Books by Gary Paulsen

Book SynopsisThere was a wild crashing sound, a ripping of metal, and the plane blew through the trees, out over the water and down, down to slam into the lake . . .Brian is a city boy. Not used to living rough. Until his plane crash-lands in the Canadian wilderness. All he has is a hatchet - and a desperate will to survive. Now Brian must learn to live the hard way - or die.Trade ReviewHeart-stopping...somewhere beyond adventure. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisAn incredible, breathtaking true adventure of Alaskan dog-racing and of the mesmerising Arctic landscape

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Book SynopsisFrom Gary Paulsen, the bestselling and much-loved author of Hatchet, comes another high-stakes survival story about a young boy on the knife-edge between life and death, where the raging seas meet a coastal wilderness.When a deadly plague reaches the small fish camp where he lives, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore, thrown from one danger to the next, unsure of his destination. Yet the deeper into his journey he paddles, the closer Leif comes to his truest self as he connects to the heartbeat of the ocean, the pulse of the sea.A stunning historical adventure with hints of Nordic mythology and an irresistible narrative pull, Northwind is Gary Paulsen at his captivating, adventuresome best.Trade ReviewGary Paulsen’s final novel, ‘Northwind’ — a tale of survival as masterfully understated as the man himself — brings the author’s career, and his life, full circle . . . Paulsen, who died in October, was not only a master storyteller, but also a master world-builder. Leif’s trip north is ‘a movement through worlds.’ And although these worlds are earthly ones, they’re as fresh and surprising as distant stars. * The New York Times *A voyage both singular and universal, marked by sharply felt risks and rewards and deep waters beneath. -- Kirkus, starred reviewPaulsen once again demonstrates his extraordinary knowledge of nature and the outdoors . . . Beautifully written, it’s classic Paulsen at his best. * Booklist, starred review *Spare, survival-oriented prose keeps the reader immersed in scenes difficult and wondrous, offering a glimpse of the sheer awesomeness of nature, showcasing the beauty of the sea and its inhabitants, and regaling readers with a timeless and irresistible adventure that has resilience at its heart. * Publishers Weekly, starred review *This is is an absolute masterpiece. Nobody writes about survival like him. If I were teaching about Vikings this would straight away be the book I’d use. Fantastic description and connection with nature. -- Simon Smith, Headteacher * https://twitter.com/smithsmm/status/1514318619546636292?s=11&t=a7-pHJFhy8C_DuTyqQMkUw *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the bestselling Hatchet comes a true story of high-stakes wilderness survival!If not for his six-hundred-mile journey from the busy Chicago city to a captivating Minnesotan farm aged five, there never would have been a Hatchet. Without the encouragement of the librarian who handed him his first book aged thirteen, he may never have become a reader. And without his daring teenage enlistment in the army, he might not have discovered his true calling as a storyteller.Gone to the Woods: A True Story of Growing Up in the Wild is the entrancing true story of Gary Paulsen's childhood, of grit and growing up, and is the acclaimed author at his rawest and most real.Trade ReviewIt might seem unlikely that such an unflinching account could have an uplifting effect. Yet it does. A child may grow up in privation, and he may grow up in ease, but suffering comes to all. Through his example, Gary Paulsen models how it can be overcome. * The Wall Street Journal *Leaves you gritting your teeth and clutching the pages . . . Beautiful language . . . stunning detail . . . Haunted me as a reader. * The New York Times Book Review *Recalls many tense and dangerous moments. Readers will find themselves turning the pages quickly to see what happens next and whether the boy survives, perhaps forgetting that this is the life story of a popular author now 81 years old. * The Washington Post *A rich, compelling read that is emotive and expressive without forcing empathy from the reader. Both brightly funny and darkly tragic, it is fresh in its honest portrayal of difficult themes.Readers will fall into this narrative of succeeding against overwhelming odds amid deep trauma. -- Kirkus, starred reviewA riveting, hopeful survival story about personal resilience amid trauma * Publishers Weekly *Beautifully written, Paulsen's memoir demonstrates that good can triumph over bad beginnings. With three Newbery Awards in his rucksack, Paulsen writes reliably great books, and everybody will want to get their hands on his latest. * Booklist *In a memoir that reads like the fiction that has made him famous, Gary Paulsen leads his audience through the rugged terrain of his childhood, a period that profoundly inspired his Newbery Honor-winning classic wilderness and survival stories The Winter Room, Hatchet and Dogsong. * Shelf Awareness, starred review *Resonant themes and beautiful writing. * Horn Book, starred review *

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Book SynopsisFrom Gary Paulsen, the award-winning author of Hatchet, comes a laugh-out-loud eco-adventure about a boy, his free-thinking dad and the puppy-training pamphlet that turns their summer upside down.Twelve-year-old Carl is fed up with his dad; he may be brilliant, but bin-diving for food, scouring through rubbish for 'salvageable' junk and wearing clothes fully sourced from garage sales is getting old. Increasingly worried by what his schoolmates will think – and encouraged by his riotous best friend – Carl decides to use a puppy-training pamphlet to 'retrain' his dad’s mindset . . . a crackpot experiment that produces some hilarious results!How To Train Your Dad is a fierce and funny novel about family, friendship and green-living from middle-grade master Gary Paulsen.Trade ReviewBreezy and light, with a grounding touch of tenderness, this is both an entertaining solo read and a solid suggestion for family sharing. -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksNewbery Honoree Paulsen, renowned for his tales of survival, revisits the humor and hijinks found in his Liar, Liar series. Carl’s hang-dog descriptions of having to wear pink overalls and ride an “original creation” bike are funny and endearing, and eternal optimist Pooder is the perfect sidekick to perpetually resigned Carl. And underneath the training mishaps is a sweet story about a kid who figures out that his life?and his dad?may not be so bad after all. -- Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisBrian returns to the wilderness to discover where he truly belongs in this follow-up to the award-winning classic Hatchet from three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen!   As millions of readers of Hatchet, The River, and Brian's Winter know, Brian Robeson survived alone in the wilderness by finding solutions to extraordinary challenges.  But now that's he's back to ordinary life, he can't make sense of high school life. He feels disconnected, more isolated than he did alone in the north woods. How can Brian discover his true path in life, and where he belongs? The answer is to return.   Gay Paulsen skillfully explores the meaning of belonging and purpose, and reminds us of a crucial rule of the wilderness: expect the unexpected.   “Bold, confident and persuasive.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred   “Paulsen bases many of his protagonist’s experiences on his own, and the wilderness through which Brian moves is vividly observed.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred  Read all the Hatchet Adventures!Brian's WinterThe RiverBrian's ReturnBrian's Hunt

