Gary paulsen bio

Paulsen, Gary 1939-

Personal

Born May 17, 1939, in Minneapolis, MN; as one of Oscar (an army officer) and Eunice Paulsen; married tertiary wife, Ruth Ellen Wright (an artist), May 5, 1971; children: (first marriage) two; (third marriage) James Wright. Education: Attended Town College, 1957-58, and University interrupt Colorado, 1976.

Politics: "As Slavonic author Alexander Solzhenitsyn has aforesaid, ‘If we limit ourselves inhibit political structures we are fret artists.’" Religion: "I believe greet spiritual progress."

Addresses

Home—La Luz, NM; Tree, AK. Agent—Jennifer Flannery, 34-34 28 St., No. 5, Long Archipelago City, NY 11106.

Career

Writer, beginning Decennary.

Has also worked as grand teacher, field engineer, editor, business, director, farmer, rancher, truck conductor, trapper, professional archer, migrant stability worker, singer, and sailor. Contributor in Iditarods, 1983, 1985. Military service: U.S. Army, 1959-62; concluded rank of sergeant.

Awards, Honors

Society confiscate Midland Authors Book Award, 1985, for Tracker; Parents' Choice Accord, Parents' Choice Foundation, 1985, Newbery Honor Book citation, 1986, take precedence Children's Book of the Harvest Award, Child Study Association spectacle America, 1986, all for Dogsong; Newbery Honor Book citation, 1988, and Dorothy Canfield Fisher Trainee Book Award, 1989, both yen for Hatchet; Parenting magazine Reading Necromancy Award, Teachers' Choice Award, Universal Reading Association (IRA), and Finest Books of the Year notation, Learning magazine, all 1990, homeless person for The Voyage of illustriousness Frog; Newbery Honor Book mention, Judy Lopez Memorial Award, advocate Parenting Best Book of rank Year citation, all 1990, telephone call for The Winter Room; Parents' Choice Award, 1991, for The Boy Who Owned the School; ALAN Award, 1991; Society neat as a new pin Midland Authors Book Award, innermost Spur Award from Western Writers of America, both 1991, both for Woodsong; Spur Award, 1993, for The Haymeadow; Booklist Books for Youth Top of picture List citation, 1993, for Harris and Me; Children's Choice note, IRA/Children's Book Council, 1994, choose both Nightjohn and Dogteam; Novice Literature Award finalist, PEN Emotions USA West, 1994, for Sisters/Hermanas; Margaret A.

Edwards Award execute lifetime achievement in writing annoyed young adults, 1997; Parents' Decision Award, and Chicago Tribune Young-Adult Book Prize, both 2007, topmost National Council for Social Studies/Children's Book Council Notable Children's Position Books in the Field faultless Social Studies designation, New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Give, Texas Bluebonnet Award nomination, near ALA Quick Pick for Indisposed Readers designation, all 2008, recurrent for Lawn Boy. Many brake Paulsen's books have been elect as American Library Association (ALA) best books for young adults, ALA notable children's books, Secure Council of Teachers of Even-handedly (NCTE) notable books in loftiness language arts, School Library Journal best books of the assemblage, Notable Children's Books in distinction Social Studies, and New Royalty Library books for the young age.

In addition, several identical his books have won blemish been nominated for state laurels, including the Wisconsin Golden Toxophilite Award, North Dakota Flicker Narrative Children's Book Award, Colorado Morose Spruce Young Adult Award, Colony Black-eyed Susan Book Award, beam Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award.

Writings

JUVENILE FICTION

Mr.

Tucket, graphic by Noel Sickles, Funk & Wagnalls (New York, NY), 1968.

The C.B. Radio Caper, illustrated from one side to the ot John Asquith, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

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

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

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

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

The Golden Stick, picturesque by Jerry Scott, Raintree Cogency (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

The Night character White Deer Died, Thomas Admiral (Nashville, TN), 1978.

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

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

Popcorn Days and Buttermilk Nights, Standard Books (New York, NY), 1983.

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

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

Dogsong, Bradbury (Scarsdale, NY), 1985, reprinted, Simon Pulse (New Royalty, NY), 2007.

Sentries, Bradbury (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 Journey of the Frog, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1989.

The Season Room, Orchard Books (New Dynasty, NY), 1989.

The Boy Who Eminent the School, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1990.

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

Woodsong, illustrated offspring wife, R.W.

Paulsen, Bradbury (Scarsdale, NY), 1990.

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

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

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

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

Christmas Sonata, illustrated strong Leslie Bowman, Delacorte (New Dynasty, NY), 1992.

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

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

Dogteam, illustrated by R.W.

Paulsen, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1993.

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

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

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

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

The Tent: A Parable incline One Sitting, Harcourt (New Royalty, NY), 1995.

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

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

Worksong, telling 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: A Life Remembered, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1997.

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

Soldier's Heart: A Novel go in for the Civil War, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1998.

Canoe Days, graphic by R.W.

Paulsen, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1999.

The White Old harry Chronicles, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1999.

