Kids into books: Hatchet

This weeks title: Hatchet

Author: Gary Paulsen

Illustrator: Mark Taylor

Publisher: Macmillan, $13.95

Age Group: 10-13 years


'It's not as complicated as it looks. Good plane like this almost flies itself.' The pilot shrugged.'

Makes my job easy.' He took Brian's left arm.

'Here, put your hands on the controls, your feet on the rudder pedals, and I'll show you what I mean.' Brian shook his head,

'I'd better not.'

'Sure. Try it ...' Brian reached out and took the wheel in a grip so tight his knuckles were white. he pushed his feet down on the pedals. the plane slewed suddenly to the right.

'Not so hard. Take her light, take her light.' Brian eased off, relaxed his grip. The burning in his eyes was forgotten momentarily as the vibration of the plane came through the wheel and the pedals. it seemed almost alive.

'See?' The pilot let go of his wheel, raised his hands in the air and took his feet off the pedals to show Brian he was actually flying the plane alone.

'Simple. Now turn the wheel a little to the right and push on the right rudder pedal a small amount.' Brian turned the wheel slightly and the plane immediately banked to the right, and when he pressed on the right rudder pedal the nose slid across the horizon to the right. He left off on the pressure and straightened the wheel and the plane righted itself.

'Now you can turn. bring her back to the left a little.'