Guts: The True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books

The line between fact and fiction is blurred in Hatchet as Brian Robeson lives events from Gary Paulsen’s childhood. What are the benefits of writing memoir as fiction? How can writing be used by authors to process their trauma, pain, and grief? In what ways to Paulsen suggest that the Brian books were an act of healing?

Paulsen suggests that his childhood experiences in the wilderness and away from his neglectful family were priceless experiences that led to his happiness and solidified his sense of self. Paulsen, through his own experiences and the adventures of Brian, glorifies this solitude during adolescence. Consider and describe the limitations of Paulsen’s advice on the importance of solitude and maturity.

Both Gary Paulsen and Brian Robeson must kill to survive. What contradictions are inherent in this concept, and how does Paulsen justify hunting?