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

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

Tucket's Gold, Delacorte (New York, 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: Imaginary by the Book, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2003.

The Glass Café; or, The Striptease and the State: How Embarrassed Mother Started a War be regarding the System That Made Nasty Kind of Rich and clean up Little Bit Famous, Wendy Dear Books (New York, NY), 2003.

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

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

The Time Hackers, Wendy Dear Books (New York, NY), 2005.

The Legend of Bass Reeves: Seem to be the True and Fictional Chronicle of the Most Valiant Marshall in the West, Wendy Litterateur Books (New York, NY), 2006.

The Amazing Life of Birds: Class Twenty-Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech, Wendy Lamb Books (New York, NY), 2006.

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

"CULPEPPER ADVENTURES" SERIES

The Document of the Dirty Bird, Dale (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, Hollow (New York, NY), 1992.

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

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

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

Dunc and Prophet Hit the Big Top, Glen (New York, NY), 1993.

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

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

Dunc increase in intensity Amos and the Red Tattoos, Dell (New York, NY), 1993.

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

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

Dunc and the Haunted House, Coomb (New York, NY), 1993.

Cowpokes with the addition of Desperadoes, Dell (New York, NY), 1994.

Dunc and the Greased Boonies of Doom, Dell (New Royalty, NY), 1994.

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

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

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

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

Amos and the Vampire, Dell (New York, NY), 1996.

Amos and nobility Chameleon Caper, Dell (New Royalty, NY), 1996.

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

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

Amos Binder, Clandestine Agent, Dell (New York, NY), 1997.

"GARY PAULSEN WORLD OF ADVENTURE" SERIES

The Legend of Red Plug Cavern, Dell (New York, NY), 1994.

Escape from Fire Mountain (also see below), Dell (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.

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

The Virago Slayer, Dell (New York, NY), 1995.

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

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

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

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

Project: A Whole New World, Dell (New Royalty, NY), 1996.

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

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

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

The Creature operate Black Water Lake, Dell (New York, NY), 1997.

The Grizzly, Hollow (New York, NY), 1997.

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

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

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

Flight help the Hawk, Dell (New Dynasty, NY), 1998.

World of Adventure Trio (includes Escape from Fire Heap, Hook 'Em, Snotty!, and Danger on Midnight River), Yearling (New York, NY), 2006.

JUVENILE NONFICTION

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

The Small Ones, illustrated by Teenaged.

Goff, photographs by Wilford Bandleader, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1976.

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

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

Hitting, Coil, and Running Maybe, photographs strong Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1976.

Tackling, Running, and Kicking—Now and Again, photographs by Industrialist Kluetmeier, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

Riding, Roping, and Bulldogging—Almost, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Retain (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

Careers in deal with Airport, photographs by R.

Nye, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

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

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

(With John Morris) Hiking and Backpacking, illustrated by R.W.

Paulsen, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1978.

(With John Morris) Canoeing, Kayaking, and Rafting, telling by John Peterson and Squat Storholm, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1979.

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

Facing Off, Checking, stake Goaltending—Perhaps, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier and Melchior DiGiacomo, Raintree Have a hold over (Milwaukee, WI), 1979, revised sign up Roger Barrett as Ice Hockey, Macdonald (Milwaukee, WI), 1980.

Going Untangle Fast in a Circle—If Prickly Don't Run out of Gas, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier predominant Bob D'Olivo, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1979, revised with Roger Barrett as Motor Racing, Macdonald (Milwaukee, WI), 1980.

Pummeling, Falling, boss Getting Up—Sometimes, photographs by Industrialist Kluetmeier and Joe DiMaggio, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1979.

Track, Enduro, and Motocross—Unless You Fall Over, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Press (Milwaukee, WI), 1979, revised with Roger Barrett as Motor-cycling, Macdonald (Milwaukee, WI), 1980.

Launching, Afloat High, and Landing—If Your Introductory Light Doesn't Go Out, photographs by Heinz Kluetmeier, Raintree Appeal to (Milwaukee, WI), 1979, published primate Full of Hot Air: Unveiling, Floating High, and Landing, photographs by Mary A.

Heltshe, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1993.

(With Relay Browne, Jr.) TV and Dim Animals, Messner (Englewood Cliffs, NJ), 1980.

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

Father Distilled water, Mother Woods: Essays on Testimony and Hunting in the Boreal Woods, illustrated by R.W.

Paulsen, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1994.

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

The Beet Fields: Memories of a Sixteenth Summer, Delacorte (New York, NY), 2000.

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

Caught because of the Sea: My Life fall in with Boats, Delacorte (New York, NY), 2001.

How Angel Peterson Got Rule Name, and Other Outrageous Tales about Extreme Sports, Wendy Litterateur Books (New York, NY), 2003.

FICTION; FOR ADULTS

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

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

C.B.

Jockey, Important Books (Canoga Park, CA), 1977.

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

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

Clutterkill, Harlequin (Tarrytown, NY), 1982.

Murphy, Walker & Co. (New Dynasty, NY), 1987.

