-Gary Paulsen writes books for children and young adults. His tales often feature young people facing up to a harsh wilderness or a harsh family.

-He was failing school, until a librarian got him reading which changed his life.

-His inspiration for his books is his past experiences or history.

-Hatchet, which has become a classic, won him the Newbery Honor Award.

-When he was 14 years old, Paulsen joined a carnival and ran away from home. He started doing odd jobs as a farmer, construction worker, engineer, sailor, truck driver, and he joined the Iditarod, an Alaskan dog sled race.

-In 1959, Paulsen went to Bemidji College in Minnesota. Two years later, he quit college and joined the Army, working for the missiles department.

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