When a small boy spends Christmas in the snowy Minnesota countryside, he becomes the official scout for his young bedridden cousin, Matthew, who is running out of secrets to explore. Matthew already knows there is no Santa Claus, and he knows his life is ending. As Christmas Eve approaches, the boy worries that he will be unable to find something magical for Matthew. But when that hopeful night arrives, the two are joined in a miraculous surprise that changes their lives forever. The poignant story of A Christmas Sonata will touch listeners’ hearts with the timeless mystery of the holiday season and a gentle reminder that wonderful things often come when least expected. Newbery Award-winning author Gary Paulsen continues to captivate young listeners and their parents with favorites like Mr. Tucket and Nightjohn. In language that is always lyrical and moving, his perceptive tales offer new ways to look at the sometimes difficult choices of childhood.

Brian sets out on the hunt of a lifetime in this follow-up to the award-winning classic Hatchet from three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen!
 
Brian Robeson has stood up to the challenge of surviving the wilderness in Hatchet, The River, Brian’s Winter, and Brian’s Return. Now, while camping alone on a lake in the woods, he finds a wounded and whimpering dog. As Brian treats her wounds, he worries about who or what did this to her. His instincts tell him to head north, quickly, to check on his Cree friends. With his new companion at his side, he sets out on the hunt.
 
Gary Paulsen expertly delivers a riveting story that brilliantly combines two of his great themes: the human animal’s place in nature, and the mysterious and wonderful bond between humans and dogs.

“The Brian books reveal nature and humankind’s place in it with spare prose that seems ideally suited to the setting and plot.” —VOYA
 
“Based on real incidents, this well-written sequel to Hatchet and its successors will be gobbled up by the author’s legions of fans.” —Kirkus Reviews

Read all the Hatchet Adventures!
Brian’s Winter
The River
Brian’s Return
Brian’s Hunt

Brian returns to the wilderness to discover where he truly belongs in this follow-up to the award-winning classic Hatchet from three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen!
 
As millions of readers of Hatchet, The River, and Brian’s Winter know, Brian Robeson survived alone in the wilderness by finding solutions to extraordinary challenges.  But now that’s he’s back to ordinary life, he can’t make sense of high school life. He feels disconnected, more isolated than he did alone in the north woods. How can Brian discover his true path in life, and where he belongs? The answer is to return.
 
Gay Paulsen skillfully explores the meaning of belonging and purpose, and reminds us of a crucial rule of the wilderness: expect the unexpected.
 
“Bold, confident and persuasive.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred
 
“Paulsen bases many of his protagonist’s experiences on his own, and the wilderness through which Brian moves is vividly observed.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred
 
Read all the Hatchet Adventures!
Brian’s Winter
The River
Brian’s Return
Brian’s Hunt

In Hatchet, 13-year-old Brian Robeson learned to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness, armed only with his hatchet. Finally, as millions of readers know, he was rescued at the end of the summer. But what if Brian hadn’t been rescued? What if he had been left to face his deadliest enemy–winter?

Gary Paulsen raises the stakes for survival in this riveting and inspiring story as one boy confronts the ultimate test and the ultimate adventure.

In 1848, fourteen-year-old Francis Tucket was kidnapped from an Oregon-bound wagon train by a Pawnee hunting party. But a one-armed mountain man named Mr. Grimes quickly rescued him and hid him from the hostile tribe. After a year in the mountain wilderness with Mr. Grimes, Francis decides to strike out on his own-to follow the dangerous trail to Oregon and find his family. Francis thinks he can handle just about anything-buffalo stampedes, gun-toting outlaws, and even the constant threat of tribal attacks. But when he finds two frightened children stranded in the wilderness, Francis takes on more than he bargained for. Suddenly, he’s got a family of his own to protect all the way to Oregon. Call Me Francis Tucket continues the action-packed adventure that began in the critically acclaimed Mr. Tucket. With authentic detail and gritty honesty, Newbery Honor winner Gary Paulsen leads listeners deep into the American West and into Francis’ remarkable tale of survival on the wild frontier.

