Media! We started out with a review of “Hatchet” by best-selling adventure novelist, Gary Paulsen. When Brian’s parents divorce, Brian is sent elsewhere to live, and at the airport, his mother makes him a gift of a hatchet. That hatchet becomes his lifeline when the small plane crashes and Brian must learn to fend for himself in the wilderness. We then read “Chopping Spree” by Diane Mott Davidson. Caterer Goldy Schultz is hired to create a fabulous spread for some rich clients at the nearby shopping mall when the manager of the mall … Continue reading

Newbery Medal Winners: 1981-1990

The 1980’s had a huge boom of video games. Just with the releases of Donkey Kong and Pac Man in 1981 and 1982, respectively, the video game came alive. However, did you also know that Centipede, released in 1981, was the first arcade video game designed by a woman? Cool, right? In 1982, Thomas Keneally’s novel, “Schindler’s List” has its beginning as “Schindler’s Ark.” The term cyberspace was coined in William Gibon’s novel “Neuromancer” in 1984. In 1990, Michael Chrichton’s gargantuan novel “Jurassic Park” was released. 1981 Medal Winner: “Jacob Have I Loved” by Katherine Paterson Honor Books “The Fledgling” … Continue reading