33 Books like Hatchet

My Side of the Mountain

by Jean Craighead George • 1959

Armed with a penknife, a boy runs away to live alone on a forgotten mountain farm.

4.10

86k+

🏕️ Wilderness Survival 🦅 Falconry 🏃 Runaway Adventure

My Side of the Mountain 93%

Armed with a penknife, a boy runs away to live alone on a forgotten mountain farm.

by Jean Craighead George 1959

4.10

86k+ ratings

🏕️ Wilderness Survival 🦅 Falconry 🏃 Runaway Adventure

How to Stay Invisible

by Maggie C. Rudd • 2023

Abandoned, a boy and his dog survive in the woods behind his school, attending class.

4.43

1k+

🎒 Secretly Homeless ❤️ Found Family 🐕 Loyal Dog Companion

How to Stay Invisible 91%

Abandoned, a boy and his dog survive in the woods behind his school, attending class.

by Maggie C. Rudd 2023

4.43

1k+ ratings

🎒 Secretly Homeless ❤️ Found Family 🐕 Loyal Dog Companion

Alabama Moon

by Watt Key • 2004

His father dead, a boy raised in the Alabama wild must outrun the law to survive.

4.06

5k+

🌲 Wilderness Survival 🫂 Found Family 👥 Unlikely Friends

Alabama Moon 91%

His father dead, a boy raised in the Alabama wild must outrun the law to survive.

by Watt Key 2004

4.06

5k+ ratings

🌲 Wilderness Survival 🫂 Found Family 👥 Unlikely Friends

The Cay

by Theodore Taylor • 1969

Shipwrecked and blinded, a prejudiced boy must trust an old West Indian sailor to survive.

3.80

39k+

🏝️ Stranded On An Island 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 🏕️ Survival Skills

The Cay 90%

Shipwrecked and blinded, a prejudiced boy must trust an old West Indian sailor to survive.

by Theodore Taylor 1969

3.80

39k+ ratings

🏝️ Stranded On An Island 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 🏕️ Survival Skills

The River

by Peter Heller • 2019

Canoeing remote Canada, two friends are trapped between a forest fire and a couple's deadly secrets.

3.85

47k+

🏕️ Wilderness Survival 📚 Literary Thriller 🤝 Male Friendship

The River 90%

Canoeing remote Canada, two friends are trapped between a forest fire and a couple's deadly secrets.

by Peter Heller 2019

3.85

47k+ ratings

🏕️ Wilderness Survival 📚 Literary Thriller 🤝 Male Friendship

Into the Wild

by Jon Krakauer • 1996

A young man sheds his name and cash, walks into the Alaskan wild, and never returns.

4.02

1.2M+

📖 Narrative Nonfiction 🏔️ Alaskan Wilderness 🏃 Runaway Idealist

Into the Wild 89%

A young man sheds his name and cash, walks into the Alaskan wild, and never returns.

by Jon Krakauer 1996

4.02

1.2M+ ratings

📖 Narrative Nonfiction 🏔️ Alaskan Wilderness 🏃 Runaway Idealist

Revolver

by Marcus Sedgwick • 2009

A frozen cabin, a dead father, and a gunman demanding gold the family may not have.

3.71

5k+

🧊 Arctic Survival ⛏️ Gold Rush Frontier 💔 Absent Mother

Revolver 89%

A frozen cabin, a dead father, and a gunman demanding gold the family may not have.

by Marcus Sedgwick 2009

3.71

5k+ ratings

🧊 Arctic Survival ⛏️ Gold Rush Frontier 💔 Absent Mother

Peak

by Roland Smith • 2007

Arrested for scaling a skyscraper, a teen climber must reach Everest's summit before a rival Sherpa.

3.97

23k+

⛰️ Mount Everest 🤝 Rivals To Friends 🧘 Spiritual Guide

Peak 89%

Arrested for scaling a skyscraper, a teen climber must reach Everest's summit before a rival Sherpa.

by Roland Smith 2007

3.97

23k+ ratings

⛰️ Mount Everest 🤝 Rivals To Friends 🧘 Spiritual Guide

My Absolute Darling

by Gabriel Tallent • 2017

Her father taught her to survive the collapse of civilization; now she must survive him.

