Gary Paulsen An Author Guys Like • Born May 17, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota • Had a difficult childhood • He ran away from home at the age of 14 to travel with a carnival. • Has worked at many jobs including soldier, truck driver, construcGon worker, engineer, sailor, actor, farmer, demoliGon worker, rancher, trapper, and writer • Ran two rounds of the 1,180-mile Alaskan dog sled race, the Iditarod Brian’s Saga (The Hatchet series) In Hatchet, 13-year-old Brian Robeson learned to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness, armed only with his hatchet . The other books include more tales of Brian’s challenges and adventures in the wilderness. The Tucket Adventures (The Francis Tucket series) The Tucket Adventures tell stories about Francis Tucket’s experiences heading west with his family on the Oregon Trail. Historical FicGon • Gary Paulsen has also wriVen historical novels. • From the Civil War Gme period: • About slavery: Humorous FicGon Gary Paulsen writes novels that make you laugh. Books About Sled Dogs Paulsen has run the Iditarod twice. He hopes to complete it again someday. He also has a large ranch in Alaska where he raises and trains sled dogs. Paulsen has wriVen several books about sled dogs. Gary Paulsen’s Adventures • His nonficGon book, Guts, tells about his own real-life experiences in the wild that provided all of the great details for the Brian books. • Paulsen has a list of top 10 survival Gps: • 1. Stop. Don't panic. Breathe deeply and make yourself think slowly. • 2. Look for shelter from wind, rain, snow, or sun depending upon weather. • 3. Conserve moisture. Avoid drinking anything with caffeine unless it is all you have. • 4. If it's hot, conserve body heat and fluids by taking it slow so you don't sweat. Or, if it's cold, make a leaf or pine-needle bed to stay warm. • 5. Protect yourself — a long sharpened sGck can be a useful tool or weapon. In the same vein, a fire can provide protecGon. Most animals won't bother you, but it just takes one. • 6. Take an inventory and count everything: matches, coins (they can make fish lures), candy, any nearby food sources — grub worms, berries, ants, fish — all of it. Count it all. Even an old can may be handy. • 7. Take a moment to review the long-term problems coming at you — do you need more wood because it's going to be very cold or a more permanent shelter? • 8. Start thinking of geng help. Make a signal fire. Or make a large design on the ground that can be seen by air. • 9. Don't listen to the fear side of your mind. Try to think of posiGve things. • 10. Amass wealth — get more wood, more leaves, more food, and more tools. You can never have enough stuff. Newbery Honor Books • The Winter Room (1990) • Hatchet (1988) • Dogsong (1986) Lynch, Amanda. (2009). The Children’s Book Review. Retrieved from: hVp://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2010/01/author-interview-gary- paulsen.html Randomhouse.com (2004). “Gary Paulsen.” Retrieved from: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen/index.html Vandergift, Kay (1996). “Learning About Gary Paulsen.” Retrieved from: http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/professional- development/ childlit/paulsen.html Images: Googleimages.com .