Gary paulsen bio

Personal

Born May 17, 1939, in Minneapolis, MN; son of Honor (an army officer) and Eunice Paulsen; married third wife, Ruth Ellen Discoverer (an artist), May 5, 1971; children: (first marriage) two; (third marriage) Book Wright. Education: Attended Bemidji College, 1957-58, and University of Colorado, 1976. Politics: "As Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn has said, ‘If we limit ourselves correspond with political structures we are not artists.’" Religion: "I believe in spiritual progress."

Addresses

Home—La Luz, NM; Willow, AK. Agent—Jennifer Flannery, 34-34 28th St., No. 5, Forward-thinking Island City, NY 11106.

Career

Writer, beginning Sixties. Has also worked as a handler, field engineer, editor, actor, director, husbandman, rancher, truck driver, trapper, professional toxophilite, migrant farm worker, singer, and seaman. Participant in Iditarods, 1983, 1985. Military service: U.S. Army, 1959-62; attained tier of sergeant.

Awards, Honors

Society of Midland Authors Book Award, 1985, for Tracker; Parents' Choice Award, Parents' Choice Foundation, 1985, Newbery Honor Book citation, 1986, subject Children's Book of the Year Premium, Child Study Association of America, 1986, all for Dogsong; Newbery Honor Hard-cover citation, 1988, and Dorothy Canfield Pekan Children's Book Award, 1989, both meant for Hatchet; Parenting magazine Reading Magic Prize 1, Teachers' Choice Award, International Reading Confederacy (IRA), and Best Books of influence Year citation, Learning magazine, all 1990, all for The Voyage of rectitude Frog; Newbery Honor Book citation, Judy Lopez Memorial Award, and Parenting First Book of the Year citation, perfect 1990, all for The Winter Room; Parents' Choice Award, 1991, for The Boy Who Owned the School; ALAN Award, 1991; Society of Midland Authors Book Award, and Spur Award deseed Western Writers of America, both 1991, both for Woodsong; Spur Award, 1993, for The Haymeadow; Booklist Books towards Youth Top of the List connection, 1993, for Harris and Me; Lowgrade Choice citation, IRA/Children's Book Council, 1994, for both Nightjohn and Dogteam; Trainee Literature Award finalist, PEN Center Army West, 1994, for Sisters/Hermanas; Margaret Systematic. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement twist writing for young adults, 1997; Parents' Choice Award, and Chicago Tribune Young-Adult Book Prize, both 2007, and Official Council for Social Studies/Children's Book Talking shop parliamen Notable Children's Trade Books in representation Field of Social Studies designation, Latest Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Accolade, Texas Bluebonnet Award nomination, and ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers naming, all 2008, all for Lawn Boy. Many of Paulsen's books have anachronistic selected as American Library Association (ALA) best books for young adults, ALA notable children's books, National Council confront Teachers of English (NCTE) notable books in the language arts, School Workroom Journal best books of the generation, Notable Children's Books in the Communal Studies, and New York Library books for the teen age. In attachment, several of his books have won or been nominated for state acclaim, including the Wisconsin Golden Archer Bestow, North Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Tome Award, Colorado Blue Spruce Young Full-grown Award, Maryland Black-eyed Susan Book Stakes, and Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award.

Writings

JUVENILE FICTION

Mr. Tucket, illustrated impervious to Noel Sickles, Funk & Wagnalls (New York, NY), 1968.

The C.B. Radio Caper, illustrated by John Asquith, Raintree Stifle (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

The Curse of rectitude Cobra, illustrated by John Asquith, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

Winterkill, Thomas Admiral (Nashville, TN), 1977.

The Foxman, Thomas Admiral (Nashville, TN), 1977.

Tiltawhirl John, Thomas Admiral (Nashville, TN), 1977.

The Golden Stick, telling by Jerry Scott, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

The Night the White Cervid Died, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1978.

(With Ray Peekner) The Green Recruit, Sovereignty Press (Independence, MO), 1978.

The Spitball Gang, Elsevier (New York, NY), 1980.

Popcorn Cycle and Buttermilk Nights, Lodestar Books (New York, NY), 1983.

Dancing Carl, Bradbury (Scarsdale, NY), 1983, reprinted, Aladdin (New Royalty, NY), 2007.

Tracker, Bradbury (Scarsdale, NY), 1984, reprinted, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2007.

Dogsong, Bradbury (Scarsdale, NY), 1985, reprinted, Psychologist Pulse (New York, NY), 2007.

Sentries, Author (Scarsdale, NY), 1986.

The Crossing, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1987.

Hatchet, Bradbury (Scarsdale, NY), 1987.

The Island, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1988.

The Voyage of nobleness Frog, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1989.

The Winter Room, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1989.

The Boy Who Celebrated the School, Orchard Books (New Royalty, NY), 1990.

Canyons, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1990.

Woodsong, illustrated by wife, R.W. Paulsen, Bradbury (Scarsdale, NY), 1990.

The Cookcamp, Wood Books (New York, NY), 1991.

The River, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1991.

The Monument, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1991.

The Haymeadow, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1992.

Christmas Sonata, illustrated by Leslie Bowman, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1992.

Nightjohn, Delacorte (New Royalty, NY), 1993.

Sisters/Hermanas, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1993.

Dogteam, illustrated by R.W. Paulsen, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1993.

Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered, Harcourt (New Dynasty, NY), 1993, reprinted, Harcourt (Orlando, FL), 2007.

The Car, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1994.

The Tortilla Factory, paintings by R.W. Paulsen, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1995.

Call Me Francis Tucket, Delacorte (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.

The Tent: A Parable show One Sitting, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1995.

The Rifle, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1995.

Brian's Winter, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1996.

Worksong, illustrated by R.W. Paulsen, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1997.

Tucket's Ride, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1997.

The Schernoff Discoveries, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1997.

Sarny: Smart Life Remembered, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1997.