3.59

57k+

🏚️ Survivalist Upbringing 🖤 Abusive Parent 🌲 Remote Wilderness

My Absolute Darling 89%

Her father taught her to survive the collapse of civilization; now she must survive him.

by Gabriel Tallent 2017

3.59

57k+ ratings

🏚️ Survivalist Upbringing 🖤 Abusive Parent 🌲 Remote Wilderness

The Rule of Three

by Eric Walters • 2014

A tech collapse forces a teen to lead his neighborhood's defense against a ruthless enemy.

4.00

8k+

💻 Tech Collapse 🫂 Found Family 🛡️ Makeshift Militia

The Rule of Three 89%

A tech collapse forces a teen to lead his neighborhood's defense against a ruthless enemy.

by Eric Walters 2014

4.00

8k+ ratings

💻 Tech Collapse 🫂 Found Family 🛡️ Makeshift Militia

Aller Retour

by Yves Beauchesne

Orphaned and abused, a boy escapes to Montreal and searches for anyone who will take him in.

2.43

119

🏃 Runaway Story 🩵 Found Family 💔 Orphaned Protagonist

Aller Retour 88%

Orphaned and abused, a boy escapes to Montreal and searches for anyone who will take him in.

by Yves Beauchesne

2.43

119 ratings

🏃 Runaway Story 🩵 Found Family 💔 Orphaned Protagonist

A Dog's Life

by Ann M. Martin • 2005

A stray dog spends her life losing everyone, wandering the countryside, always searching for home.

4.22

16k+

🐾 Animal Narrator 🐕 Stray Dog Journey 😢 Animal Tearjerker

A Dog's Life 88%

A stray dog spends her life losing everyone, wandering the countryside, always searching for home.

by Ann M. Martin 2005

4.22

16k+ ratings

🐾 Animal Narrator 🐕 Stray Dog Journey 😢 Animal Tearjerker

Fortune Falls

by Lou Vane • 2021

When society collapses, teens at a remote mountain camp must survive wilderness and armed strangers.

4.14

3k+

🏚️ Post Apocalyptic Survival 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family 💔 Love Triangle

Fortune Falls 88%

When society collapses, teens at a remote mountain camp must survive wilderness and armed strangers.

by Lou Vane 2021

4.14

3k+ ratings

🏚️ Post Apocalyptic Survival 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family 💔 Love Triangle

April et le Dernier Ours

by Hannah Gold • 2021

On an Arctic island, a lonely girl discovers a polar bear starving and trapped in plastic.

4.28

8k+

🌍 Eco Adventure 🐾 Animal Friendship 🐻 Girl And Wild Animal

April et le Dernier Ours 88%

On an Arctic island, a lonely girl discovers a polar bear starving and trapped in plastic.

by Hannah Gold 2021

4.28

8k+ ratings

🌍 Eco Adventure 🐾 Animal Friendship 🐻 Girl And Wild Animal

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown • 2016

A shipwrecked robot learns to survive among wild animals and becomes mother to an orphaned gosling.

4.22

124k+

🤖 Robot Protagonist 🏕️ Wilderness Survival 🦊 Animal Fable

The Wild Robot 88%

A shipwrecked robot learns to survive among wild animals and becomes mother to an orphaned gosling.

by Peter Brown 2016

4.22

124k+ ratings

🤖 Robot Protagonist 🏕️ Wilderness Survival 🦊 Animal Fable

Minecraft

by Max Brooks • 2017

A castaway with no memory battles monsters and mines the secrets of a block-shaped island.

4.17

8k+

🎮 Video Game Tie-In ⛏️ Survival Crafting 🔲 Block World

Minecraft 88%

A castaway with no memory battles monsters and mines the secrets of a block-shaped island.

by Max Brooks 2017

4.17

8k+ ratings

🎮 Video Game Tie-In ⛏️ Survival Crafting 🔲 Block World

Monument 14

by Emmy Laybourne • 2012

Trapped in a superstore by a freak hailstorm, fourteen kids discover the air outside is lethal.

3.90

25k+

🌀 Disaster Survival 👦 Kids Without Adults 🫂 Found Family

Monument 14 88%

Trapped in a superstore by a freak hailstorm, fourteen kids discover the air outside is lethal.

by Emmy Laybourne 2012

3.90

25k+ ratings

🌀 Disaster Survival 👦 Kids Without Adults 🫂 Found Family

One Man's Wilderness

by Sam Keith • 1973

At fifty-one he walked into the Alaskan wilderness, built a cabin by hand, and began again.

