About This Story Series
This story is part of a special series written by students in Stephanie Christopher’s 4th Grade Class at Elkhorn Elementary. After reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, students were challenged to write their own personal narrative in which their main character must survive in an extreme setting. Using Paulsen’s writing style as inspiration, they crafted exciting tales of adventure, danger, and resilience.
Out of all the submissions, six standout stories were selected to be published in the Excelsior Citizen. We hope you enjoy these incredible student-written survival stories!
The Island
By Mason Hunter Nielsen
One day there was an eleven year old boy that was on vacation by himself. His boat ran out of gas in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Mason stopped at a nearby island. When he got on the island Mason got scared wondering what he would do. Luckily, Mason has supplies from the boat. Some mre’s, a knife, fishing rod, and lures. Mason only sees birds in the trees on the island. Then a tiger starts chasing him, so he gets in a hollowed out log that’s too small for the tiger to get in. Mason finds materials like bamboo to make a shelter. Mason makes a spear out of hard bamboo and the knife.
The tiger comes out of nowhere again and tries to attack Mason but he quickly stabs it with his spear and kills it. Mason makes a fire from making sparks with his knife and a rock. He catches fish and cooks and eats it.
Then in the morning it happened when Mason least expects it, a mini tsunami was about to hit. Mason got in a tree as fast as he could with his spear. Mason watched the tsunami hit. It took everything. It knocked down bamboo and small trees and even destroyed his shelter. Everything falling sounded like a build that had collapsed. One hour later the tsunami was gone. Mason felt depressed because everything was gone.
But he knew what could help him. He uses all the bamboo and trees on the ground for his new shelter. Mason made the shelter better than before. Later he kills fish for a bobcat. The bobcat started to trust him and followed Mason everywhere and it ate all the bugs. Mason makes a new fire to keep him warm and by this time it was dark and he was hungry so Mason killed the bobcat for more food.
The next day a plane flies about 25 feet over Mason and he gets their attention with like an 8 foot stick that Mason could barely lift. Two days later a boat comes and gets Mason and when Mason sees his mom they both cry of happy tears.
Mason I loved the story. I like all the survival skills that were shown.
Great job Mason!