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Book SynopsisThe government sends Brian back to the Canadian wilderness in this beloved follow-up to the award-winning classic Hatchet from three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen!   Two years after Brian Robeson survived fifty-four days alone in the Canadian wilderness, the government wants him to head back so they can learn what he did to stay alive. This time Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, will accompany him. But a freak storm leaves Derek unconscious. Brian's only hope is to transport Derek a hundred miles down the river to a trading post. He's survived with only a hatchet before--now can Brian build a raft and navigate an unknown river?   For the first time it's not only Brian's survival that's at stake. . .   An IRA-CBC Children’s Choice A Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year   “Vividly written, a book that will, as intended, please the readers who hoped that Paulsen, like Brian, would ‘do it again.’” —Kirkus ReviewsRead all the Hatchet Adventures! Brian's Winter The River Brian's Return Brian's Hunt

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Book SynopsisIt all begins when Rocky follows Mick Strum around town while he sketches its people, animals and graveyard. Mick has been commissioned by Rocky's Kansas town to create a memorial to their war dead.As Rocky learns to respect Mick and his talents, he helps her to develop her own artistic sensibilities.But the townspeople see things in Mick's drawings that they don't want to know or accept about themselves. Can Mick help them accept one monument that will be meaningful to everyone?

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Book SynopsisFrom the living legend and award-winning author of Hatchet comes a laugh-out-loud middle-grade romp about a boy, his free-thinking dad, and the puppy-training pamphlet that turns their summer upside down.

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Book SynopsisThe government sends Brian back to the Canadian wilderness in this beloved follow-up to the award-winning classic Hatchet from three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen!   Two years after Brian Robeson survived fifty-four days alone in the Canadian wilderness, the government wants him to head back so they can learn what he did to stay alive. This time Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, will accompany him. But a freak storm leaves Derek unconscious. Brian's only hope is to transport Derek a hundred miles down the river to a trading post. He's survived with only a hatchet before--now can Brian build a raft and navigate an unknown river?   For the first time it's not only Brian's survival that's at stake. . . AN IRA-CBC CHILDREN'S CHOICE A PARENTS MAGAZINE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR “Vividly written, a book that will, as intended, please the readers who hoped that Paulsen, like Brian, would ‘do it again.

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Book SynopsisFrom the legendary author of Hatchet, a laugh-out-loud misadventure about a boy, his free-thinking dad, and the puppy-training pamphlet that turns their summer upside down.Twelve-year-old Carl is fed up with his father''s single-minded pursuit of an off-the-grid existence. His dad may be brilliant, but dumpster-diving for food, scouring through trash for salvageable junk, and wearing clothes fully sourced from garage sales is getting old. Increasingly worried about what schoolmates and a certain girl at his new school might think of his circumstancesand encouraged by his off-kilter best friendCarl adopts the principles set forth in a randomly discovered puppy-training pamphlet to retrain his dad's mindset . . . a crackpot experiment that produces some very unintentional results.This is a fierce and funny novel about family, green-living, and untangling some of the ties that bind from middle-grade master Gary Paulsen.

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Book SynopsisGuess what -- Gary Paulsen was being kind to Brian. In Guts, Gary tells the real stories behind the Brian books, the stories of the adventures that inspired him to write Brian Robeson's story: working as an emergency volunteer; the death that inspired the pilot's death in Hatchet; plane crashes he has seen and near-misses of his own. He describes how he made his own bows and arrows, and takes readers on his first hunting trips, showing the wonder and solace of nature along with his hilarious mishaps and mistakes. He shares special memories, such as the night he attracted every mosquito in the county, or how he met the moose with a sense of humor, and the moose who made it personal. There's a handy chapter on 'Eating Eyeballs and Guts or Starving: The Fine Art of Wilderness Nutrition.' Recipes included. Readers may wonder how Gary Paulsen survived to write all of his books -- well, it took guts.

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Book SynopsisGary Paulsen has owned dozens of unforgettable and amazing dogs. In each chapter he tells of one special dog, among them Cookie, the sled dog who saved his life; Snowball, the puppy he owned as a boy in the Philippines; Ike, his mysterious hunting companion; Dirk, the grim protector; and his true friend Josh, a brilliant border collie.Trade Review* "Guaranteed to charm animal lovers and Paulsen's fans. . . . Something to please at every turn of the page. . . . This honest, unpretentious celebration of dogs further entrenches his reputation as an author who is as successful at writing nonfiction as he is at writing novels."--Booklist, starred review"Paulsen is a master storyteller with a dry wit. . . . Gives readers a real sense of how the man looks at these animals."--School Library Journal* "Here's a treat to make Paulsen fans sit up and beg for more.... His writing percolates with energetic love."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

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