4.37

10k+

🏔️ Wilderness Memoir 🔨 Self-Reliance 🐻 Animal Encounters

One Man's Wilderness 88%

At fifty-one he walked into the Alaskan wilderness, built a cabin by hand, and began again.

by Sam Keith 1973

4.37

10k+ ratings

🏔️ Wilderness Memoir 🔨 Self-Reliance 🐻 Animal Encounters

Jock of the Bushveld

by J. Percy FitzPatrick • 1907

A boy and his runt terrier brave the dangers of the South African bushveld.

4.08

2k+

🐕 Boy And Dog Bond 🌱 Coming Of Age 🌲 Wilderness Survival

Jock of the Bushveld 88%

A boy and his runt terrier brave the dangers of the South African bushveld.

by J. Percy FitzPatrick 1907

4.08

2k+ ratings

🐕 Boy And Dog Bond 🌱 Coming Of Age 🌲 Wilderness Survival

Alone

by Megan E. Freeman • 2021

A twelve-year-old wakes to a deserted town, stranded with nothing but a neighbor's rottweiler.

4.13

22k+

📖 Novel In Verse 🏝️ Solo Survival 🐕 Girl And Her Dog

Alone 88%

A twelve-year-old wakes to a deserted town, stranded with nothing but a neighbor's rottweiler.

by Megan E. Freeman 2021

4.13

22k+ ratings

📖 Novel In Verse 🏝️ Solo Survival 🐕 Girl And Her Dog

Echo Mountain

by Lauren Wolk • 2020

On a mountain in the Depression, Ellie believes the wild can wake her comatose father.

4.25

11k+

🏚️ Depression Era Fiction 🌿 Young Healer 💙 Father-Daughter Bond

Echo Mountain 88%

On a mountain in the Depression, Ellie believes the wild can wake her comatose father.

by Lauren Wolk 2020

4.25

11k+ ratings

🏚️ Depression Era Fiction 🌿 Young Healer 💙 Father-Daughter Bond

The Sun Trail

by Erin Hunter • 2013

Starving mountain cats follow a vision across roaring roads and hostile lands toward a new home.

4.29

13k+

🐾 Animal Fantasy 🐱 Feline Adventure ⚔️ Sibling Rivalry

The Sun Trail 88%

Starving mountain cats follow a vision across roaring roads and hostile lands toward a new home.

by Erin Hunter 2013

4.29

13k+ ratings

🐾 Animal Fantasy 🐱 Feline Adventure ⚔️ Sibling Rivalry

Arctic Homestead

by Norma Cobb • 2000

A blended family claims an Arctic homestead: no road, no laws, and winter closing in.

4.06

2k+

🏡 Homesteading Memoir 🏔️ Alaskan Wilderness 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Frontier Family

Arctic Homestead 88%

A blended family claims an Arctic homestead: no road, no laws, and winter closing in.

by Norma Cobb 2000

4.06

2k+ ratings

🏡 Homesteading Memoir 🏔️ Alaskan Wilderness 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Frontier Family

The Marrow Thieves

by Cherie Dimaline • 2017

A dreamless world hunts an Indigenous boy whose found family keeps the last dreams alive.

3.94

45k+

🌌 Indigenous Futurism 🫂 Found Family 🏚️ Dystopian Survival

The Marrow Thieves 88%

A dreamless world hunts an Indigenous boy whose found family keeps the last dreams alive.

by Cherie Dimaline 2017

3.94

45k+ ratings

🌌 Indigenous Futurism 🫂 Found Family 🏚️ Dystopian Survival

Cloudburst

by Wilbur Smith • 2020

His parents vanish in the Congo. Finding them means braving jungle dangers and family betrayal.

3.67

1k+

🦍 Jungle Adventure 🌿 Eco Thriller 💔 Family Betrayal

Cloudburst 88%

His parents vanish in the Congo. Finding them means braving jungle dangers and family betrayal.

by Wilbur Smith 2020

3.67

1k+ ratings

🦍 Jungle Adventure 🌿 Eco Thriller 💔 Family Betrayal

The Escape

by Robert Muchamore • 2009

A twelve-year-old orphan escapes into occupied France, where a spy's mission makes him a target.