Two boys, separated by the canyons of time and two vastly different cultures, face the challenges by which they will become men.
Coyote Runs, an Apache boy, takes part in his first raid. But he is to be a man for only a short time.
More than a hundred years later, while camping near Dog Canyon, 15-year-old Brennan Cole becomes obsessed with a skull that he finds, pierced by a bullet. He learns that it is the skull of an Apache boy executed by soldiers in 1864. A mystical link joins Brennan and Coyote Runs, and Brennan knows that neither boy will find peace until Coyote Runs’ skull is carried back to an ancient sacred place.
In a grueling journey through the canyon to return the skull, Brennan confronts the challenge of his life.

Ever since his father, a policeman, was killed on duty, Roman Sanchez hasn’t been getting along with his friends. And today is another boring day in school. Just as the class is taking a test, two men wearing ski masks sneak into the room. “We’re going on a little field trip,” one man announces, waving a gun. The kidnappers hustle Roman and his classmates onto a waiting school bus and head out of town. But when the engine stalls, the men hijack a passing truck. Leaving most of the students behind on the bus, they force Roman and three other boys into the back of the truck. Now Roman must work with the others in their frantic struggle for freedom. Gary Paulsen, Newbery Award-winning author, entertains young people with his World of Adventure series. His exciting real-life tales captivate the interests of readers of all levels. Captive! is the thrilling story of four youngsters’ struggle for survival against dangerous forces in the rugged countryside.

Since his father died, Daniel Martin looks forward to summers with his uncle in the mountains. They have a great time practicing outdoor survival skills. But this summer his mother is sending him to Camp Eagle Nest. When he boards the camp van, Daniel’s heart sinks. Three boys from school-who always tease him-are going to camp, too. Soon the driver gets lost. As the van is crossing a rickety bridge, the wooden planks break, plunging the van into the river! Will Daniel be able to save himself and his classmates with his outdoor training? Gary Paulsen, outdoorsman and Newbery-Award winning author, entertains boys and girls with his World of Adventure series. Filled with excitement and the spirit of discovery, his tales captivate the interests of readers of all levels. Danger on Midnight River is the gripping story of four boys learning to trust each other as they struggle to find their way in the harsh land.

Gary Paulsen’s Dogsong-a Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults-is the graphic, coming-of-age tale of a modern Eskimo lad and his consuming vision quest and harrowing struggle for survival. Troubled by changes in his Alaskan village, 14-year-old Russell Suskitt seeks the counsel of the village elder-and only dog team owner. After his training in the ancient arts of hunting with bow and lance, handling sled dogs, and surviving arctic dangers, Russell embarks upon his lonely search for Eskimo manhood. “Unusual and moving . a remarkable book.”-Library Journal, starred review

Nikki Roberts feels very grown up when her parents leave her alone in their mountain lodge for a few days. The 13-year-old has promised them she will not take any long horseback rides or canoe trips, so she saddles Goblin and heads for a nearby sheep meadow for the afternoon. It’s not long before Nikki’s trail leads her into perilous territory. She surprises deadly poachers at work who are shooting bighorn rams for trophies. Her CB radio picks up a distress call from two children stranded in a forest fire that has broken out down river. Can Nikki rescue the children and avoid the dangerous poachers? Gary Paulsen is a three-time Newbery Honor Book author. His World of Adventure Books capture the spirit of discovery and excitement found in our country’s majestic landscapes. In addition to non-stop action, Escape from Fire Mountain also includes valuable information about forest fire survival.

Father-and-son writing team Gary and Jim Paulsen pick up where their Road Trip left off. Ben has been invited to try out for a special hockey academy. But Dad wants Ben to catch up to the school field trip instead. So Ben, Dad, and their dogs, Atticus and Conor, jump into their truck. Ben concocts a secret plan to make the tryout, but Atticus and Conor are on to him. Ben and Dad’s road trip turns into a wacky adventure full of new friends and surprises.

An orphan reflects on the lessons he was taught by the wise old man who raised him in this lyrical novel that reads like poetry from three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen.

Deep in the woods, in a rustic cabin, lives an old man and the boy he’s raised as his own. This sage old man has taught the boy the power of nature and how to live in it, and more importantly, to respect it. In Fishbone’s Song, this boy reminisces about the magic of the man who raised him and the tales that he used to tell–all true, but different each time.

