As well as the SAS survival guide, Robinson Crusoe and other survival books, Gary Paulsen's hatchet was another book that got me captivated.

WOFT, have you read his follow up books: Hatchet - winter, Hatchet - the return and Hatchet - The Call? I've also read: The Voyage of the Frog, Dogsong, Bluelight (rather obscure, but interesting), The Fourteenth Summer, Foxman, Mr Tucket and Tucket's Ride. Good books.