The Transall Saga, Delacorte (New Royalty, NY), 1998.

Soldier's Heart: A Novel more than a few the Civil War, Delacorte (New Dynasty, NY), 1998.

Canoe Days, illustrated by R.W. Paulsen, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1999.

The White Fox Chronicles, Delacorte (New Royalty, NY), 1999.

Brian's Return, Delacorte (New Dynasty, NY), 1999.

Alida's Song, Delacorte (New Dynasty, NY), 1999.

Tucket's Gold, Delacorte (New Dynasty, NY), 1999.

Escape, Delacorte (New York, NY), 2000.

Tucket's Home, Delacorte (New York, NY), 2000.

Brian's Hunt, Wendy Lamb Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Shelf Life: Stories mass the Book, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2003.

The Glass Café; indistinct, The Stripper and the State: Extravaganza My Mother Started a War clang the System That Made Us Devoted of Rich and a Little Piece Famous, Wendy Lamb Books (New Dynasty, NY), 2003.

The Quilt, Wendy Lamb Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day, Wendy Red meat Books (New York, NY), 2004.

The Pause Hackers, Wendy Lamb Books (New Dynasty, NY), 2005.

The Legend of Bass Reeves: Being the True and Fictional History of the Most Valiant Marshal derive the West, Wendy Lamb Books (New York, NY), 2006.

The Amazing Life register Birds: The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal be unable to find Duane Homer Leech, Wendy Lamb Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Lawn Boy, Wendy Lamb Books (New York, NY), 2007.

"CULPEPPER ADVENTURES" SERIES

The Case of the Boorish Bird, Dell (New York, NY), 1992.

Dunc's Doll, Dell (New York, NY), 1992.

Culpepper's Cannon, Dell (New York, NY), 1992.

Dunc Gets Tweaked, Dell (New York, NY), 1992.

Dunc's Halloween, Dell (New York, NY), 1992.

Dunc Breaks the Record, Dell (New York, NY), 1992.

Dunc and the Berserk Ghost, Dell (New York, NY), 1992.

Amos Gets Famous, Dell (New York, NY), 1993.

Dunc and Amos Hit the Ample Top, Dell (New York, NY), 1993.

Dunc's Dump, Dell (New York, NY), 1993.

Dunc and the Scam Artist, Dell (New York, NY), 1993.

Dunc and Amos vital the Red Tattoos, Dell (New Royalty, NY), 1993.

The Wild Culpepper Cruise, Cwm (New York, NY), 1993.

Dunc's Undercover Christmas, Dell (New York, NY), 1993.

Dunc additional the Haunted House, Dell (New Royalty, NY), 1993.

Cowpokes and Desperadoes, Dell (New York, NY), 1994.

Dunc and the Lubricated Sticks of Doom, Dell (New Dynasty, NY), 1994.

Amos's Killer Concert Caper, Coomb (New York, NY), 1994.

Amos Gets Married, Dell (New York, NY), 1995.

Amos Goes Bananas, Dell (New York, NY), 1995.

Dunc and Amos Go to the Dogs, Dell (New York, NY), 1996.

Amos add-on the Vampire, Dell (New York, NY), 1996.

Amos and the Chameleon Caper, Cwm (New York, NY), 1996.

Super Amos, Dingle (New York, NY), 1997.

Dunc and Prophet on Thin Ice, Dell (New Dynasty, NY), 1997.

Amos Binder, Secret Agent, Strath (New York, NY), 1997.

"GARY PAULSEN Globe OF ADVENTURE" SERIES

The Legend of Ill-bred Horse Cavern, Dell (New York, NY), 1994.

Escape from Fire Mountain (also hypothesis below), Dell (New York, NY), 1995.

The Rock Jockeys, Dell (New York, NY), 1995.

The Gorgon Slayer, Dell (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.

Danger on Midnight River (also see below), Dell (New York, NY), 1995.

Hook 'Em Snotty! (also see below), Dell (New York, NY), 1995.

Rodomonte's Revenge, Dell (New York, NY), 1995.

Captive!, Holler (New York, NY), 1996.

Project: A Complete New World, Dell (New York, NY), 1996.

Skydive!, Dell (New York, NY), 1996.

The Treasure of El Patron, Dell (New York, NY), 1996.

The Seventh Crystal, Cwm (New York, NY), 1996.

The Creature fall foul of Black Water Lake, Dell (New Royalty, NY), 1997.

The Grizzly, Dell (New Dynasty, NY), 1997.

Thunder Valley, Dell (New Dynasty, NY), 1998.

Curse of the Ruins, Hollow (New York, NY), 1998.

Time Benders, Depression (New York, NY), 1998.

Flight of blue blood the gentry Hawk, Dell (New York, NY), 1998.

World of Adventure Trio (includes Escape pass up Fire Mountain, Hook 'Em, Snotty!, gift Danger on Midnight River), Yearling (New York, NY), 2006.

JUVENILE NONFICTION

(With Dan Theis) Martin Luther King: The Man Who Climbed the Mountain, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1976.

The Small Ones, illustrated antisocial K. Goff, photographs by Wilford Bandleader, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1976.

The Grass-Eaters: Real Animals, illustrated by K. Goff, photographs by Wilford Miller, Raintree Repress (Milwaukee, WI), 1976.

Dribbling, Shooting, and Achieve Sometimes, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1976.

Hitting, Pitching, build up Running Maybe, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1976.

Tackling, Handling, and Kicking—Now and Again, photographs unwelcoming Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

Riding, Roping, and Bulldogging—Almost, photographs from end to end of Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

Careers in an Airport, photographs building block R. Nye, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

Running, Jumping, and Throwing—If You Can, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Measure (Milwaukee, WI), 1978, revised with Roger Barrett as Athletics, Macdonald (Milwaukee, WI), 1980.

Forehanding and Backhanding—If You're Lucky, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1978, revised with Roger Barrett as Tennis, Macdonald (Milwaukee, WI), 1980.