“Dan Bittner flawlessly narrates this matchless memoir, which captures writer Gary Paulsen’s bittersweet life…The sublime narration and satisfying conclusion contribute to a rewarding listening experience.” — AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award winner

A middle grade memoir from a living literary legend, giving listeners a new perspective on the origins of Gary Paulsen’s famed survival stories.

His name is synonymous with high-stakes wilderness survival stories. Now, beloved author Gary Paulsen portrays a series of life-altering moments from his turbulent childhood as his own original survival story. 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, he would not have discovered his true calling as a storyteller.

A moving and enthralling story of grit and growing up, Gone to the Woods is perfect for newcomers to the voice and lifelong fans alike, from the acclaimed author at his rawest and realest.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux

“I’m 11-years-old, from the city, and my parents are mean alcoholics. One day the deputy takes me away to live with some distant relatives on their sprawling farm in the country. At the Larsen farm, I meet my Uncle Knute and Aunt Clair and their two children, Glennis and her wild brother Harris. I also meet Louie, the crusty old guy who works as a farmhand and steals all the pancakes at breakfast. Harris introduces me to life on the farm, and it proves to be a rude awakening. From getting up before dawn to be kicked in the groin by a cow, to wrestling in the mud with slimy pigs, this is turning out to be quite the experience.” Best-selling author Gary Paulsen is acclaimed for his many novels for young adults. This rollicking tale set just after WWII features action and laughs galore, and is sure to appeal to even the most reluctant readers. “A hearty helping of old-fashioned, rip-roaring entertainment.”-Publishers Weekly

Bobbie always spends her summers breaking horses and rounding up stray cattle on Grandpa’s ranch. But this year is different. Alex, her cousin from Los Angeles, is visiting. And Bobbie doesn’t want to ruin her summer teaching a “city greenhorn” what to do. While saddling up their horses to search for cattle, the two girls start a vicious feud. But when they run into the horrible Bledsoe boys and a wild bull, they must depend on each other to survive! Gary Paulsen, Newbery-award winning author, entertains boys and girls with his World of Adventure series. Filled with excitement and the spirit of discovery, his tales captivate the interests of readers of all levels. In Hook ‘Em, Snotty! narrator Jeff Woodman delights listeners with his riveting account of Bobbie and Alex’s outdoor exploits.

From the legendary author of Hatchet, a laugh-out-loud misadventure about a boy, his free-thinking dad, and the puppy-training pamphlet that turns their summer upside down.

Twelve-year-old Carl is fed up with his father’s single-minded pursuit of an off-the-grid existence. His dad may be brilliant, but dumpster-diving for food, scouring through trash for salvageable junk, and wearing clothes fully sourced from garage sales is getting old. Increasingly worried about what schoolmates and a certain girl at his new school might think of his circumstances–and encouraged by his off-kilter best friend–Carl adopts the principles set forth in a randomly discovered puppy-training pamphlet to “retrain” his dad’s mindset . . . a crackpot experiment that produces some very unintentional results.

This is a fierce and funny novel about family, green-living, and untangling some of the ties that bind from middle-grade master Gary Paulsen.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux

It is 1848, and Francis Tucket is heading west on the Oregon Trail with his family. Yesterday he celebrated his 14th birthday on the tailgate of a Conestoga wagon in the foothills of the Rockies. Today, he is going to practice with his new birthday present, a Lancaster rifle. Falling far behind the wagon train, Francis loses sight of his family and is kidnapped by Pawnee Indians. Saved by a one-armed mountain man named Mr. Grimes, Francis takes off with his rescuer on a wild adventure peopled by actual historical characters, including Jim Bowie, and set against an historically-accurate background of the Old West.

Gary Paulsen, a Golden Spur award-winning author, collaborates with Brian Burks for this western-mystery tale of unlikely heroes and villains that is refreshingly free of gratuitous violence and sex. Life in Turrett, New Mexico was quiet until Travis Price rode into town bleeding and gravely wounded by an arrow. Paulsen and Burks serve up a vast and heroic vision of the Old West in this crisp, action-packed and suspenseful novel.

