Content: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Introduction: Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain were two of my favorite books around the fourth or fifth grade. Hatchet tells the story of a boy who survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness and has to survive on his own with only the titular cutting implement for protection. My Side of the Mountain, somewhat similarly, tells the story of a boy who runs away from his life in the city to survive in the woods with nothing but a flint and steel set and a pet falcon (seriously – a freaking falcon). These are great coming of age stories – recommended by none other than Gram Weaver (formerly Ma Weaver in my previous writings), a learned school librarian. Although they are likely more geared for boys than girls, I think Ella will enjoy them as much as Richard.
Dream’s Age at Introduction: 10 or 11
Reason for That Age: I read My Side of the Mountain and then Hatchet when I was 10 or 11, and I think that is the proper order. Hatchet is scary: plane crash, tornado, animal attacks. This is not a book for really young kids, particularly since this is a realistic story with no fantasy elements. My Side of the Mountain, on the other hand, plays out more as a “Dick and Jane play Thoreau” story, with the parallel drawn fairly explicitly by one of the characters (although obviously, 10-year olds won’t get it). It comes across as a “fun” adventure, whereas Hatchet comes across as a “scary” adventure. But the style and syntax of both are clearly written for kids. So an older elementary schooler, one with a sense of adventure and who likes a little scare, is a good fit for these books.
What I Want Dream to Get Out of It: As is true with all of the reading material on this blog, I want Dream to gain an appreciation of the written word and reading. Regarding these books in particular, I want Dream to get a little taste of real adventure. Not Tolkien, Rowling, or Lewis adventure (although all of those are on this list too), but actual “This could be your life” adventure. After reading these books, I wanted to live in the woods and recast myself as a modern day Thoreau, even if I had no way of describing myself as such at the time. I hope the same inspiration seizes Dream.
Be content,
John
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
A mutual friend recently lent me My Side of The Mountain, and it has taken up residency in a certain room of the house. It is one I remember fondly, and inspired a wilderness wanderlust in my childhood.
ReplyDeleteBut, reading it as an adult, that kid does seem ridiculously calm.