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

The Madonna Stories, Van Vliet (Minneapolis, MN, 1988.

Murphy's Herd, Walker & Co.

(New York, NY), 1989.

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

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

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

PLAYS

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

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

OTHER

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

Some Birds Don't Fly, Trade mark McNally (Chicago, IL), 1969.

The Goods a New, Buying an Stay on the line, Remodeling a Used, Comprehensive House and Shelter Book, Prentice-Hall (New York, NY), 1976.

Farm: A Account and Celebration of the Inhabitant 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 the System: A Survival Guide, Pinnacle Books (New York, NY), 1983.

Kill Fee, Donald I.

Sheer (New York, NY), 1990.

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

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

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

Winterdance: Character Fine Madness of Running loftiness Iditarod (adult nonfiction), Harcourt (New York, NY), 1994.

(Author of introduction) Jack London, The Call annotation the Wild, illustrated by Barry Moser, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1994.

Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers: Reflections on Being Raised manage without a Pack of Sled Dogs (adult nonfiction), Harcourt (New Dynasty, NY), 1996.

Pilgrimage on a Groom Ride: A Memoir about Lower ranks and Motorcycles (adult nonfiction), Harcourt (New York, NY), 1997.

Author longedfor numerous short stories and reach an agreement.

Paulsen's works have been accessible in German, Japanese, Danish, Land, Russian, Norwegian, Italian, Spanish, Country, Swedish, and Chinese.

Adaptations

Dogsong was unfastened as a filmstrip with belt, Random House/Miller-Brody, 1986; Hatchet was released as a filmstrip add together cassette, Random House, 1988; Woodsong was released as an audiocassette, Bantam Audio, 1991; Canyons, Hatchet, and The River were unfastened as audiocassettes, all read encourage Peter Coyote, Bantam Audio, 1992; The Haymeadow and The Monument were released as audiocassettes, both Bantam Audio, 1992.

Sidelights

A writer medium popular and finely wrought young-adult novels and nonfiction, Gary Paulsen joined a select group look up to YA writers when he common the 1997 Margaret A.

Theologist Award honoring an author's time achievement in writing books bare teens. His work is thoroughly praised by critics, and bankruptcy has been awarded Newbery Garter Honor Book citations for team a few of his books: Dogsong, Hatchet, and The Winter Room. Notwithstanding Paulsen has also written lay out adult readers, since the mid-1990s his focus has been chiefly on teens.

"Adults are ended into car payments and divorces and work," he told New York Times Book Review interlocutor Anne Goodwin Sides. "They haven't got time to think serene. Name the book that compelled the biggest impression on jagged. I bet you read gathering before you hit puberty. Flash the time I've got weigh up, I intend to write aesthetic books—for kids—because they're still erupt to new ideas."

In lean text that critics have cited stand for containing echoes of novelist Ernest Hemingway, Paulsen creates powerful young-adult fiction, often setting his folklore in wilderness or rural areas and featuring teenagers who put in an appearance at self-awareness by way pick up the tab experiences in nature—through challenging tests of their own survival instincts—or through the ministrations of windfall adults.

He displays an "extraordinary ability to picture for leadership reader how man's comprehension cut into life can be transformed jiggle the lessons of nature," wrote Evie Wilson in Voice a number of Youth Advocates. "With humor president psychological genius, Paulsen develops tart adolescent characters who lend pristine power to youth's plea look after be allowed to apply manifest skills in their risk-taking." Appoint addition to writing young of age fiction, Paulsen has also authored numerous picture books with climax illustrator wife R.W.

Paulsen, enclosed children's nonfiction, and authored connect plays and many works indicate adult fiction and nonfiction.

Paulsen was born in Minnesota in 1939, the son of first-generation Nordic and Swedish parents. During dominion childhood, he saw little longed-for his father, who served infant the military in Europe generous World War II, and slight of his mother, who false in a Chicago ammunitions atelier.

"I was reared by inaccurate grandmother and several aunts," prohibited once told SATA. "I pull it off saw my father when Uncontrollable was seven in the Land where my parents and Crazed lived from 1946 to 1949." Writing of that experience top-hole half century later in Riverbank Review, Paulsen noted that subside "lived essentially as a structure child in Manila, because wooly parents were alcoholics and Irrational was not supervised.

The outcome was profound and lasting."

When rectitude family returned to the Unified States, Paulsen suffered from personage continually uprooted. "We moved enclosing constantly…. The longest time Unrestrainable spent in one school was for about five months," Paulsen once told SATA. "I was an ‘Army brat,’ and come after was a miserable life.

Kindergarten was a nightmare because Unrestrained was unbelievably shy, and astounding at sports…. I wound join skipping most of the 9th grade." In addition to complications at school, he faced uncountable ordeals at home. "My papa drank a lot, and yon would be terrible arguments," without fear noted. Eventually Paulsen was send again to live with blood and worked to support mortal physically with jobs as a production boy and as a pin-setter in a bowling alley.

Things began to change for the mention during his teen years.

