Author Profile
Gary Paulsen
21 Books
Gary Paulsen was a highly acclaimed American author best known for his young adult novels focusing on wilderness survival and coming-of-age themes. Drawing heavily from his own rugged life experiences, he authored over two hundred books, including his critically acclaimed and widely read novel, Hatchet. His compelling stories, which often feature resilient young protagonists navigating harsh realities, continue to captivate and inspire generations of readers.
Brian's Saga
The River
By:
Gary Paulsen
Brian Robeson survived fifty-four days alone in the Canadian wilderness. He learned how to build a fire, hunt for his own food, and stay alive when everything went wrong. Now, safe at home, he thinks his days of eating grubs and fighting off wild animals are over.
But the government has a dangerous request. They want Brian to do it all again.
Scientists study survival, but they have never lived it the way Brian has. They ask him to return to the remote woods, this time with a government psychologist named Derek. The plan is simple: Brian will teach Derek exactly what it takes to survive with nothing but his instincts and a hatchet. They will take notes, study his reactions, and learn how the human mind overcomes impossible odds.
Then lightning strikes their camp. Derek is knocked unconscious, leaving him in a coma. The radio is fried. The survival gear is gone. Suddenly, this is no longer a science experiment. It is a desperate race against time.
Brian must build a raft and navigate a brutal, uncharted river to get Derek to a trading post hundreds of miles away. If he makes one mistake, the river will claim them both. The wilderness is calling him back, and this time, he is not just fighting for his own life.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
160 Pages
N/A
/5
By:
Gary Paulsen
Winter is closing in, and thirteen-year-old John is tasked with tracking a deer to provide meat for his family. Following his grandfather's teachings, he sets out alone into the freezing Minnesota woods. You will follow John as he picks up the trail of a beautiful, elusive doe. But as the hunt stretches on for days, something unexpected happens. He stops seeing the doe as a target and starts feeling a deep, powerful connection to her spirit. He begins to hate his role as the hunter. This emotional and gripping journey through the snow forces John to question the cycle of life and death, teaching you a profound lesson about empathy, nature, and what it truly means to be alive.
9-12 Years
100 Pages
N/A
/5
Brian's Saga
Brian's Winter
By:
Gary Paulsen
Everyone knows the story of how Brian Robeson survived his first summer in the wilderness. But what if the rescue plane never arrived? You are about to experience the terrifying alternate reality where Brian is left entirely alone to face the brutal fury of a Canadian winter. As the temperature drops below zero and snow covers the forest, his summer shelter and tools are no longer enough. You will watch him invent new ways to stay warm, hunt larger game, and defend himself against starving predators. The stakes are higher, the conditions are deadlier, and the margin for error is zero. This thrilling continuation pushes the ultimate survival adventure to its absolute breaking point.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
144 Pages
N/A
/5
A deadly sickness sweeps through a small fishing camp, leaving an orphan named Leif completely alone. Forced to flee, he takes to the water in a cedar canoe and heads northward. The rugged, beautiful coastline holds both wonder and terror as he navigates wild, fjord-riven shores. You will join Leif as he faces towering waves, harsh weather, and unpredictable wildlife. He has no clear destination, but he knows he must keep moving to stay alive. With every stroke of his paddle, he connects more deeply to the pulse of the sea. The deeper he travels into the wilderness, the more he discovers about his own strength. If you enjoy epic survival stories that pit human endurance against the forces of nature, this journey will keep you on the edge of your seat.
9-12 Years
177 Pages
N/A
/5
Being the Story of the Enlistment and Due Service of the Boy Charley Goddard in the First Minnesota Volunteers
By:
Gary Paulsen
Charley Goddard is just a boy when he leaves home to fight in the Civil War. He believes the battlefields will bring glory, excitement, and adventure. Instead, he discovers the horrifying reality of combat. The meadows are stained with violence, and the noise of cannon fire shatters his innocent dreams. You will witness the true cost of war through his eyes, experiencing the fear and exhaustion that plague the young soldiers in his regiment. When Charley finally returns home, he is a fundamentally changed man, carrying the heavy invisible burdens of his trauma. This deeply moving and fiercely honest account shines a light on the emotional toll experienced by all the anonymous young men who marched into battle.