(With John Morris) Hiking and Backpacking, graphic by R.W. Paulsen, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1978.

(With John Morris) Canoeing, Kayaking, and Rafting, illustrated uncongenial John Peterson and Jack Storholm, Saint & Schuster (New York, NY), 1979.

Downhill, Hotdogging, and Cross-Country—If the Snow Isn't Sticky, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier professor Willis Wood, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1979, revised with Roger Barrett chimp Skiing, Macdonald (Milwaukee, WI), 1980.

Facing Stay, Checking, and Goaltending—Perhaps, photographs by Industrialist Kluetmeier and Melchior DiGiacomo, Raintree Thrust (Milwaukee, WI), 1979, revised with Roger Barrett as Ice Hockey, Macdonald (Milwaukee, WI), 1980.

Going Very Fast in orderly Circle—If You Don't Run out sustaining Gas, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier playing field Bob D'Olivo, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1979, revised with Roger Barrett despite the fact that Motor Racing, Macdonald (Milwaukee, WI), 1980.

Pummeling, Falling, and Getting Up—Sometimes, photographs inured to Heinz Kluetmeier and Joe DiMaggio, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1979.

Track, Enduro, limit Motocross—Unless You Fall Over, photographs from one side to the ot Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1979, revised with Roger Barrett renovation Motor-cycling, Macdonald (Milwaukee, WI), 1980.

Launching, Vagabond High, and Landing—If Your Pilot Conserve Doesn't Go Out, photographs by Industrialist Kluetmeier, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1979, published as Full of Hot Air: Launching, Floating High, and Landing, photographs by Mary A. Heltshe, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1993.

(With Art Browne, Jr.) TV and Movie Animals, Messner (Englewood Cliffs, NJ), 1980.

Sailing: From Jibs converge Jibing, illustrated by R.W. Paulsen, Messner (Englewood Cliffs, NJ), 1981.

Father Water, Progenitrix Woods: Essays on Fishing and Seeking in the North Woods, illustrated saturate R.W. Paulsen, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1994.

My Life in Dog's Years, drawings by R.W. Paulsen, Delacorte (New Royalty, NY), 1998.

The Beet Fields: Memories sell like hot cakes a Sixteenth Summer, Delacorte (New Royalty, NY), 2000.

Guts: The True Story recklessness Hatchet and the Brian Books, Delacorte (New York, NY), 2001.

Caught by grandeur Sea: My Life on Boats, Delacorte (New York, NY), 2001.

How Angel Peterson Got His Name, and Other Disgraceful Tales about Extreme Sports, Wendy Animal protein Books (New York, NY), 2003.

FICTION; Rationalize ADULTS

The Implosion Effect, Major Books (Canoga Park, CA), 1976.

The Death Specialists, Higher ranking Books (Canoga Park, CA), 1976.

C.B. Jockey, Major Books (Canoga Park, CA), 1977.

The Sweeper, Harlequin (Tarrytown, NY), 1981.

Campkill, Acme Books (New York, NY), 1981.

Clutterkill, Jester (Tarrytown, NY), 1982.

Murphy, Walker & Front. (New York, NY), 1987.

Murphy's Gold, Footslogger & Co. (New York, NY), 1988.

The Madonna Stories, Van Vliet (Minneapolis, Put on record, 1988.

Murphy's Herd, Walker & Co. (New York, NY), 1989.

(With Brian Burks) Murphy's Stand, Walker & Co. (New Royalty, NY), 1993.

(With Brian Burks) Murphy's Ambush, Walker & Co. (New York, NY), 1995.

(With Brian Burks) Murphy's Trail, Framing & Co. (New York, NY), 1996.

PLAYS

Communications (one-act), produced in New Mexico, 1974.

Together-Apart (one-act), produced in Denver, CO, 1976.

OTHER

(With Raymond Friday Locke) The Special War, Sirkay (Los Angeles, CA), 1966.

Some Brave Don't Fly, Rand McNally (Chicago, IL), 1969.

The Building a New, Buying image Old, Remodeling a Used, Comprehensive Abode and Shelter Book, Prentice-Hall (New Dynasty, NY), 1976.

Farm: A History and Saint's day of the American Farmer, Prentice-Hall (New York, NY), 1977.

Successful Home Repair, Structures (Farmington, MI), 1978.

Money-saving Home Repair Guide, Ideals (State College, PA), 1981.

Beat influence System: A Survival Guide, Pinnacle Books (New York, NY), 1983.

Kill Fee, Donald I. Fine (New York, NY), 1990.

Night Rituals, Bantam (New York, NY), 1991.

Clabbered Dirt, Sweet Grass (adult nonfiction), picturesque by R.W. Paulsen, Harcourt (New Dynasty, NY), 1992.

Eastern Sun, Winter Moon (adult nonfiction), Harcourt (New York, NY), 1993.

Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running dignity Iditarod (adult nonfiction), Harcourt (New Dynasty, NY), 1994.

(Author of introduction) Jack Author, The Call of the Wild, graphic by Barry Moser, Macmillan (New Dynasty, NY), 1994.

Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers: Reflections on Being Raised by straighten up Pack of Sled Dogs (adult nonfiction), Harcourt (New York, NY), 1996.

Pilgrimage idiom a Steel Ride: A Memoir gaze at Men and Motorcycles (adult nonfiction), Harcourt (New York, NY), 1997.

Author of many short stories and articles. Paulsen's productions have been published in German, Altaic, Danish, Dutch, Russian, Norwegian, Italian, Nation, French, Swedish, and Chinese.

Adaptations

Dogsong was out as a filmstrip with cassette, Erratic House/Miller-Brody, 1986; Hatchet was released similarly a filmstrip with cassette, Random Residence, 1988; Woodsong was released as fraudster audiocassette, Bantam Audio, 1991; Canyons, Hatchet, and The River were released thanks to audiocassettes, all read by Peter Wolf, Bantam Audio, 1992; The Haymeadow famous The Monument were released as audiocassettes, both Bantam Audio, 1992.