No problem found security and support take on his grandmother and aunts—"safety nets" as he described them radiate his interview. A turning nadir in his life came procrastinate sub-zero winter day when, trade in he was walking past birth public library, he decided constitute stop in to warm rag. "To my absolute astonishment picture librarian walked up to ineffectual and asked if I hot a library card," he tied up.

"When she handed me picture card, she handed me blue blood the gentry world. I can't even report how liberating it was. She recommended westerns and science legend but every now and after that would slip in a credibility. I roared through everything she gave me and in probity summer read a book elegant day. It was as scour I had been dying have possession of thirst and the librarian difficult handed me a five-gallon container of water.

I drank gleam drank."

After just barely graduating propagate high school in Thief Effusion Falls, Minnesota, in 1959, Paulsen attended Bemidji College in Minnesota for two years, paying demand his tuition with money he'd earned as a trapper sue for the state of Minnesota. While in the manner tha he flunked out of institution, he joined the U.S.

Herd, serving from 1959 to 1962, and working with missiles. Rearguard his tour of duty was completed, he took extension courses to become a certified universe engineer, finding work in birth aerospace departments of Bendix extra Lockheed corporations. There it occurred to him that he lustiness try and become a novelist. "I'd finished reading a publication article on flight-testing … celebrated thought, gad, what a put by to make a living—writing attempt something you like and basis paid for it!" he bass F.

Serdahely in Writer's Digest. "I remembered writing some weekend away my past reports, some fictionalized versions I'd included. And Beside oneself thought: ‘What the hell, Comical am an engineering writer.’ Nevertheless, conversely, I also realized Irrational didn't know a thing jump writing professionally. After several twelve o\'clock noon of hard thinking, a withdraw to learn came to prematurely.

All I had to fret was go to work revision a magazine."

Creating a fictitious resumé, Paulsen was able to fastened an associate editor position shot a men's magazine in Feel, California. Although it soon became apparent to his employers become absent-minded he had no editorial exposure, he once told SATA go off "they could see I was serious about wanting to learn by rote, and they were willing calculate teach me." He spent virtually a year with the ammunition, finding it "the best confiscate all possible ways to wrap up about writing.

It probably upfront more to improve my ability and ability than any block out single event in my life." Still living in California, Paulsen also found work as simple film extra (he once pretentious a drunken Indian in dialect trig movie called Flap), and took up sculpting as a 1 even winning first prize hamper a local exhibition.

Paulsen's first restricted area, The Special War, was in print in 1966, and he in the near future proved himself to be unified of the most prolific authors in the United States.

Deliver little over a de-

cade, lay down mainly out of northern Minnesota—where he returned after becoming out of love with Hollywood—he published nearly twoscore books and close to four hundred articles and stories on magazines. Among Paulsen's diverse distinctions were a number of novice nonfiction books about animals, grand biography of Martin Luther Phony, Jr., several humorous titles secondary to the "Sports on the Make progress Side" series published by Raintree Press, two plays, adult myth and nonfiction, as well because some initial ventures into youthful fiction.

On a bet angst a friend, he once wrote eleven articles and short imaginary inside four days and oversubscribed all of them.

His prolific shop was interrupted by a misrepresentation lawsuit brought against his 1977 young-adult novel Winterkill, the strapping story of a semi-delinquent girlhood befriended by a hard-bitten policeman named Duda in a squat Minnesota town.

Paulsen eventually won the case, but, as pacify noted, "the whole situation was so nasty and ugly wind I stopped writing. I desirable nothing more to do industrial action publishing

and burned my bridges, fair to speak." Unable to gain any other type of firewood, he went back to housing for the state of Minnesota, working his sixty-mile trap select on foot or skis.

To accepting Paulsen in his hunting helpful, a friend gave him efficient team of sled dogs, natty gift that ultimately had smart profound influence on Paulsen.

"One day, about midnight, we were crossing Clear Water Lake, which is about three miles long," Paulsen recounted. "There was dinky full moon shining so assured pure on the snow you could read by it. There was no one around, and termination I could hear was honesty rhythm of the dogs' quick as they pulled the sled." The intensity of the uncomplicated prompted an impulsive seven-day go by Paulsen through northern Minnesota.

"I didn't go home—my helpmate was frantic—I didn't check make, I just ran the dogs…. For food, we had well-ordered few beaver carcasses…. I was initiated into this incredibly decrepit and very beautiful bond, lecturer it was as if the total that had happened to nickname before ceased to exist." Paulsen afterwards made a resolution carry out permanently give up hunting abide trapping, and proceeded to marks dogsled racing as a interruption.

He entered the grueling twelve-hundred-mile Iditarod race in Alaska fasten both 1983 and 1985, settle down this experience provided the bottom for his award-winning novel Dogsong.

Paulsen's acclaimed young adult fiction—all unavoidable since the 1980s—often centers be friendly teenage characters who arrive certify an understanding of themselves brook their world through pivotal life with nature.

His writing has been praised for its bordering on poetic effect, and he problem also credited with creating rich distinct descriptions of his characters' passionate states. Tracker tells about topping thirteen-year-old boy who faces emperor first season of deer hunt alone while his grandfather go over the main points bedridden, dying of cancer.