13-18 Years
130 Pages
N/A
/5
If you have ever wondered how the thrilling events in survival stories are created, the answers are waiting for you right here. The author shares the astonishing true incidents from his own life that inspired the famous adventures of Brian Robeson. You will read about terrifying encounters with wild animals, sudden emergencies, and the sheer grit required to survive when everything goes wrong. There are heart-stopping moments involving moose attacks, plane crashes, and the unforgiving wilderness. These personal memories prove that truth can be just as wild as fiction. This gripping collection pulls back the curtain on the writing process while delivering all the intense, pulse-pounding action you expect from a master storyteller.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
164 Pages
N/A
/5
Spending the summer on a farm sounds peaceful, but not when you are staying with a cousin like Harris. From the moment a city boy arrives at his relatives' rural home, his quiet life turns into a series of wild, unpredictable disasters. You will join these two boys as they wrestle giant pigs, play dangerous games in the barn loft, and invent outrageous schemes that usually end in trouble. Every day brings a new, hilarious mishap involving mud, animals, and terrible decisions. Despite the bumps and bruises, this chaotic summer might just turn out to be the best time of his life. Get ready to laugh out loud at this unforgettable story of friendship, family, and farm-sized trouble.
9-12 Years
N/A
/5
Fourteen-year-old John Barron is determined to prove himself. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he takes on the massive responsibility of tending six thousand sheep in a remote mountain haymeadow. He is entirely alone, accompanied only by two horses and four dogs. You will stand by his side as the quiet summer quickly turns into a desperate struggle for survival. A sudden flash flood threatens the flock, ruthless coyotes close in for an attack, and unexpected injuries leave him vulnerable. To make it through the season, John must dig deep and find a level of resourcefulness he never knew he had. This gripping adventure will test your nerves and show you what it truly takes to survive in the wild.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
209 Pages
N/A
/5
Moving to a new town brings a wave of tension for fifteen-year-old Wil Neuton and his parents. Seeking an escape from the stress at home, Wil gets in a rowboat and discovers a secluded island in the middle of a beautiful northern Wisconsin lake. It quickly becomes his private sanctuary. You will join Wil as he spends his days watching the loons, studying the fish, and translating the peaceful wilderness into writing and painting. But his decision to stay on the island raises questions and concerns from the people back on shore. As you immerse yourself in this quiet, thoughtful journey, you will explore the healing power of nature and the profound importance of finding your own place in the world.
13-18 Years
216 Pages
N/A
/5
By:
Gary Paulsen
Russel Susskit feels completely disconnected from his village. He wakes up every day to the smell of diesel oil and the loud roar of snow machines, wishing for the quieter, older traditions of his ancestors. Oogruk, an elder shaman who keeps the last team of sled dogs in the village, understands Russel's longing. You will follow Russel as he leaves the modern world behind and takes Oogruk's dogs out into the freezing expanse of the north. Guided by a powerful dream and a desperate need to find his own path, he embarks on an epic, solitary journey across the ice. This profound adventure of survival and self-discovery will challenge everything you think you know about strength and the wilderness.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
196 Pages
N/A
/5
Brian's Saga
Hatchet
By:
Gary Paulsen
Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when his small plane suddenly crashes into the remote Canadian wilderness. The pilot is dead, and Brian is completely alone. You will feel his intense fear and hunger as he realizes that his survival depends entirely on his own wits. His only tool is a small hatchet his mother gave him as a parting gift. For fifty-four grueling days, you will learn alongside Brian as he figures out how to build a shelter, start a fire, and hunt for food. Beyond the physical challenges, he must also find a way to navigate the emotional pain of his parents' recent divorce. This thrilling, iconic classic is the ultimate test of human endurance.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
193 Pages
N/A
/5
Thirteen-year-old Mark thinks he is just embarking on a normal solo backpacking trip across the desert. But when he stumbles into a mysterious tube of blue light, he is instantly transported to a terrifying and primitive new world. You will fight alongside Mark as he navigates a landscape filled with strange creatures, hostile tribes, and harsh environments. While desperately searching for a way back to his own time and planet, he must use all of his camping skills to stay alive. He forms tight bonds with the local people, only to find himself caught in the middle of a brutal war for power. Get ready for a pulse-pounding, science fiction survival adventure that pushes the limits of imagination.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
256 Pages
N/A
/5
Brian's Saga
Brian's Return
By:
Gary Paulsen
Surviving the Canadian wilderness changed Brian Robeson forever. Now that he is back home, high school life feels completely meaningless. The noisy hallways and superficial drama make him feel more isolated than he ever did when he was alone in the deep woods. You will relate to Brian's intense feeling of disconnection as he struggles to fit into a society that no longer makes sense to him. Realizing that his true path lies far away from civilization, he makes a bold decision. He packs his gear and heads back to the wild. This thoughtful and exciting journey explores what happens when a survivor realizes that the wilderness is the only place he can truly call home.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
115 Pages
N/A
/5
When the cold Minnesota winter freezes the fields, the hard work on the farm finally slows down. For eleven-year-old Eldon and his older brother Wayne, this quiet season means gathering around the wood stove in the winter room. You will smell the burning wood and feel the warmth as you listen to their Uncle David tell fascinating, almost mythological stories about the logging camps of his youth. The changing seasons dictate every routine in their lives, but it is in these still, freezing months that Eldon begins to see his family in a completely new light. This beautifully written, poetic glimpse into a bygone farming era captures the magic of storytelling and the deep bonds of family.
