Hatchet question

A long time ago in elementary school my teacher read the class a book. I dont remember most of it. But, i know that it was about a boy who had a little boat that he filled with coconuts and traveled to America (assuming from south America?) Thats all i remember. This was read to me 2003-2005 (16-18) years ago, had a good enough impact that I remember it existed but thats were my brain fizzles. Any ideas?