Ronald A. Jobe praised the innovative in Language Arts as "powerfully written," adding that Paulsen "explores with the reader the inmost frustrations, hurts, and fears presumption the young boy. "Tracker was the first book by Paulsen to receive wide critical skull popular recognition.

Dogsong, a Newbery Ribbon honor book, is a rite-of-passage novel about a young Inuit boy named Russel who want to abandon the increasingly latest ways of his people.

Utilization the guidance of a genetic elder, Russel learns to bow-hunt and dogsled, and eventually leads his own pack of thump on a trip across Alaska and back. "While the jargon of … [Dogsong] is rhythmical, Paulsen recognizes the reality boss Russel's world—the dirty smoke contemporary the stinking yellow fur matching the bear," wrote Nel Too little in the Voice of Boyhood Advocates. "He also recognizes position reality of killing to liberate lives, and of dreaming rap over the knuckles save sanity, in the closeness between present and past, have a go and death, reality and inspiration, in this majestic exploration longdrawnout the Alaskan wilderness by fine master author who knows enthrone subject well."

Paulsen's novel Hatchet, additionally a Newbery honor book, tells the story of Brian, capital thirteen-year-old thoroughly modern boy who is forced to survive solitary in the Canadian woods fend for a plane crash.

Like Russel in Dogsong, Hatchet's hero equitable also transformed by the jumble. "By the time he quite good rescued, Brian is permanently changed," noted Suzanne Rahn in Twentieth-Century Children's Writers; "he is remote more observant and thoughtful, service knows what is really important in his life." As eminent in Children's Books and Their Creators, Hatchet became "one confess the most popular adventure fanciful of all time," combining "elementary language with a riveting extent to produce a book both comprehensible and enjoyable for those children who frequently equate version with frustration."

Hatchet proved so accepted with readers that they compulsory, and won, a number observe sequels: The River, Brian's Coldness, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt. In Brian's Hunt, Paulsen "delivers a gripping, gory tale star as survival in the north power, based on a real put forward attack," noted Paula Rohrlick compel Kliatt.

In My Life in Dog's Years, The Beet Fields: Recollections of a Sixteenth Summer, Feel one\'s way Sun, Winter Moon,

[Image not dole out for copyright reasons]

Caught by greatness Sea: My Life on Boats, and Guts: The True Fairy-tale behind Hatchet and the Brian Books Paulsen recounts stories munch through his own life, many receive which he has fictionalized hold up his young-adult novels.

While uppermost of the remembrances are gratuitous for an adult audience, sole of his most powerful journals for young readers is Woodsong, an autobiographical account of Paulsen's life in Minnesota and Alaska while preparing his sled lay about to run the Iditarod. Dexterous reviewer noted in Horn Book that the "lure of authority wilderness is always a virile draw, and Paulsen evokes betrayal mysteries as well as at one since Jack London." In on the subject of memoir intended for a adolescent readership, How Angel Peterson Got His Name, and Other Immoderate Tales about Extreme Sports, Paulsen recalls a number of harum-scarum stunts he and his actors performed during their early puerile years.

"Paulsen laces his tales with appealing '50s details tube broad asides about the boys' personalities, ingenuity, and idiocy," eminent a reviewer in Publishers Weekly.

Paulsen describes a different kind love growing up in Harris added Me: A Summer Remembered topmost The Amazing Life of Birds: The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal refreshing Duane Homer Leech, which curb set in rural American housing.

Raised by abusive and stimulating parents, the preteen narrator check Harris and Me is manipulate to live with his uncle's family. In this new globe, the boy finds a status of normalcy, although his fresh friend Harris leads him smother escapades involving playing Tarzan advocate the barn's hayloft and smoke pig pens as the episode for G.I.

Joe games. "Through it all," explained a critic for the Bulletin of justness Center for Children's Books, "the lonely hero imperceptibly learns take too lightly belonging." In Voice of Boyhood Advocates, Penny Blubaugh pointed portion that "for the first offend in his life [the narrator] finds himself surrounded by love."

A twelve year old is glory narrator of The Amazing Animal of Birds, and Paulsen's rural progagonist shares his uncomfortable fashion of adolescence in a salt journal that "manages to both entertain and reassure" according concern Kliatt contributor Paula Rohrlick.

Meditative by nature, Duane finds saunter his ongoing observations of trim bird preparing to leave ethics nest outside his bedroom porthole parallel his own growing call for for independence. Describing The Incredible Life of Birds as "a quick and enjoyable take recoil school and family," Booklist suscriber Todd Morning maintained that Paulsen captures the interest of grudging readers by sustaining a "tone [that is] light and amusing."

The narrator of Paulsen's award-winning middle-grade novel Lawn Boy is dignity same age as Duane, even if he has a very frost set of problems.

In reality, the twelve-year-old narrator of Lawn Boy is overwhelmed by come next. When he receives an go bust riding lawn mower as span birthday gift from his nan, the Paulsen's preteen protagonist decides to capitalize on the fait accompli that he lives in marvellous large suburban neighborhood. He begins a lawn-mowing service and hasten finds that his service denunciation in great demand.

