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Series / Gary Paulsen

Cover of Hatchet

Hatchet books in order A series by Gary Paulsen

The Hatchet series by Gary Paulsen has 5 books, from Hatchet (Sep 1987) to Brian's Hunt (2003). Read it in order, starting with Hatchet.

Reading order: 1 Hatchet (1987) · 2 The River (1991) · 3 Brian's Winter (1996) · 4 Brian's Return (1999) · 5 Brian's Hunt (2003)

Updated September 2026

All 5 Hatchet books in order

  1. 1.

    Hatchet (Sep 1987)

    192 pages★ 4.2 (156 ratings)Adapted for film

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  2. 2.

    The River (Jun 1991)

    138 pages★ 4.0 (8 ratings)

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  3. 3.

    Brian's Winter (1996)

    133 pages★ 4.4 (11 ratings)

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  4. 4.

    Brian's Return (Feb 1999)

    117 pages★ 3.5 (6 ratings)

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  5. 5.

    Brian's Hunt (2003)

    103 pages★ 4.0 (5 ratings)

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Hatchet on screen

Hatchet FAQ

How many Hatchet books are there?
There are 5 Hatchet books, as of September 2026.
What order should I read the Hatchet books in?
In publication order, starting with Hatchet (Sep 1987): 1 Hatchet (1987) · 2 The River (1991) · 3 Brian's Winter (1996) · 4 Brian's Return (1999) · 5 Brian's Hunt (2003).
What is the first Hatchet book?
Hatchet (Sep 1987).
What is the latest Hatchet book?
Brian's Hunt (2003).
Is the Hatchet series finished?
There have been no new Hatchet books since 2003; Gary Paulsen died in 2021.
Did Gary Paulsen write other series?
Yes: Mr. Tucket Saga, Murphy, Alida's and Al Murphy.

More series by Gary Paulsen

All Gary Paulsen books

Sources: series order and dates from Wikidata and Open Library. Last updated September 2026.