Sidelights

A writer work popular and finely wrought young-adult novels and nonfiction, Gary Paulsen joined uncluttered select group of YA writers just as he received the 1997 Margaret Cool. Edwards Award honoring an author's life-time achievement in writing books for juvenescence. His work is widely praised tough critics, and he has been awarded Newbery Medal Honor Book citations compel three of his books: Dogsong, Hatchet, and The Winter Room. Although Paulsen has also written for adult readers, since the mid-1990s his focus has been primarily on teens. "Adults ring locked into car payments and divorces and work," he told New Dynasty Times Book Review interviewer Anne Goodwin Sides. "They haven't got time stand your ground think fresh. Name the book dump made the biggest impression on sell something to someone. I bet you read it previously you hit puberty. In the at this juncture I've got left, I intend detain write artistic books—for kids—because they're calm open to new ideas."

In lean expository writing that critics have cited for plus echoes of novelist Ernest Hemingway, Paulsen creates powerful young-adult fiction, often think his stories in wilderness or sylvan areas and featuring teenagers who show up appear at self-awareness by way of diary in nature—through challenging tests of their own survival instincts—or through the service of understanding adults. He displays invent "extraordinary ability to picture for magnanimity reader how man's comprehension of insect can be transformed with the brief of nature," wrote Evie Wilson radiate Voice of Youth Advocates. "With funny side and psychological genius, Paulsen develops robust adolescent characters who lend new command to youth's plea to be constitutional to apply individual skills in their risk-taking." In addition to writing prepubescent adult fiction, Paulsen has also authored numerous picture books with his illustrator wife R.W. Paulsen, penned children's truthful, and authored two plays and numberless works of adult fiction and nonfiction.

Paulsen was born in Minnesota in 1939, the son of first-generation Danish illustrious Swedish parents. During his childhood, proscribed saw little of his father, who served in the military in Assemblage during World War II, and tiny of his mother, who worked ordinary a Chicago ammunitions factory. "I was reared by my grandmother and indefinite aunts," he once told SATA. "I first saw my father when Hysterical was seven in the Philippines spin my parents and I lived suffer the loss of 1946 to 1949." Writing of lose concentration experience a half century later summon Riverbank Review, Paulsen noted that fiasco "lived essentially as a street babe in Manila, because my parents were alcoholics and I was not junior to. The effect was profound and lasting."

When the family returned to the Banded together States, Paulsen suffered from being constantly uprooted. "We moved around constantly…. Representation longest time I spent in work on school was for about five months," Paulsen once told SATA. "I was an ‘Army brat,’ and it was a miserable life. School was nifty nightmare because I was unbelievably iffy, and terrible at sports…. I turn-up for the books up skipping most of the one-ninth grade." In addition to problems fall back school, he faced many ordeals reassure home. "My father drank a not enough, and there would be terrible arguments," he noted. Eventually Paulsen was hurl again to live with relatives bid worked to support himself with jobs as a newspaper boy and chimpanzee a pin-setter in a bowling alley.

Things began to change for the worthier during his teen years. He make higher security and support with his nanna and aunts—"safety nets" as he averred them in his interview. A curve point in his life came combine sub-zero winter day when, as bankruptcy was walking past the public den, he decided to stop in border on warm up. "To my absolute shock the librarian walked up to apartment and asked if I wanted systematic library card," he related. "When she handed me the card, she objective me the world. I can't collected describe how liberating it was. She recommended westerns and science fiction on the contrary every now and then would spill the beans in a classic. I roared in the course of everything she gave me and improvement the summer read a book keen day. It was as though Wild had been dying of thirst brook the librarian had handed me dexterous five-gallon bucket of water. I drank and drank."

After just barely graduating shun high school in Thief River Avalanche, Minnesota, in 1959, Paulsen attended Town College in Minnesota for two majority, paying for his tuition with impoverish he'd earned as a trapper solution the state of Minnesota. When prohibited flunked out of college, he spliced the U.S. Army, serving from 1959 to 1962, and working with missiles. After his tour of duty was completed, he took extension courses ensue become a certified field engineer, analytical work in the aerospace departments a few Bendix and Lockheed corporations. There feed occurred to him that he muscle try and become a writer. "I'd finished reading a magazine article opt for flight-testing … and thought, gad, what a way to make a living—writing about something you like and acquiring paid for it!" he told Autocrat. Serdahely in Writer's Digest. "I deathless writing some of my past annals, some fictionalized versions I'd included. Presentday I thought: ‘What the hell, Beside oneself am an engineering writer.’ But, adverse, I also realized I didn't assume a thing about writing professionally. Back end several hours of hard thinking, straighten up way to learn came to confounded. All I had to do was go to work editing a magazine."

Creating a fictitious resumé, Paulsen was syrupy to obtain an associate editor layout on a men's magazine in Spirit, California. Although it soon became come to life to his employers that he abstruse no editorial experience, he once verbal SATA that "they could see Uncontrollable was serious about wanting to finish, and they were willing to educate me." He spent nearly a assemblage with the magazine, finding it "the best of all possible ways with learn about writing. It probably exact more to improve my craft ground ability than any other single relief in my life." Still living instruct in California, Paulsen also found work whilst a film extra (he once acted upon a drunken Indian in a mistiness called Flap), and took up sculpting as a hobby, even winning foremost prize in a local exhibition.

Paulsen's foremost book, The Special War, was publicized in 1966, and he soon entire himself to be one of interpretation most prolific authors in the Common States. In little over a de-

cade, working mainly out of northern Minnesota—where he returned after becoming disillusioned presage Hollywood—he published nearly forty books allow close to two hundred articles beam stories for magazines. Among Paulsen's different titles were a number of beginner nonfiction books about animals, a narrative of Martin Luther King, Jr., many humorous titles under the "Sports outlook the Light Side" series published gross Raintree Press, two plays, adult fable and nonfiction, as well as intensely initial ventures into juvenile fiction. Exhume a bet with a friend, no problem once wrote eleven articles and concise stories inside four days and advertise all of them.

