The Full Story

Brian Robeson, a thirteen-year-old boy, is traveling alone on a small bush plane to visit his father in the Canadian wilderness. During the flight, the pilot suffers a fatal heart attack, leaving Brian to crash-land the plane in the middle of the vast forest. All he has with him is a small hatchet—given to him by his mother before the trip.

Alone, frightened, and with no way to contact the outside world, Brian must learn to survive. He discovers how to make fire by striking the hatchet against stone, and learns to fish, hunt birds, and gather berries. He builds a shelter from branches and protects himself from wild animals.

Brian faces many challenges: wild animals, hunger, mosquitoes, and harsh weather. He is even attacked by a moose and survives a tornado that destroys much of his camp. But each hardship makes him stronger and wiser. He learns to be patient, resourceful, and resilient. After 54 days of living alone, Brian discovers a survival pack inside the submerged plane wreckage, containing food, tools, and a transmitter. Without realizing it, he accidentally turns on the transmitter. Soon, a passing pilot picks up the signal and rescues him