Life on the Waller plantation is harsh and bleak. Twelve-year-old Sarny knows that it won’t be long before she will be forced to leave Mammy and join the other young women who serve the master’s household as breeders. Then one day a new slave arrives, bought from an overseer for a thousand dollars. He comes in a bad way, walking in front of the horses and Waller’s ready whip. His back is covered with scars as thick as Sarny’s hand, but he holds his head high and doesn’t seem to mind that everyone is watching him. Sarny doesn’t know yet, but Nightjohn’s arrival is about to change everything. For that very night, in exchange for a plug of tobacco, Nightjohn begins to teach Sarny the letters of the alphabet. With enough time and tobacco, she will be able to read. Sarny has gotten as far as the letter J, when Waller catches her tracing the word BAG in the dust on the road. The punishment for teaching someone to read is severe. What will happen if Waller finds out who Sarny’s teacher is? Will her precious gift of learning be lost forever? Newberry honor-winner, Gary Paulsen, offers a graphically realistic and historically accurate portrayal of slave society in mid-19th century America.

This stunning audiobook from the survival story master, set along a rugged coastline centuries ago, does for the ocean what Hatchet does for the woods, as it relates the story of a young person’s battle to stay alive against the odds, where the high seas meet a coastal wilderness.

When a deadly plague reaches the small fish camp where he lives, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore, navigating from one danger to the next, unsure of his destination. But the deeper into his journey he paddles, the closer he comes to his truest self as he connects to “the heartbeat of the ocean . . . the pulse of the sea.”

With hints of Nordic mythology and an irresistible narrative pull, Northwind is Gary Paulsen at his captivating, adventuresome best.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Folsom, New Mexico is young Jim Stanton’s new home. His father has been given a wonderful job at Folsom National Laboratories. The company has provided the Stantons with everything they need, including a fabulous house and even a brand new car. The only trouble is that it all seems a little too perfect. Curious, Jim goes hiking in the nearby mountains, where he meets a strange girl and her father. Their warning about what the Stantons will have to sacrifice for their new, comfortable life sends Jim racing back to his family-and a perilous search through the lab. Project: A Perfect World is a gripping part of the Gary Paulsen World of Adventure series. Combining plenty of action with a story that is part suspense, part science fiction, it will attract listeners of all ages. Don’t miss the mind control survival guide at the conclusion of this fast-paced tale.

A summer adventure you’ll never forget, from a beloved Newbery Honor winning author!

Dad and Ben haven’t been getting along lately, and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad’s scheme, and he’s got ideas of his own. Like inviting his buddy, Theo, who’s sure to get into fun (and trouble) along the way. And if Dad wants a family road trip, then the family dog, Atticus, should get to come, too. What could go wrong?

But when their truck breaks down, the family trip takes plenty of unexpected turns. Before they know it, they’ve commandeered an old school bus and joined forces with its cranky mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run from something bad—and someone is following them. 

With alternating chapters from both Ben and his dog, Atticus, this fast-paced book takes readers on an unpredictable ride that’s all about family, friendship, and surprises.

Brett and Tom are crazy about video games. In fact, they became best friends when they discovered that they could beat all their opponents. Now they’re ready to take on the best one of all-Rodomonte’s Revenge-a new virtual reality game that just opened in the mall. Fire rivers, enormous buzz-bugs, impossible cliffs, and a treasure-filled castle are all exciting parts of the skill levels. But when the game begins to take over Brett and Tom’s minds, they fear that they might become a permanent part of the action. In a terrifying virtual landscape, the two boys must conquer the program, or suffer very real consequences. The Gary Paulsen World of Adventure series whirls reluctant readers into the joys of reading. Filled with believable characters and deftly narrated by Jeff Woodman, each adventure delivers nonstop excitement. Rodomonte’s Revenge also includes a useful guide to video game survival.

As the Civil War rages around the plantation where Sarny lives, she hears of other slaves running away. They are following the sparkling drinking gourd in the northern sky to freedom. She longs to go wherever she wants and to be allowed to read books, just like the freed slaves. But she has a young son and daughter to look after. When the master sells her children to a stranger, Sarny waits for an opportunity to sneak away to search for them. Her chance comes after a Union soldier kills the master. But is it too late for Sarny to find her family? A turbulent time in America’s history bursts colorfully from the pages with award-winning author Gary Paulsen’s masterful storytelling. Sarny is his riveting account of an African-American woman’s life story from the Civil War days until the early 1930s. Narrator Lynne Thigpen’s stunning performance puts you on the scene with Sarny as she builds a new life in the chaotic aftermath of the war. Also available by Gary Paulsen: Nightjohn.

