The novels Hatchet and Forbidden City can be compared easily because they both describe stories of teenagers facing conflict and struggle. The similarities and differences between both books are the shown in the conflicts between the main characters and themselves, their families, nature and society. By examing these problems in each novel one can see that they both deal with the overall topic of teenagers coming of age and creating their own identity to challenges and difficulties.
In the novels Hatchet and Forbidden City, the similarities and differences are within the conflicts of society, because both main characters (Brian and Alex) need to integrate themselves to a new environment or society, on the other hand that is another difference between them, because one is trying to get use to the wilderness which is lack of any cultural problems, but it's don't lack of any conflict with some wild animal or natural disaster. And the other is struggling with getting use to a new country with different practices, beliefs, culture, language and political issues.
When you are part of a society you count with food but when you are in the middle of no where find food is so hard. "Sausages, chicken breast, sliced cucumber in sweet sauce, etc" Laoxu "great I thought what a thrill pg.30 (Forbidden City). "(He would never feel the same about food" (pg.34 Hatchet).
Secondly,the differences between the novels is the conflict, between the families of each, both are single children and their parents are divorced. the differences are that one lives with the mother and the other with the father. Also, Alex doesn't have problems withthe divorced anymore. Unlike Alex, Brian is not yet happy or acceptin of the divorce of their parents, he still struggles with the idea, and he has more problems trying to forget the causes of the divorced. Perhaps Alex doesn't feel bad anymore because he is older than Brian, and he has more experience with the fact of the divorce.
One had accept the divorced while the other still have the bad memories. "Then I figured if it wasn't my fault she left, dad must be to blame"pg.14 (Forbidden City). "And there were the words again dibvorce, split, the secret, how he could tell her what he knew." (pg.7 Hatchet).
Finally the similarities and differences between the two main character's struggle for identity are the challenges they face. First of all, both have divorce parents, that is a very serious problem for a teenager because that made them feel bad when they are in the teenager face. Then both are leaving to another place. The difference IS THAT ONE NEVER GOT TO HIS DESTINY, AND THE OTHER DID. Brian didn't get to his father, he had a problem in the plane , and the plane crash in the middle of no where, that nowhere was the wilderness of Canada in where he need to face so many problems like no food, a place to sleep, help from anyone, and the constant fear of been in a place that nobady know, of course this problem help him to mature and appreciate life, nature and himself and to learn more about nature and surviving.
Meanwhile, Alex was facing problems a little bit easier, but at the same time very complex conflicts. He was confronting a new country, China that was in the same planet that his country, but it was way to different that it almost was like a different planet. He learn, that life is not easy in some countries like in his country especially when the problemis caused by political issues. He was dealing, with a new culture, launguage, costumes and ideas of how people should live theirlife. He had and idea of how the world was, he had a interest in War and military strategies, that he tought were really cool and interesting, and after what he saw and experience in that country, his beliefs change dramatically, and he was like a new person, with a new and better view of the world and how people should live or be.
In conclusion, the two novels Hatchet and Forbbiden City share some differences and similarities about the struggles of teenagers to face challenges and mature. The novels show how facing some conflicts, make you a dirrernt person, when family change and your identity change. One thinks and acts so diffently, the view of life changes. One needs to confont a new problem or idea you learn something new. That makes a person some one else sometimes change for good or bad.
These conflicts problems or actions happen for a reason, for one to learn and mature, from our mistakes and put in our lifes new goals.
