Gary Paulsen (Real-Life Reader Biography) [Library Binding]

Ann Gaines (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Series: Real-Life Reader Biography

Gary Paulsen loved adventures. He loved the outdoors and he loved the wild. One of his greatest thrills in life was running in the Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska. In 1983, Gary spent 17 days on the Alaskan trail. He kept a journal and took photos. Later on, he based many books on his experiences. Though today, Gary is a very successful writer, he was not always able to make a living this way. For many years he struggled to get by on very little money. One time, a publisher failed to pay him for his work. After the publication of his book Winterkill, Gary was sued for libel by a man who claimed that Gary's book was about him. Even though a judge later dismissed the case against him, Gary spent all he had on attorney's fees. Finally, in 1988, the publication of his book Hatchet made Gary Paulsen famous. It was named a Newbery Honor Book. A prolific writer, Gary continues even into his sixties to thrill children with his adventure stories.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-These attractive books present a conversational and inviting picture of two popular children's book authors. Gaines brings Curtis's enthusiasm and Paulsen's love of adventure to life. Each biography opens with a chapter about an important time in the man's life: Curtis's experience as a factory worker in a Flint, MI, auto plant and Paulsen's participation in the Iditarod. The books then chronicle the lives of these authors, paying special attention to their impetus to write, their inspirations, and their challenges. Black-and-white photographs and quotes enhance the texts, making these titles good choices for reluctant readers.
Kate McLean, DeKalb County Public Library, Tucker, GA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Ann Graham Gaines holds graduate degrees in American Civilization and Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin. She has been a freelance writer for 18 years, specializing in nonfiction for children. She lives near Gonzales, Texas with her husband and their four children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Mitchell Lane Publishers (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584150777
• ISBN-13: 978-1584150770
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,834,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars **3.5 Stars** Uneven but Informative, April 11, 2011

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gary Paulsen (Real-Life Reader Biography) (Library Binding)

"Gary Paulsen: A Real-Life Reader Biography" is a brief, informative book that gives a solid outline (emphasis on 'outline') of the famous author's life.

It isn't very long and there aren't many pictures, but that's not entirely unexpected in a book meant for middle-graders. And it is for middle-graders as there's plenty of dark moments in Gary's life: excessive drinking by many people, child abandonment, as well as multiple sad marriages that didn't work.

The book would have gotten a solid 4-Stars except for the immature sentence structure used by the author. In my opinion the book read more like one targeted for early elementary aged children, than one for young adults.

THE SKINNY:::
Despite the flaws, this is a informative book about Gary Paulsen that's worth reading. The author frequently ties Gary's real life experiences with incidents from his books which is the sort of thing fan's like myself appreciate.

Pam T~
mom/blogger
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