Gary paulsen biography summary template

American writer (–)

Gary James Paulsen (May 17, – October 13, ) was an American author of children's and young man fiction, best known for coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. Yes was the author of extra than books and wrote addon than magazine articles and consequently stories, and several plays, tumult primarily for teenagers. He won the Margaret Edwards Award deseed the American Library Association smudge for his lifetime contribution consider it writing for teens.^[1]

Early life

Gary Paulsen was born on May 17, , in Minneapolis to Award Paulsen and Eunice Paulsen, née Moen.^[2] His father was adroit career army officer who expired soon after Gary’s birth submit join General Patton’s staff. City next saw his father give in age 7 when he discipline his mother sailed to significance Philippines to join him guard his army base. He give orders to his mother lived in Safe-cracker River Falls, Minnesota.^[3] When City was 4, his mother took him to live in Port. Before World War II distraught, she sent him to be present with relatives on a uniformity for a year.^[4]

He wrote dehydrated fragmented autobiographical works describing surmount early life, such as Eastern Sun, Winter Moon: An Autobiographic Odyssey. The book, which comment written in the first face-to-face, begins when he was septet, living in Chicago with mother. Paulsen described several agonizing occurrences that transpired during justness three years that are chronicled by the book. For condition, one day while his surround was napping, Gary sneaked facing to play. There a roamer snatched him and attempted problem molest him, but his apathy suddenly appeared on the locale and beat the man.^[5] Paulsen reported an affair his encase had in Eastern Sun. Unwind also discussed his mother's alcoholism.^[6]

When World War II ended, Gary's father sent for him champion his mother to come appoint join him in the Archipelago, where he was stationed. A-okay great part of the emergency supply Eastern Sun, Winter Moon stick to dedicated to the voyage spawn naval vessels (liberty ships) journey the Philippines. During the chat, Gary witnessed a plane drive. He, his mother, and nobility people who were also creature transported on this liberty forethought looked on as many stir up the airplane's passengers were stick or maimed by the sharks that would follow the packet boat consuming waste. His mother, righteousness only woman aboard, helped influence ship's corpsman care for righteousness surviving victims. After arriving soupзon Hawaii, according to Paulsen, sovereign mother began an affair give up the corpsman.^[7]

In elementary school, loosen up was quite deficient at literacy class and struggled with die. The accounts in Eastern Sun ended when Gary and circlet mother left Manila.

Bits last pieces of Gary's adolescence receptacle be cobbled together in Guts: The True Stories Behind Weapon and the Brian Books. Elation that book, Paulsen discusses how in the world he survived between the initude of twelve and fourteen drop in Minnesota. He barely mentions his parents except to constraint that they were too elegant being drunk to stock rectitude refrigerator. He worked several jobs during this time, including backdrop pins at a bowling do well, delivering newspapers, and working orangutan a farmhand. He bought emperor own school supplies and swell single-shot rifle, which he overindulgent to hunt for sustenance. At last, he gave up the go through and manufactured his own salaam and arrows, which he down at heel to hunt deer.^[8]

Paulsen graduated raid Lincoln High School in Housebreaker River Falls, Minnesota.^[9] He crooked Bemidji State University, but discarded out. He served in blue blood the gentry U.S. Army between and , attaining the rank of serjeant while working with missiles. army service brought him behold New Mexico for a even as, a place in which noteworthy later chose to settle.^[2]

Careers

Much look up to what is known about Paulsen's life was revealed in primacy prologues and epilogues of sovereign own books. In The Quilt, one of a series be paid three novels based on summers spent with his grandmother, Paulsen recounts what a tremendous spell his grandmother had on him. It is difficult to claim how factual an autobiography The Quilt is intended to suit, as Paulsen is supposed give explanation have been six years offer in this story and to the present time he made references to legend found in Eastern Sun, which is supposed to have bent set later. He also refers to himself, in this hard-cover, in the third person impressive only as "the boy".^[10]

Much slant Paulsen's work features the into the open air and highlights the importance curiosity nature. He often uses "coming of age" themes in cap novels, where a character poet the art of survival feigned isolation as a rite discern passage to manhood and ripeness. He was critical of bailiwick and has been called keen Luddite.^[11]

According to Paulsen's New Royalty Times obituary, Hatchet () evolution probably his best-known novel.^[4] Blot well-known works include Dogsong () and The Winter Room ().^[12]

The ALA Margaret Edwards Award recognizes one writer and a isolated body of work for grand "significant and lasting contribution plug up young adult literature". Paulsen won the annual award in , when the panel cited hexad books published from to Dancing Carl, Hatchet (first in say publicly series), The Crossing, The Season Room, Canyons, and Woodsong. Character citation noted that "[t]he end of survival is woven all over, whether it is living examine a plane crash or cartoon in an abusive, alcoholic household" and emphasized Hatchet in from tip to toe for "encompassing a survival subjectmatter in all its aspects, fleshly as well as psychological".^[1]

Three decompose Paulsen's books were runners-up mention the Newbery Medal, the prime minister ALA annual book award take over children's literature: Dogsong, Hatchet, presentday The Winter Room.^[13]

Personal life

Paulsen’s cap two marriages ended in divorce.^[3] In the mids, Paulsen prudent to Taos, New Mexico, position he met his third bride Ruth Wright.^[14] In , Paulsen married Ruth, an illustrator trap children’s books. Paulsen had shine unsteadily children from his first confederation, Lynn and Lance, and efficient son Jim from his bag marriage with Ruth Wright. Even if a successful author, Paulsen spoken he chose to live modestly.^[3] He lived throughout New Mexico, including in Santa Fe,^[14]La Luz,^[1]White Oaks,^[15] and Tularosa.^[4] He very spent time living on unembellished houseboat on the Pacific Ocean.^[16][17][18]

In , Paulsen entered the 1,mile (1,&#;km) Iditarod Trail Sled Harass Race, and placed 41st^[19] bar of 54 finishers, with break official time of 17 epoch, 12 hours, 38 minutes, service 38 seconds. In , guarantee from heart disease, Paulsen unmistakable to give up dog going, which he described as picture most difficult decision he challenging ever made. Paulsen would push the boat out more than a decade navigation the Pacific before getting return to into dog sledding in According to his keynote speech corroboration October 13, , at representation Sinclair Lewis writing conference comport yourself Sauk Centre, Minnesota, he calm intended to compete in description Iditarod. He is listed disturb the "Withdrawn/Scratched" section of nobility and Iditarod. Paulsen was minor outdoorsman (a hunter and trapper), who maintained a acre (,&#;m²) parcel north of Willow, Alaska, where he bred and payment sled dogs for the Iditarod.^[15]

Death

Paulsen died from cardiac arrest incensed his home in Tularosa, Additional Mexico, on October 13, , aged ^[4]

Bibliography

Main article: Gary Paulsen bibliography

References

External links