4.12

6k+

🏚️ Occupied France 🕵️ Child Spies 🔍 Wwii Espionage

The Escape 87%

A twelve-year-old orphan escapes into occupied France, where a spy's mission makes him a target.

by Robert Muchamore 2009

4.12

6k+ ratings

🏚️ Occupied France 🕵️ Child Spies 🔍 Wwii Espionage

Journey to the River Sea

by Eva Ibbotson • 2001

An orphan arrives in the Amazon to cold guardians and a jungle boy fleeing his past.

4.19

18k+

🌿 Amazon Adventure 🧒 Orphan Protagonist 🤝 Found Family

Journey to the River Sea 87%

An orphan arrives in the Amazon to cold guardians and a jungle boy fleeing his past.

by Eva Ibbotson 2001

4.19

18k+ ratings

🌿 Amazon Adventure 🧒 Orphan Protagonist 🤝 Found Family

The Old Man Who Read Love Stories

by Luis Sepúlveda • 1995

An elderly widower in the Amazon must hunt a killer ocelot. His only comfort: romance novels.

3.94

32k+

🌴 Amazon Rainforest 🌿 Literary Eco-Fiction 🧘 Meditative Fiction

The Old Man Who Read Love Stories Summary

The Old Man Who Read Love Stories 87%

An elderly widower in the Amazon must hunt a killer ocelot. His only comfort: romance novels.

by Luis Sepúlveda 1995

3.94

32k+ ratings

🌴 Amazon Rainforest 🌿 Literary Eco-Fiction 🧘 Meditative Fiction

The Latte Factor

by David Bach • 2019

He ran the Iditarod to prove himself. His dogs ran it to save his soul.

3.83

8k+

🌲 Wilderness Memoir 🐕 Man And Dog Bond 🧠 Animal Intelligence

The Latte Factor 87%

He ran the Iditarod to prove himself. His dogs ran it to save his soul.

by David Bach 2019

3.83

8k+ ratings

🌲 Wilderness Memoir 🐕 Man And Dog Bond 🧠 Animal Intelligence

Elephant Run

by Roland Smith • 2007

Occupied Burma: a boy escapes through hidden corridors and braves the jungle to rescue his father.

4.09

7k+

🐅 Jungle Adventure 🌊 Pacific Theater 🐘 Working Elephants

Elephant Run 87%

Occupied Burma: a boy escapes through hidden corridors and braves the jungle to rescue his father.

by Roland Smith 2007

4.09

7k+ ratings

🐅 Jungle Adventure 🌊 Pacific Theater 🐘 Working Elephants

The Recruit

by Robert Muchamore • 2004

After his mother dies, a bullied boy joins a secret agency turning children into spies.

4.23

40k+

👶 Child Spies 🏫 Spy Academy 🏕️ Survival Training

The Recruit 87%

After his mother dies, a bullied boy joins a secret agency turning children into spies.

by Robert Muchamore 2004

4.23

40k+ ratings

👶 Child Spies 🏫 Spy Academy 🏕️ Survival Training

Three Day Road

by Joseph Boyden • 2005

A wounded Cree sniper battles morphine and guilt as his aunt paddles him north, telling stories.

4.28

26k+

🪖 Wwi Fiction 🍁 Indigenous Canada 🤝 Battlefield Brotherhood

Three Day Road 87%

A wounded Cree sniper battles morphine and guilt as his aunt paddles him north, telling stories.

by Joseph Boyden 2005

4.28

26k+ ratings

🪖 Wwi Fiction 🍁 Indigenous Canada 🤝 Battlefield Brotherhood

The Knife of Never Letting Go

by Patrick Ness • 2008

On a world of broadcast thoughts, a boy meets a quiet girl and a violent pursuit ignites.

3.97

205k+

🚀 Planet Colonization 🔍 Lost Colony Secrets 🏃 Relentless Pursuer

The Knife of Never Letting Go 87%

On a world of broadcast thoughts, a boy meets a quiet girl and a violent pursuit ignites.

by Patrick Ness 2008

3.97

205k+ ratings

🚀 Planet Colonization 🔍 Lost Colony Secrets 🏃 Relentless Pursuer

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