Hatchet
This is the main character who must survive alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash.
Who is Brian Robeson?
Rachel is celebrating this birthday at the beginning of the story.
What is her 11th birthday?
This is the name of the young girl who tells the story.
Who is Ji-li Jiang?
This is the name of the main character in the story.
Who is Deza Malone?
Rachel is at this place when Mrs. Price embarrasses her with the red sweater.
What is school?
Brian uses this small tool to help him build fires, make shelters, and survive in the wilderness.
What is a hatchet?
This is the name of Rachel's teacher who accuses her of owning the sweater.
Who is Mrs. Price?
The story takes place in China during this major political movement.
What is the Cultural Revolution?
Deza lives with her mother and brother during this difficult period in American history.
What is the Great Depression?
The story takes place during this part of Rachel's life, which helps explain why she still feels like a younger child sometimes.
What is childhood/growing up?
This is the natural environment where Brian finds himself after the plane crashes.
What is the Canadian wilderness?
Rachel is embarrassed because Mrs. Price makes her wear this item.
What is the red sweater?
This color becomes associated with the Communist movement and the political changes taking place around Ji-li.
What is red?
Deza is especially talented in this area of academics and enjoys using words.
What is language/English?
Deza and her family live during this difficult time in American history, when many families struggled to find work and money.
What is the Great Depression?
Brian learns that he must remain calm and think carefully instead of giving in to this feeling.
What is panic?
Rachel wishes she could be somewhere else during her birthday when she begins to feel upset and humiliated.
What is home?
Ji-li's family is treated unfairly because of this part of their family background.
What is their family's class/background or political history?
Deza's family struggles because her father is away searching for work after experiencing this problem.
What is unemployment?
Ji-li lives in this country during the Cultural Revolution.
What is China?
This event gives Brian hope and allows him to escape the wilderness.
What is the arrival of the rescue plane?
This is one of the story's main themes: Rachel realizes that growing older does not mean she stops having the emotions of her younger ages.
What is growing up and understanding that emotions from the past remain part of you?
One major theme of the memoir is Ji-li's struggle between protecting her family and showing loyalty to this.
What is the Communist Party/revolution?
Deza demonstrates this quality throughout the story as she continues to hope for a better future despite her family's struggles.
What is perseverance?
The political and social environment of this time creates fear and pressure for Ji-li and her family.
What is the Cultural Revolution?