Gary Paulsen was the fourth most popular children's author. Gary has worked variously as a teacher, electronics field engineer, soldier, actor, director, farmer, rancher, truck driver, trapper, professional archer, migrant farm worker, singer, and sailor. He is currently a full-time writer.
Here are some comments by voters:
"He adds interesting facts to his stories and uses really good feelings."
"I like this author because of the survival stories he writes."
"He is serious and deals with serious things."
"He grabs you into the book and describes the characters emotions. You feel like you are the main character."
"His books are very cool and make you want to read more."
| The Official Site | You'll find information about Gary's life and books here and even ask him a question |
| Jim Trelease on Paulsen | Click here to find out about Gary's books and life. |
| Resources for Teachers | Resources and links for teachers using Paulsen's books in class. |
| Iditarod Interview | Gary talks about his experience competing in the famous dog sled race. |
Click on the link to locate the title in Mid-York's catalog. You can place an online request and pick the book up at the Herkimer, Oneida, or Madison County public library of your choice.
Bearstone by
Will Hobbs
Fourteen-year-old
Ute Indian Cloyd Atcitty has grown up without parents or schooling.
Later taken into the Colorado mountains to live with an old rancher,
Cloyd secretly renames himself Lone Bear and calls upon the strength
of his ancestors--first to battle his own hostilities and finally
to discover the magical power of friendship.
The Wolfling
by Sterling North
With ingenuity and
hard work, Robbie Trent manages to convince his parents and his
wolf-hating neighbors that Wolf is as hard-working as any dog.
Island of the Loons by
Dayton Hyde
During the year he
is held prisoner by an escaped convict on an inhabited island
in Lake Superior, a young boy watches his captor change from desperate
criminal to a gentler man absorbed in the abundant wildlife of
the island.
Lost in the Barrens by Farley Mowat
Two brothers must
face the wilderness with no food and no hope of rescue when their
canoe is destroyed by the rapids.
Bandit's Moon
by Sid Fleischman
Bad luck follows orphaned
Annyrose Smith like an afternoon shadow. Her brother is lost to
her --gone to strike it rich in the California gold rush -- and
now she's been snatched by a famed Mexican bandit who thinks she's
a boy and decides she might be useful in his own quest. Joanquin
has a price on his head and a reputation for revenge, it's true,
but he's as deeply loyal to his family as Annyrose is to hers.
Can this unlikely duo help each other find what they seek?
My Side of the Mountain by Jean George
A young boy relates
his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill
Mountains including his struggle for survival, his dependence
on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that
he needs human companionship
Black Star, Bright Dawn by
Scott O'Dell
Bright Dawn must face
the challenge of the Iditarod dog sled race alone when her father
is injured.