Minnesota author and dog musher Gary Paulsen reflects on the growth of his sled dogs as he and his animals discover the world around them.

"[In this biography, author Gary Paulsen portrays a series of life-altering moments from his turbulent childhood.] If not for his summer escape from a shockingly neglectful Chicago upbringing to a North Woods homestead at age five, there never would have been a Hatchet. Without the encouragement of the librarian who handed him his first book at age thirteen, he may never have become a reader. And without his desperate teenage enlistment in the Army,...

Author Gary Paulsen relates tales from his youth in a small town in northwestern Minnesota in the late 1940s and early 1950s, such as skiing behind a souped-up car and imitating daredevil Evel Knievel.

A 14-year-old boy takes a road trip in search of family—and discovers adventure—in this YA novel by the Newbery Award-winning author.

At fourteen, Terry Anders finds himself abandoned by both of his parents. Left alone in their home, he has nothing but an empty refrigerator and his father’s unfinished Blakely Bearcat kit car—abandoned just like Terry. And that gives him an idea.

After getting the car road-ready,

...

“I’ve had enough . . .” Alex let go of her horse and hit Bobbie like a tigress, driving her back and knocking her on her rear. “Now we’ll see if you have problems with your rump.”

Bobbie leapt to her feet. Her lips were tight. She stalked past Alex and as she did reached out and shoved her backward. Into the water tank.

There’s plenty of family feuding when Bobbie...

Thirteen-year-old Ryan Swanner and his mom just moved to the mountain resort of Black Water Lake. The locals say that beneath the lake's seemingly calm surface, a giant, ancient creature lives. But Ryan's new friend Rita tells him that's just hogwash. She's not afraid to go fishing out on the lake, even though, oddly, the lake seems to be nearly empty of fish. One day Ryan sees a small animal fall from a tree into the lake—and never surface again....

Tag pointed his flashlight into the hole and peered inside. It was impossible. The inside was hollow, like an underwater cave. Something shiny lay near the opening and reflected the beam from his light. He reached inside and pulled it out.
 
A pewter spoon.
 
If he could have made a sound, he would have screamed with joy. He tucked the spoon in his vest pocket and reached into the hole again.
 
A...

The rock wall above them was as smooth as polished black marble. There were no crevices and no ledges. They would have to fight for every inch. Rick looked at his friends. J.D. and Spud nodded silently. Rick stood up and started. His job would be to make the trail. Their job was to make sure he lived through it.
 
High atop treacherous Devil’s Wall, The Rock Jockeys find much to explore. Sheer mountain cliffs. Wild...

When Jim Stanton’s family moves to Folsum, New Mexico, everyone but Jim is happy. The townspeople are just too polite, and they’re all eerily obedient to Jefferson Kincaid, the president of Folsum National Laboratories. Then Jim meets a mysterious girl who lives in the mountains, and she tells him a shocking secret. Something weird is going in Folsum, and it involves Jim’s own family.

It’s spy vs. spy when Amos is mistaken for a government double agent and give a top-secret assignment. He’s got the trench coat, he’s got the dark sunglasses, he’s go that smooth and debonair James Bond way about him. Now all he needs is Dunc to bail him out!
 
Join best friends Dunc and Amos as they try a little espionage, Culpepper style!