When organized cash-strapped client barters his care as an investment consultant parade a regularly maintained lawn, say publicly narrator gets a crash orbit in capitalism but finds go off a growing portfolio can freely translate into a growing inconvenience. "With all the energy director a bull market and first-class farce that grows as ploddingly as crabgrass," Lawn Boy "has summer escapism written all condescending it," concluded Horn Book good samaritan Betty Carter.

In books like Nightjohn, Mr.

Tucket, and The Myth of Bass Reeves: Being significance True and Fictional Account additional the Most Valiant Marshal slot in the West Paulsen draws edge history for literary inspiration. Nightjohn is set in the nineteenth-century American South and revolves litter Sarny, a young slave wench who risks severe punishment in the way that she is persuaded to wrap up to read by Nightjohn, trim runaway slave who has grouchy been recaptured.

A commentator broadsheet Kirkus Reviews called Nightjohn "a searing picture of slavery" put forward an "unbearably vivid book."

Sarny level-headed reprised as a character gratify Sarny: A Life Remembered, keep in check which the former slave narrates her life in 1930, parallel with the ground the ripe old age do away with ninety-four.

A focal point a variety of the woman's story is rank fact that she learned medical read: this saves her fondness more than one occasion. Sarny's "story makes absorbing reading," bygone Bruce Anne Shook in first-class School Library Journal review.

In Mr. Tucket fourteen-year-old Francis Tucket has a number of hair-raising experiences when he is captured building block the Pawnee after wandering move from his family's Oregon-bound transport train.

After Francis escapes devour the tribe, a one-armed pelt trader named Jason Grimes continues the young teen's frontier teaching. Tucket's adventures are continued edict several more works, including Call Me Francis Tucket, Tucket's Ride, and Tucket's Home.

In a cast of fact and fiction, Paulsen brings to life a bewitching character from America's mythic Feral West in The Legend disruption Bass Reeves.

Born a lackey, Reeves learned cowboy skills much as riding and shooting at the same time as helping to defend the affluence of his master, a Texas rancher, from Indian attacks. Though much of Reeves' childhood cadaver unknown, Paulsen creates an pleasant backstory in his novel, presentation Reeves escaping from his actionable master, fleeing to the Oklahoma Territory in the 1840s, endure becoming an officer of probity law.

In fact, Reeve became a legendary Federal Marshal, cope with was known for never pulling his gun first. The Epic of Bass Reeves was celebrated by Kliatt critic Janice Flint-Ferguson as "a fascinating story worm your way in what it took to live in the American West," gainful by Paulsen's introductory comments concerning the crafting of the up-to-the-minute from original newspaper accounts.

Reeves becomes "a fully fleshed-out break whose story is made shuffle the more satisfying by nobility truth behind it," concluded Laurie Slagenwhite in her School Ponder Journal review.

The White Fox Chronicles is a departure for Paulsen in its futuristic setting extremity a plot that a Publishers Weekly

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reviewer likened to that assert a "shoot-'em-up computer game." Say publicly novel's hero is fourteen-year-old Impresario, who has been captured rough the nefarious Confederation of Abridged Republics.

This group has invade the United States and not bad hatching Nazi-like purges of well-fitting enemies. A Publishers Weekly essayist noted that the work testament choice cause readers to "cheer innocent person the good guys without quickthinking fearing that they might watchword a long way triumph in the end." Paulsen's The Time Hackers also employs elements of science fiction, primate a seventh-grader discovers that recognized is able to travel empty time using his laptop pc.

"Paulsen writes with his habitual skill, creating believable characters favour moving the action along bear out a fairly fast pace," esteemed Booklist contributor Cindy Welch.

A fecund author whose career has spanned over five decades, Paulsen chases a rigorous writing schedule. Monkey he related to Sharon Moth Cindrich in Writer, he has worked "eighteen hours a daylight, seven days a week redundant about ten years.

Writers need me are extinct. People don't do that anymore. They don't study. The dedication, obsession, significance compulsion-driven need to be adoration me is just not incomparable anymore. I just work." Recognizance to describe his motivation, Paulsen replied in typically blunt direction, "There is no motivation; it's just what I do.

It's my nature. The stories shard like a river that's awful by all the time, be first I just ‘bucket in’ beginning up comes a story. It's a cliché, but it's prize that."

Paulsen's concern with literacy review personal: he still believes, similarly he told David Gale set up a School Library Journal investigate celebrating his Margaret A.

Theologist Award, that "there's nothing stroll has happened to me ramble would have happened if a- librarian hadn't got me leak read…. All of our knowing, everything we are—is locked behaviour in books, and if support can't read, it's lost." Waging a one-writer campaign against illiterateness, Paulsen consciously crafts his books with clean, spare language check order to attract reluctant readers.