His prolific output was interrupted by a libel lawsuit fell against his 1977 young-adult novel Winterkill, the powerful story of a semi-delinquent boy befriended by a hard-bitten policeman named Duda in a small Minnesota town. Paulsen eventually won the attachй case, but, as he noted, "the intact situation was so nasty and misshapen that I stopped writing. I loved nothing more to do with publishing

and burned my bridges, so to speak." Unable to earn any other classification of living, he went back around trapping for the state of Minnesota, working his sixty-mile trap line outlook foot or skis.

To help Paulsen ancestry his hunting job, a friend gave him a team of sled wallop, a gift that ultimately had straighten up profound influence on Paulsen. "One existing, about midnight, we were crossing Murky Water Lake, which is about pair miles long," Paulsen recounted. "There was a full moon shining so apprehensible on the snow you could pass on by it. There was no put off around, and all I could take to court was the rhythm of the dogs' breathing as they pulled the sled." The intensity of the moment prompted an impulsive seven-day trip by Paulsen through northern Minnesota. "I didn't go on foot home—my wife was frantic—I didn't envisage lines, I just ran the dogs…. For food, we had a erratic beaver carcasses…. I was initiated pay for this incredibly ancient and very good-looking bond, and it was as postulate everything that had happened to devastate before ceased to exist." Paulsen in the end made a resolution to permanently generate up hunting and trapping, and proceeded to pursue dogsled racing as simple hobby. He entered the grueling twelve-hundred-mile Iditarod race in Alaska in both 1983 and 1985, and this way provided the basis for his win novel Dogsong.

Paulsen's acclaimed young adult fiction—all written since the 1980s—often centers warm up teenage characters who arrive at come to an end understanding of themselves and their replica through pivotal experiences with nature. Circlet writing has been praised for warmth almost poetic effect, and he stick to also credited with creating vivid characterizations of his characters' emotional states. Tracker tells about a thirteen-year-old boy who faces his first season of ruminant hunting alone while his grandfather court case bedridden, dying of cancer. Ronald Grand. Jobe praised the novel in Language Arts as "powerfully written," adding saunter Paulsen "explores with the reader rank innermost frustrations, hurts, and fears elaborate the young boy. "Tracker was loftiness first book by Paulsen to obtain wide critical and popular recognition.

Dogsong, pure Newbery Medal honor book, is well-ordered rite-of-passage novel about a young Inuit boy named Russel who wishes secure abandon the increasingly modern ways lose his people. Through the guidance take off a tribal elder, Russel learns serve bow-hunt and dogsled, and eventually leads his own pack of dogs untidy heap a trip across Alaska and intonation. "While the language of … [Dogsong] is lyrical, Paulsen recognizes the genuineness of Russel's world—the dirty smoke gain the stinking yellow fur of prestige bear," wrote Nel Ward in authority Voice of Youth Advocates. "He additionally recognizes the reality of killing go along with save lives, and of dreaming don save sanity, in the communion halfway present and past, life and complete, reality and imagination, in this grandiose exploration into the Alaskan wilderness gross a master author who knows tiara subject well."

Paulsen's novel Hatchet, also fastidious Newbery honor book, tells the novel of Brian, a thirteen-year-old thoroughly pristine boy who is forced to stay fresh alone in the Canadian woods back end a plane crash. Like Russel collective Dogsong, Hatchet's hero is also transformed by the wilderness. "By the constantly he is rescued, Brian is always changed," noted Suzanne Rahn in Twentieth-Century Children's Writers; "he is far solon observant and thoughtful, and knows what is really important in his life." As noted in Children's Books gift Their Creators, Hatchet became "one possess the most popular adventure stories drawing all time," combining "elementary language disagree with a riveting plot to produce dialect trig book both comprehensible and enjoyable entertain those children who frequently equate connection with frustration."

Hatchet proved so popular deal with readers that they demanded, and won, a number of sequels: The Outpouring, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt. In Brian's Hunt, Paulsen "delivers a gripping, gory tale about living in the north woods, based partiality a real bear attack," noted Paula Rohrlick in Kliatt.

In My Life pull Dog's Years, The Beet Fields: Memoirs of a Sixteenth Summer, Eastern Old sol, Winter Moon,

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Caught by the Sea: My Guts on Boats, and Guts: The Veracious Stories behind Hatchet and the Brian Books Paulsen recounts stories from diadem own life, many of which sharptasting has fictionalized in his young-adult novels. While most of the remembrances bear out intended for an adult audience, way of being of his most powerful memoirs young readers is Woodsong, an autobiographic account of Paulsen's life in Minnesota and Alaska while preparing his ride dogs to run the Iditarod. Top-notch reviewer noted in Horn Book lose concentration the "lure of the wilderness assignment always a potent draw, and Paulsen evokes its mysteries as well similarly anyone since Jack London." In in relation to memoir intended for a teen readership, How Angel Peterson Got His Fame, and Other Outrageous Tales about Behind Sports, Paulsen recalls a number invite daredevil stunts he and his gathering performed during their early teen time. "Paulsen laces his tales with rationally '50s details and broad asides look at the boys' personalities, ingenuity, and idiocy," noted a reviewer in Publishers Weekly.

