Gary Paulsen: Author and Wilderness Adventurer

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Summary: Gary Paulsen: Author and Wilderness Adventurer
Review: My 12 year old son and I have just finished reading Edith Fine's wonderful new biography on Gary Paulsen. Since Paulsen is one of our favorite authors we were thrilled to learn more about the details of his life. Being a volunteer reading teacher in the public schools and a leader of a weekend reading group of 6 adolescent boys, I know that Gary Paulsen's books are extremely popular with kids that age, and yet there has never been much written about his life. (Hopefully, libraries will order several copies each of this book.) Edith Fine does an exceptional job of writing in a way that's easily understood by both kids and adults. She takes the time to explain details such as what a "pinsetter" does. Most kids don't realize that bowling alleys haven't always been mechanized and that a real person had to actually set up the bowling pins each time a ball knocked them down. My son shares Gary Paulsen's love of dogs and Ms. Fine incorporates each family dog into the events of his life. Although Gary Paulsen's childhood and part of his adult life involve such painful subjects as alcoholism, Edith fine describes them in a matter of fact way- not skirting the issue, but also not laying out too many gory details. (important for kids) Gary Paulsen's life is a fascinating read and one that many people, kids and adults alike, can profit from- especially ones that aren't astute in reading and writing. He shows us that anyone can learn to better themselves- even if the cards seem stacked against them. This book is a must have for any Gary Paulsen fan. Kudos to Edith Fine!

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Summary: Gary Paulsen: Adventure is His Life
Review: The brightly colored photo of Gary Paulsen on this book's cover makes it an attention grabber for students in middle or high school; the text includes a generous scattering of black-and-white pictures and maps. Mr. Paulsen dedicated HATCHET, one of his three Newbery Honor Books, to the students of Hershey Middle School in Hershey, Pennsylvania, because of their enthusiastic response to his participation in the Alaskan Iditarod sled dog race, and Chapter Eight explains how this came to happen. Ms. Fine crams the book with factual information that helps readers understand how Paulsen uses his own life experiences like the race when he writes his books about survival, skillfully weaving their titles into the biography. Graphic detail, such as the stitching back of his tongue after a childhood accident in the Philippines, is minimal, just enough to tweak interest. Footnotes in a special section both satisfy curiosity and demonstrate Ms. Fine's care to clearly cite authorities, a good model for young report writers. The three-page index also helps teens, who will find many references to his book titles here.

An adequate biography on Paulsen that is age appropriate is hard to find. This one fills the bill.

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Summary: Great Gary Paulsen Biography!
Review: This biography of Gary Paulsen belongs on the shelf of every library serving students who know and love Gary Paulsen's work. Teachers who study Gary Paulsen's work, including such favorites as HATCHET, will want a copy (or more) for their students. Edith Hope Fine balances Paulsen's background and tough life with his hard work and his work ethic. Black and white photographs are helpful to the text. Schools organizing author visits will enjoy the segment on Gary's school visit. This is a well-written, solid biography, and an enjoyable read. Public and school libraries will find this a helpful addition to their collections. If you are a fan of Paulsen's work you will enjoy reading this fine biography and learning more about him.

Rating:
Summary: Great Gary Paulsen Biography!
Review: This biography of Gary Paulsen belongs on the shelf of every library serving students who know and love Gary Paulsen's work. Teachers who study Gary Paulsen's work, including such favorites as HATCHET, will want a copy (or more) for their students. Edith Hope Fine balances Paulsen's background and tough life with his hard work and his work ethic. Black and white photographs are helpful to the text. Schools organizing author visits will enjoy the segment on Gary's school visit. This is a well-written, solid biography, and an enjoyable read. Public and school libraries will find this a helpful addition to their collections. If you are a fan of Paulsen's work you will enjoy reading this fine biography and learning more about him.