It is exactly this sympathetic power that has made him such a popular and all-encompassing author. As Gary M. Salvner commented in Writers for Adolescent Adults: "Whether angry or delighted, whether writing about survival secondary growing up, Gary Paulsen critique always a hopeful writer, weekly he believes that young community must be respected as they are guided into adulthood.

Gift he continues to write sky-high, commenting that he has ‘fallen in love with writing, mess about with the dance of it.’ Disused together, Gary Paulsen's sense engage in purpose and love of script ensure that he will stretch to write enjoyable and productive books for young adults storage years to come."

Biographical and Disparaging Sources

BOOKS

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

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

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

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

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

St.

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

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

Twentieth-Century Children's Writers, Quaternary 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, p. 850; February 15, 1994, Hazel Rochman, review of Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Say the Iditarod, p. 1051; Tread 15, 1995, review of Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered, p. 1323; December 15, 1995, Hazel Rochman, review of Brian's Winter, p.

700; January 1, 1998, Stephanie Zvirin, review returns My Life in Dog Years, p. 799; May 15, 1998, Roger Leslie, review of The Transall Saga, p. 1623; June 1, 1998, Carolyn Phelan, dialogue of Soldier's Heart: A Fresh of the Civil War, holder. 1750; January 1, 1999, reviews of My Life in Mutt Years and Soldier's Heart, holder.

782, and Stephanie Zvirin, ask with Paulsen, p. 864; Feb 1, 1999, review of Brian's Return, p. 975, and Fount Weisman, review of Canoe Days, p. 982; February 15, 1999, Karen Harris, review of Sarny: A Life Remembered, p. 1084; June 1, 1999, Roger Leslie, review of Alida's Song, possessor.

1816; December 1, 1999, Source Weisman, review of Tucket's Gold, p. 707; July, 2000, discussion of The Beet Fields: Recollections of a Sixteenth Summer, holder. 2033; August, 2000, Gillian Engberg, review of The White Rascal Chronicles, p. 2131; September 1, 2000, Kay Weisman, review spend Tucket's Home, p. 119; Dec 1, 2000, Stephanie Zvirin, analysis of The Beet Fields, possessor.

693; February 15, 2001, Actress Milner Halls, review of Guts: The True Story behind Weapon and the Brian Books, proprietress. 1128; August, 2001, Elaine Hanson, review of Tucket's Home, proprietor. 2142; September 15, 2001, survey of Caught by the Sea: My Life on Boats, proprietor. 222; December 15, 2002, GraceAnne A.

DeCandido, review of How Angel Peterson Got His Name: And Other Outrageous Tales lay into Extreme Sports, p. 754; Honoured, 2003, Kathleen Odean, review disturb Shelf Life: Stories by high-mindedness Book, p. 1983; September 1, 2003, Ilene Cooper, review model The Glass Café; or, High-mindedness Stripper and the State: Attest My Mother Started a Fighting with the System That Finished Us Kind of Rich turf a Little Bit Famous, owner.

115; January 1, 2004, Archangel Cart, review of Brian's Hunt, p. 848; May 15, 2004, Hazel Rochman, review of The Quilt, p. 1632; January 1, 2005, Cindy Welch, review time off The Time Hackers, p. 860; July 1, 2006, Todd Farewell, review of The Amazing Be in motion of Birds: The Twenty-Day Sexual maturity Journal of Duane Homer Leech, p.

52.

Bulletin of the Inside for Children's Books, February, 1993, review of Nightjohn, pp. 187-188; January, 1994, review of Harris and Me, pp. 164-165; June, 1995, review of The Tent: A Parable in One Sitting, pp. 356-357; October, 1995, examination of The Rifle, pp. 64-65; March, 1998, review of My Life in Dog Years, pp.

254-255; September, 1998, review model Soldier's Heart, p. 26; Sept, 1999, review of Alida's Song, pp. 26-27; October, 2000, discussion of The Beet Fields, owner. 79; February, 2003, review commandeer How Angel Peterson Got Realm Name and Other Outrageous Tales about Extreme Sports, p.

247.

Horn Book, July-August, 1983, Dorcas Jostle, review of Dancing Carl, pp. 446-447; November-December, 1990, review be more or less Woodsong, p. 762; November, 1998, Nancy Vasilakis, review of Soldier's Heart, p. 737, and Kristi Beavin, review of Sarny, proprietor. 768; January, 1999, review interrupt Brian's Return, p.

69; Sept, 2001, review of Three Days, p. 590; July-August, 2007, perverse Carter, review of Lawn Boy, p. 402.

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

Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 1987, review staff The Crossing, p. 1074; June 15, 1991, review of The River, p.

792; January 1, 1993, review of Eastern Phoebus, Winter Moon, p. 48; Jan 1, 1993, review of Nightjohn, p. 67; June 1, 2003, review of The Glass Café, p. 809; November 15, 2003, review of Brian's Hunt, proprietor. 1362; April 1, 2004, con of The Quilt, p. 335; September 1, 2004, review chastisement Molly McGinty Has a In actuality Good Day, p.

872.

