Kids into books: Hatchet

This weeks title: Hatchel

Author: Gary Paulsen

Illustrator: Mark Taylor

Publisher: Macmillan, $13.95

Age Group: 10-13 years


The Secret.

Brian felt his eyes beginning to burn and knew there would be tears. he had cried for a time, but that was gone now. He didn't cry now. Instead his eyes burned and tears came, the seeping tears that burned, but he didn't cry. he wiped his eyes with a finger and looked at the pilot out of the corner of his eye to make sure he hadn't noticed the burning and tears.

The pilot sat large, his hands lightly on the wheel, feet on the rudder pedals. he seemed more a machine than a man, an extension of the plane. On the dashboard in front of him Brian saw dials, switches, meters, knobs, levers, cranks, lights, handles that were wiggling and flickering, all indicating nothing that he understood, and the pilot seemed the same way. part of the plane, not human.

When he saw Brian look at him, the pilot seemed to open up a bit and he smiled.

'Ever fly in the co-pilot's seat before?' He leaned over and lifted the headset off his right ear and put it on his temple, yelling to overcome the sound of the engine.

Brian shook his head. he had never been in any kind of plane, never seen the cockpit of a plane except in films or on television. it was loud and confusing.

'First time.'


Tomorrow: Brian's first flying lesson!