Brian Robeson, a 13 year old boy, had recently experienced his parent's divorce. While traveling in a small plane, the pilot, who he does not know, has a heart attack. Brian is able to sustain the plane for 7 hours before inevitably plummeting to the forest floor. Trapped alone for 54 days, the experience changes him forever. Hatchet is narrated in the third person limited point of view.

Severian, an apprentice of the Guild of Torturers, is exiled for showing mercy to a prisoner. He is gifted Terminus Est from Master Palaemon and embarks on a journey to Thrax. The theme revolves around betrayal and perfidious friendship. This is present when one of Severian's trusted friends betray him. If you enjoy books that twist your imagination, you will not want to put this one down.