Hatchet was one of my favorite books growing up. It's the ultimate wilderness fantasy for a boy. Even now, I sometimes daydream about what it would be like to get stranded in the middle of nowhere, or to wake up on a deserted island, or embark on an expedition like Lewis and Clark. It's not realistic though, because I have a romanticized view of adventure from books and movies. I'm probably not capable of building a deluxe tree house like the Robinsons, and I doubt I could get used to skinning and gutting mammals or dressing fowl. Fantasies conveniently leave out the blood, sweat and tears part. But that's what books and movies are for. I can be an armchair enthusiast. And hey, if I ever do find myself in one of those "coveted" situations, I'll at least have a positive attitude and some secondhand knowledge.