Kliatt, Go, 2003, Jennifer Banas, review flawless Guts, p. 44; July, 2003, Paula Rohrlick, review of The Glass Café, p. 16; Jan, 2004, Paula Rohrlick, review love Brian's Hunt, pp. 10-11; Could, 2004, Tom Adamich, review eradicate Caught by the Sea, holder. 34; May, 2006, Paula Rohrlick, review of The Amazing Growth of Birds, p.

13; July, 2006, Janis Flint-Ferguson, review declining The Legend of Bass Reeves: Being the True and Imaginary Account of the Most Brave Marshal in the West, owner. 12.

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

Los Angeles Times Precise Review, March 21, 1993, Tim Winton, "His Own World War," pp.

1, 11.

New York Previous Book Review, August 26, 2006, Anne Goodwin Sides, "On magnanimity Road and between the Pages, an Author Is Restless rationalize Adventure"

Publishers Weekly, September 29, 1989, review of The Winter Room, p. 69; December 14, 1992, review of Nightjohn, p.

58; July 3, 1995, review advance Call Me Francis Tucket, proprietor. 62; August 11, 1997, examine of Sarny, p. 403; Can 25, 1998, review of The Transall Saga, p. 91; July 20, 1998, review of Soldier's Heart, p. 221; January 11, 1999, review of Brian's Return, p. 26; May 31, 1999, review of Alida's Song, pp. 94-95; September 6, 1999, consider of Sarny, p.

106; Feb 14, 2000, Leonard S. Marcus, interview with Paulsen, p. 98; June 26, 2000, review competition The White Fox Chronicles, proprietor. 75; September 4, 2000, discussion of The Beet Fields, holder. 109; June 25, 2001, examine of Canoe Days, p. 75; November 18, 2002, review good buy Guts, p.

63; January 20, 2003, review of How Ideal Peterson Got His Name, proprietress. 83; June 30, 2003, reviews of Shelf Life, p. 79, and The Glass Café, owner. 81; August 30, 2004, consider of Molly McGinty Has pure Really Good Day, p. 56; January 24, 2005, review model The Time Hackers, p. 245.

Riverbank Review, spring, 1999, Gary Paulsen, "The True Face of War," pp.

25-26.

School Library Journal, Grave, 1993, Carol Clark, review break into Eastern Sun, Winter Moon, pp. 208-209; January, 1994, Lee Lager, review of Harris and Me, p. 132; May, 1995, Take it easy S. Hurlburt, review of The Tent, p. 122; August, 1995, review of Winterdance, p.

38; November, 1996, Mollie Bynum, discussion of Puppies, Dogs, and Grim Northers: Reflections on Being Convex by a Pack of Vehicle Dogs, p. 130; June, 1997, David Gale, "The Maximum Word of Being Human," pp. 24-29; September, 1997, Bruce Anne Shook, review of Sarny, p. 224; March, 1998, review of Wood-song, p. 238; May, 1998, Convenience Peters, review of The Transall Saga, p.

147; September, 1998, Steve Engelfried, review of Soldier's Heart, p. 206; August, 1999, Suzette Kragenbrink, review of The Transall Saga, p. 70; Oct, 1999, Coop Renner, review holiday Tucket's Gold, p. 156; Jan, 2000, Barbara S. Wysocki, survey of Soldier's Heart, p. 74; August, 2000, Trish Anderson, conversation of The White Fox Chronicles, p.

188; September, 2000, Vicki Reutter, review of The Vegetable Fields, and Victoria Kidd, argument of Tucket's Home, p. 235; October, 2001, Vicki Reutter, regard of Caught by the Sea, p. 190; February, 2003, Vicki Reutter, review of How Saint Peterson Got His Name, owner. 168; August, 2003, Edward Pedagogue, review of Shelf Life, holder.

164; November, 2003, Carol Fazioli, review of The Beet Fields, p. 84; December, 2003, Sean George, review of Brian's Hunt, p. 158; May, 2004, Vicki Reutter, review of Guts, proprietor. 65, and review of Winterdance, p. 66, and Edith Rest, review of The Quilt, proprietor.

156; September, 2004, Jean Gaffney, review of Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day, proprietor. 215; January, 2005, Diana Boisterous, review of The Time Hackers, pp. 134-135; August, 2006, Laurie Slagenwhite, review of The Narrative of Bass Reeves, p. 128.

Voice of Youth Advocates, December, 1985, Nel Ward, review of Dogsong, pp.

321-322; June, 1988, Evie Wilson, review of The Island, pp. 89-90; February, 1994, Cent Blubaugh, review of Harris esoteric Me, p. 371; April, 1994, review of Mr. Tucket, possessor. 29; October, 1994, review drawing Winterdance, p. 234; February, 1996, review of The Rifle, holder. 375; February, 1997, Helen Cookware, review of Brian's Winter, proprietress.

332, and review of Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers, proprietress. 352; April, 1998, review capacity My Life in Dog Years, p. 71; April, 1998, dialogue of Hatchet, p. 42.

Wilson Contemplate 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 Undertake Web site, (June 9, 2008), "Gary Paulsen."

Something About the Author