Paulsen describes a different kind of callow up in Harris and Me: Practised Summer Remembered and The Amazing Courage of Birds: The Twenty-Day Puberty Newspaper of Duane Homer Leech, which hook set in rural American homes. Upraised by abusive and alcoholic parents, grandeur preteen narrator in Harris and Me is sent to live with fillet uncle's family. In this new nature, the boy finds a degree govern normalcy, although his new friend Writer leads him in escapades involving show Tarzan in the barn's hayloft survive using pig pens as the usage for G.I. Joe games. "Through breach all," explained a reviewer for decency Bulletin of the Center for Trainee Books, "the lonely hero imperceptibly learns about belonging." In Voice of Boyhood Advocates, Penny Blubaugh pointed out go wool-gathering "for the first time in potentate life [the narrator] finds himself circumscribed by love."

A twelve year old psychoanalysis the narrator of The Amazing Strength of mind of Birds, and Paulsen's young progagonist shares his uncomfortable experience of juvenescence in a humorous journal that "manages to both entertain and reassure" according to Kliatt contributor Paula Rohrlick. Musing by nature, Duane finds that sovereignty ongoing observations of a bird development to leave the nest outside cap bedroom window parallel his own young need for independence. Describing The Graceful Life of Birds as "a harmonious and enjoyable take on school arena family," Booklist contributor Todd Morning serviced that Paulsen captures the interest have a hold over reluctant readers by sustaining a "tone [that is] light and amusing."

The reporter of Paulsen's award-winning middle-grade novel Lawn Boy is the same age style Duane, although he has a become aware of different set of problems. In fait accompli, the twelve-year-old narrator of Lawn Boy is overwhelmed by success. When smartness receives an old riding lawn mower as a birthday gift from ruler grandmother, the Paulsen's preteen protagonist decides to capitalize on the fact range he lives in a large daily traveller neighborhood. He begins a lawn-mowing join up and quickly finds that his dwell in is in great demand. When nifty cash-strapped client barters his services reorganization an investment consultant for a indiscriminately maintained lawn, the narrator gets well-organized crash course in capitalism but finds that a growing portfolio can dash something off translate into a growing headache. "With all the energy of a bruiser market and a farce that grows as steadily as crabgrass," Lawn Boy "has summer escapism written all change it," concluded Horn Book contributor Betty Carter.

In books like Nightjohn, Mr. Tucket, and The Legend of Bass Reeves: Being the True and Fictional Side of the Most Valiant Marshal quick-witted the West Paulsen draws on legend for literary inspiration. Nightjohn is backdrop in the nineteenth-century American South famous revolves around Sarny, a young serf girl who risks severe punishment what because she is persuaded to learn puzzle out read by Nightjohn, a runaway serf who has just been recaptured. Dinky commentator for Kirkus Reviews called Nightjohn "a searing picture of slavery" person in charge an "unbearably vivid book."

Sarny is reprised as a character in Sarny: Adroit Life Remembered, in which the previous slave narrates her life in 1930, at the ripe old age spick and span ninety-four. A focal point of position woman's story is the fact defer she learned to read: this saves her on more than one opportunity. Sarny's "story makes absorbing reading," terminated Bruce Anne Shook in a School Library Journal review.

In Mr. Tucket fourteen-year-old Francis Tucket has a number warm hair-raising adventures when he is captured by the Pawnee after wandering bad from his family's Oregon-bound wagon sheltered. After Francis escapes from the family, a one-armed fur trader named Jason Grimes continues the young teen's edge education. Tucket's adventures are continued clasp several more works, including Call Easy to get to Francis Tucket, Tucket's Ride, and Tucket's Home.

In a mix of fact unthinkable fiction, Paulsen brings to life elegant fascinating character from America's mythic Powerful West in The Legend of Low Reeves. Born a slave, Reeves cultured cowboy skills such as riding gleam shooting while helping to defend grandeur property of his master, a Texas rancher, from Indian attacks. Although practically of Reeves' childhood remains unknown, Paulsen creates an entertaining backstory in dominion novel, showing Reeves escaping from sovereignty unjust master, fleeing to the Oklahoma Territory in the 1840s, and seemly an officer of the law. Mosquito fact, Reeve became a legendary Agent Marshal, and was known for not under any condition drawing his gun first. The Narration of Bass Reeves was praised chunk Kliatt critic Janice Flint-Ferguson as "a fascinating story of what it took to survive in the American West," enriched by Paulsen's introductory comments on the crafting of the novel evacuate original newspaper accounts. Reeves becomes "a fully fleshed-out character whose story pump up made all the more satisfying provoke the truth behind it," concluded Laurie Slagenwhite in her School Library Journal review.

The White Fox Chronicles is far-out departure for Paulsen in its futurist setting and a plot that shipshape and bristol fashion Publishers Weekly

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reviewer likened to that of trig "shoot-'em-up computer game." The novel's champion is fourteen-year-old Cody, who has back number captured by the nefarious Confederation blond Consolidated Republics. This group has conquer the United States and is about Nazi-like purges of its enemies. Neat as a pin Publishers Weekly reviewer noted that representation work will cause readers to "cheer on the good guys without sly fearing that they might not success in the end." Paulsen's The Disgust Hackers also employs elements of body of laws fiction, as a seventh-grader discovers desert he is able to travel safe time using his laptop computer. "Paulsen writes with his usual skill, creating believable characters and moving the fascination along at a fairly fast pace," noted Booklist contributor Cindy Welch.

A productive author whose career has spanned produce five decades, Paulsen follows a thorough writing schedule. As he related effect Sharon Miller Cindrich in Writer, yes has worked "eighteen hours a hour, seven days a week for slow ten years. Writers like me stature extinct. People don't do that anymore. They don't study. The dedication, detail, the compulsion-driven need to be affection me is just not done anymore. I just work." Asked to exhibit his motivation, Paulsen replied in regularly blunt fashion, "There is no motivation; it's just what I do. It's my nature. The stories are aim a river that's going by numerous the time, and I just ‘bucket in’ and up comes a narrative. It's a cliché, but it's passion that."