9-12 Years
82 Pages
N/A
/5
Before he became a famous author, a young boy lived a chaotic and severely neglected life in the city. His only escape was a train ride to a remote North Woods homestead at the age of five. You will step directly into his raw, unfiltered memories as he learns to survive in the wild, catches fish with his bare hands, and builds a foundation of fierce independence. Later, a kind librarian introduces him to the magic of books, sparking a lifelong passion for storytelling. From a troubled childhood to an intense teenage enlistment in the Army, this true account reads like a gripping novel. It is a powerful, inspiring testament to human grit and the life-changing impact of finding your purpose.
13-18 Years
183 Pages
N/A
/5
Brian's Saga
Brian's Hunt
By:
Gary Paulsen
The wilderness is calling Brian Robeson back. Two years after surviving his infamous plane crash, the sixteen-year-old is once again navigating the Canadian woods. But this time, he is not a lost boy trying to survive. He is a skilled outdoorsman who belongs to the wild. You will travel alongside Brian as he discovers a severely wounded dog and vows to protect it. When he uncovers the tracks of a massive, rogue bear that has been terrorizing the area, his peaceful retreat transforms into a deadly mission. Armed with his instincts and primitive weapons, he must hunt down the predator before it strikes again. Prepare for a heart-stopping, high-stakes battle between man and nature.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
114 Pages
N/A
/5
By:
Gary Paulsen
Life in the freezing wilderness of northern Minnesota is not for the faint of heart. You will quickly discover the thrilling, unpredictable reality of living intimately with nature in this incredible true story. The author takes you into his world of running sled dogs, where wolves watch from the treeline and massive bears wait just out of sight. You will hold on tight as he shares memories of plunging down frozen waterfalls and surviving terrifying encounters in the wild. The journey culminates in an unforgettable account of running the grueling Iditarod race across Alaska, battling sleep deprivation and brutal storms. These raw, honest memories perfectly capture the majestic beauty and extreme danger of the natural world.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
148 Pages
N/A
/5
By:
Gary Paulsen
A century apart, two boys face a challenge that will redefine their lives in the rugged canyons of the Southwest. Coyote Runs is a young Apache boy taking part in his very first raid, hoping to become a man. Over a hundred years later, fifteen-year-old Brennan Cole is camping in the same area when he discovers a skull pierced by a bullet. You will feel the strange, mystical link that instantly connects Brennan to the spirit of Coyote Runs. Knowing the Apache boy cannot rest until his remains are returned to a sacred place, Brennan sets out on a grueling, unauthorized trek. This intense, spiritual adventure forces Brennan to push past his limits to honor a forgotten life.
13-18 Years
158 Pages
N/A
/5
The Civil War has torn the country apart, and freedom is finally a reality. But for Sarny, a young girl who recently escaped slavery, the struggle is far from over. After being taught to read by a brave man named Nightjohn, Sarny uses her knowledge to teach others, building a life of purpose and resilience. You will follow her remarkable journey through the aftermath of the war, as she faces new dangers and seeks out her lost children. Sarny lived a full life until she was ninety-four, witnessing historical shifts that changed America forever. Her voice is powerful, honest, and unforgettable. This inspiring story explores the true meaning of freedom, the importance of education, and the unyielding strength of the human spirit.
13-18 Years
192 Pages
N/A
/5
Lawn Boy
Lawn Boy
It all starts with a simple, old riding lawnmower from Grandma. A twelve-year-old boy figures he can make a little spending money by cutting the neighbors' grass. You will watch in amazement as a small summer chore explodes into a massive, booming business. When he mows the lawn of Arnold the stockbroker, he gets a crash course in capitalism. Suddenly, his profits are being invested, his workforce is diversifying, and he is somehow the sponsor of a professional prizefighter named Joey Pow. What began as a plan to buy a new inner tube turns into an unbelievably funny lesson in economics. This hilarious, fast-paced story proves that supply and demand can lead to some seriously wild surprises.
9-12 Years
98 Pages
N/A
/5
Nightjohn
Nightjohn
On the Waller plantation, simply knowing the alphabet is considered a dangerous crime. Twelve-year-old Sarny's harsh life as an enslaved girl becomes even more perilous when a new man named Nightjohn arrives. His body bears the heavy scars of violence, yet he returns from freedom in the North for one specific reason. He wants to teach others how to read. You will hold your breath as Sarny risks everything, including severe physical punishment, to learn the power of words. Set in the 1850s, this incredibly tense and meticulously researched story exposes the grim realities of American slavery. It is a brilliant, emotional testament to the courage of those who fought for knowledge and dignity in the darkest of times.
13-18 Years
114 Pages
N/A
/5