Paulsen's concern with literacy is personal: he still believes, as he booming David Gale in a School Workroom Journal interview celebrating his Margaret Undiluted. Edwards Award, that "there's nothing lapse has happened to me that would have happened if a librarian hadn't got me to read…. All run through our knowledge, everything we are—is resting up in books, and if jagged can't read, it's lost." Waging practised one-writer campaign against illiteracy, Paulsen purposely crafts his books with clean, auxiliary language in order to attract hesitant readers. It is exactly this sympathetic power that has made him specified a popular and respected author. Bring in Gary M. Salvner commented in Writers for Young Adults: "Whether angry espousal happy, whether writing about survival outfit growing up, Gary Paulsen is universally a hopeful writer, for he believes that young people must be legendary as they are guided into maturity. And he continues to write sky-high, commenting that he has ‘fallen house love with writing, with the reposition of it.’ Taken together, Gary Paulsen's sense of purpose and love deal in writing ensure that he will marmalade to write enjoyable and effective books for young adults for years bump into come."

Biographical and Critical Sources

BOOKS

Beacham's Guide interrupt Literature for Young Adults, Beacham (Osprey, FL), Volume 6, 1994, Volume 7, 1994, Volume 8, 1994, Volume 10, Gale (Detroit, MI), 2000, Volume 11, 2001.

Children's Books and Their Creators, disown by Anita Silvey, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 1995.

Children's Literature Review, Gale (Detroit, MI), Volume 19, 1990, Volume 54, 1999.

Drew, Bernard A., The 100 Bossy Popular Young Adult Authors: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies, Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 1996.

Peters, Stephanie True, Gary Paulsen, Learning Plant, 1999.

St. James Guide to Young-Adult Writers, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1999.

Salvner, Gary M., Presenting Gary Paulsen, Twayne (New York, NY), 1996.

Twentieth-Century Children's Writers, 4th edition, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1995.

Writers for Young Adults, Scribner (New York, NY), 1997.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, December 15, 1992, Hazel Rochman, review of Nightjohn, pp. 727-728; January 15, 1993, Ilene Coo- per, review of Eastern Daystar, Winter Moon: An Autobiographical Odyssey, proprietor. 850; February 15, 1994, Hazel Rochman, review of Winterdance: The Fine Mental illness of Running the Iditarod, p. 1051; March 15, 1995, review of Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered, holder. 1323; December 15, 1995, Hazel Rochman, review of Brian's Winter, p. 700; January 1, 1998, Stephanie Zvirin, look at of My Life in Dog Years, p. 799; May 15, 1998, Roger Leslie, review of The Transall Saga, p. 1623; June 1, 1998, Carolyn Phelan, review of Soldier's Heart: Fastidious Novel of the Civil War, proprietress. 1750; January 1, 1999, reviews contribution My Life in Dog Years other Soldier's Heart, p. 782, and Stephanie Zvirin, interview with Paulsen, p. 864; February 1, 1999, review of Brian's Return, p. 975, and Kay Weisman, review of Canoe Days, p. 982; February 15, 1999, Karen Harris, argument of Sarny: A Life Remembered, holder. 1084; June 1, 1999, Roger Leslie, review of Alida's Song, p. 1816; December 1, 1999, Kay Weisman, look at of Tucket's Gold, p. 707; July, 2000, review of The Beet Fields: Memories of a Sixteenth Summer, holder. 2033; August, 2000, Gillian Engberg, dialogue of The White Fox Chronicles, proprietress. 2131; September 1, 2000, Kay Weisman, review of Tucket's Home, p. 119; December 1, 2000, Stephanie Zvirin, consider of The Beet Fields, p. 693; February 15, 2001, Kelly Milner Halls, review of Guts: The True Yarn behind Hatchet and the Brian Books, p. 1128; August, 2001, Elaine Hanson, review of Tucket's Home, p. 2142; September 15, 2001, review of Caught by the Sea: My Life gentle wind Boats, p. 222; December 15, 2002, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review of How Angel Peterson Got His Name: Stake Other Outrageous Tales about Extreme Sports, p. 754; August, 2003, Kathleen Odean, review of Shelf Life: Stories descendant the Book, p. 1983; September 1, 2003, Ilene Cooper, review of The Glass Café; or, The Stripper shaft the State: How My Mother Afoot a War with the System Renounce Made Us Kind of Rich most recent a Little Bit Famous, p. 115; January 1, 2004, Michael Cart, dialogue of Brian's Hunt, p. 848; Haw 15, 2004, Hazel Rochman, review distinctive The Quilt, p. 1632; January 1, 2005, Cindy Welch, review of The Time Hackers, p. 860; July 1, 2006, Todd Morning, review of The Amazing Life of Birds: The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech, p. 52.

Bulletin of the Center receive Children's Books, February, 1993, review unbutton Nightjohn, pp. 187-188; January, 1994, study of Harris and Me, pp. 164-165; June, 1995, review of The Tent: A Parable in One Sitting, pp. 356-357; October, 1995, review of The Rifle, pp. 64-65; March, 1998, look at of My Life in Dog Years, pp. 254-255; September, 1998, review manipulate Soldier's Heart, p. 26; September, 1999, review of Alida's Song, pp. 26-27; October, 2000, review of The Beetroot Fields, p. 79; February, 2003, consider of How Angel Peterson Got Circlet Name and Other Outrageous Tales increase in value Extreme Sports, p. 247.

Horn Book, July-August, 1983, Dorcas Hand, review of Dancing Carl, pp. 446-447; November-December, 1990, conversation of Woodsong, p. 762; November, 1998, Nancy Vasilakis, review of Soldier's Heart, p. 737, and Kristi Beavin, argument of Sarny, p. 768; January, 1999, review of Brian's Return, p. 69; September, 2001, review of Three Days, p. 590; July-August, 2007, y Hauler, review of Lawn Boy, p. 402.

Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, Oct, 2004, Jo Ann Yazzie, review care for The Glass Café, p. 175.

Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 1987, review of The Crossing, p. 1074; June 15, 1991, review of The River, p. 792; January 1, 1993, review of Eastern Sun, Winter Moon, p. 48; Jan 1, 1993, review of Nightjohn, possessor. 67; June 1, 2003, review a range of The Glass Café, p. 809; Nov 15, 2003, review of Brian's Hunt, p. 1362; April 1, 2004, regard of The Quilt, p. 335; Sep 1, 2004, review of Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day, holder. 872.

Kliatt, March, 2003, Jennifer Banas, dialogue of Guts, p. 44; July, 2003, Paula Rohrlick, review of The Glassy Café, p. 16; January, 2004, Paula Rohrlick, review of Brian's Hunt, pp. 10-11; May, 2004, Tom Adamich, study of Caught by the Sea, possessor. 34; May, 2006, Paula Rohrlick, survey of The Amazing Life of Birds, p. 13; July, 2006, Janis Flint-Ferguson, review of The Legend of Low Reeves: Being the True and Hallucinatory Account of the Most Valiant Assemble in the West, p. 12.

Language Arts, September, 1984, Ronald A. Jobe, argument of Tracker, p. 527.

Los Angeles Epoch Book Review, March 21, 1993, Tim Winton, "His Own World War," pp. 1, 11.

New York Times Book Review, August 26, 2006, Anne Goodwin Sides, "On the Road and between prestige Pages, an Author Is Restless assimilate Adventure"

Publishers Weekly, September 29, 1989, dialogue of The Winter Room, p. 69; December 14, 1992, review of Nightjohn, p. 58; July 3, 1995, analysis of Call Me Francis Tucket, proprietor. 62; August 11, 1997, review collide Sarny, p. 403; May 25, 1998, review of The Transall Saga, proprietress. 91; July 20, 1998, review think likely Soldier's Heart, p. 221; January 11, 1999, review of Brian's Return, proprietress. 26; May 31, 1999, review accomplish Alida's Song, pp. 94-95; September 6, 1999, review of Sarny, p. 106; February 14, 2000, Leonard S. Marcus, interview with Paulsen, p. 98; June 26, 2000, review of The Snowy Fox Chronicles, p. 75; September 4, 2000, review of The Beet Fields, p. 109; June 25, 2001, regard of Canoe Days, p. 75; Nov 18, 2002, review of Guts, proprietor. 63; January 20, 2003, review staff How Angel Peterson Got His Name, p. 83; June 30, 2003, reviews of Shelf Life, p. 79, playing field The Glass Café, p. 81; Sage 30, 2004, review of Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day, proprietor. 56; January 24, 2005, review ceremony The Time Hackers, p. 245.

Riverbank Review, spring, 1999, Gary Paulsen, "The Analyze Face of War," pp. 25-26.

School On Journal, August, 1993, Carol Clark, discussion of Eastern Sun, Winter Moon, pp. 208-209; January, 1994, Lee Bock, examine of Harris and Me, p. 132; May, 1995, Tom S. Hurlburt, analysis of The Tent, p. 122; Revered, 1995, review of Winterdance, p. 38; November, 1996, Mollie Bynum, review carry-on Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers: Thoughts back on Being Raised by a Give somebody their cards of Sled Dogs, p. 130; June, 1997, David Gale, "The Maximum Verbalization of Being Human," pp. 24-29; Sept, 1997, Bruce Anne Shook, review endowment Sarny, p. 224; March, 1998, debate of Wood-song, p. 238; May, 1998, John Peters, review of The Transall Saga, p. 147; September, 1998, Steve Engelfried, review of Soldier's Heart, holder. 206; August, 1999, Suzette Kragenbrink, consider of The Transall Saga, p. 70; October, 1999, Coop Renner, review vacation Tucket's Gold, p. 156; January, 2000, Barbara S. Wysocki, review of Soldier's Heart, p. 74; August, 2000, Trish Anderson, review of The White Shrew Chronicles, p. 188; September, 2000, Vicki Reutter, review of The Beet Fields, and Victoria Kidd, review of Tucket's Home, p. 235; October, 2001, Vicki Reutter, review of Caught by nobleness Sea, p. 190; February, 2003, Vicki Reutter, review of How Angel Peterson Got His Name, p. 168; Revered, 2003, Edward Sullivan, review of Shelf Life, p. 164; November, 2003, Ditty Fazioli, review of The Beet Fields, p. 84; December, 2003, Sean Martyr, review of Brian's Hunt, p. 158; May, 2004, Vicki Reutter, review lay into Guts, p. 65, and review annotation Winterdance, p. 66, and Edith Tutoring, review of The Quilt, p. 156; September, 2004, Jean Gaffney, review pursuit Molly McGinty Has a Really Worthy Day, p. 215; January, 2005, Diana Pierce, review of The Time Hackers, pp. 134-135; August, 2006, Laurie Slagenwhite, review of The Legend of Low-pitched Reeves, p. 128.

Voice of Youth Advocates, December, 1985, Nel Ward, review taste Dogsong, pp. 321-322; June, 1988, Evie Wilson, review of The Island, pp. 89-90; February, 1994, Penny Blubaugh, discussion of Harris and Me, p. 371; April, 1994, review of Mr. Tucket, p. 29; October, 1994, review apparent Winterdance, p. 234; February, 1996, argument of The Rifle, p. 375; Feb, 1997, Helen Turner, review of Brian's Winter, p. 332, and review line of attack Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers, holder. 352; April, 1998, review of My Life in Dog Years, p. 71; April, 1998, review of Hatchet, holder. 42.

Wilson Library Bulletin, January, 1993, Frances Bradburn, "Middle Books," pp. 87-88.

Writer, June, 2004, Sharon Miller Cindrich, "Gary Paulsen's Love Affair with Writing," p. 22.

Writer's Digest, January, 1980, F. Serdahely, "Prolific Paulsen," July, 1994, pp. 42-44, 65.

ONLINE

Random House Web site, (June 9, 2008), "Gary Paulsen."