From three-time Newbery Honor author Gary Paulsen comes a laugh-out-loud novel about six wacky misfits who get stuck together in a school restroom and discover friendship.

It seemed like a normal school day, until a horrible storm forced the very cautious school administration to make everyone hole up in a safe place. Six students find themselves stuck in a tiny, questionably smelly space–a school bathroom–with a stuffed cat for entertainment. Hijinks ensue and the unexpected happens. They enter as strangers…and leave as friends.

Get to know the story even better with a special script that accompanies the novel, so any six kids can get together with their friends and perform the story anywhere they’d like.

Thirteen-year-old Jesse Rodriguez has learned everything he needs to know about skydiving by working at the small airport near his home. As soon as he turns sixteen, he’ll make his first jump. His new friend, Robin, is training to skydive, even though she really prefers photography to parachutes. One day, while visiting Jesse at the airstrip, she unintentionally takes some pictures of several drug dealers disembarking from a small plane. Suddenly, the two teenagers find themselves on a flight that may force them to make their first jump much sooner than they expect. There’s plenty of action, suspense, and fascinating information about skydiving in this journey into the Gary Paulsen World of Adventure. In each of his books, the Newbery Award-winning author continues to respond to young readers’ requests for exciting tales of challenge and danger.

Gary Paulsen introduces readers to Charley Goddard in his latest novel, Soldier’s Heart.  Charley goes to war a boy, and returns a changed man, crippled by what he has seen.  In this captivating tale Paulsen vividly shows readers the turmoil of war through one boy’s eyes and one boy’s heart, and gives a voice to all the anonymous young men who fought in the Civil War.

In 1944, a little boy travels to Minnesota to live with his grandma, a Norwegian-American woman who cooks for the men who are building a road to Canada. Award-winning storyteller Gary Paulsen reveals the boy’s adventures with poignant honesty and adventurous spirit.

A critically acclaimed tearjerker from a master storyteller: On one side of the border is brutality and heartache; on the other side–a new life. 14yo Manny is an orphan in Juarez, Mexico. He competes with his bigger, meaner rivals for the coins American tourists throw off the bridge between Texas and his town. Across that heavily guarded bridge await a different world and a better existence. On the night when Manny dares the crossing–through the muddy shallows of the Rio Grande, past the searchlights and the border patrol–the young man encounters an old stranger who could prove to be an ally or an enemy. Manny can’t tell for certain. But if he is to achieve his dream, then he must be willing to risk everything–even his life.

Carl and his 15-year-old cousin stumble into a clearing to find the small tarpaper shack with the smoke coming out of the chimney. It may belong to a trapper. Or it could belong to a woodsy-a man who live in the woods because he can’t be with other people. But with night advancing quickly, the boys know they must find shelter from the coming storm-and fast. And that’s how they first meet the Foxman, a strange recluse with a face hideously deformed by a wartime injury. While Carl is just as glad to leave the shack after the storm, his cousin feels strangely drawn to the tragic figure of the Foxman. They share emotional ties even Carl doesn’t understand, let alone his parents. For the next few months this troubled boy returns to the shack, searching for some bit of knowledge that will explain the tragedy and healing that keep the Foxman alive-and that he can apply to his own painful past.

A Gary Paulsen World of Adventure book, The Gorgon Slayer takes young listeners into the exciting world of ancient heroes and monsters. A horrid shriek erupted from behind the stairs, and clammy, leathery wings exploded into Warren’s face. He slammed his eyes shut and beat the Gorgon off, hearing Rick’s sword swish through empty air. Warren dove back, rolled on his shoulder, and came up clear, his sword slicing in every direction. With his turned-up nose and pointy ears, Warren Trumbull looks a lot like a pig. Even in a world of evil warlocks and eight-foot cyclops, Warren is an oddball. He gets the worst assignments working for Prince Charming’s Damsel in Distress Rescue Agency: assignments like exterminating a Gorgon-a mean, green, scaly, creature with the power to turn humans to stone. Warren doesn’t want to become a rockhead. But he’ll need all his courage, and surprising secret weapon, to win his wildest battle ever!

Fourteen-year-old John Barron is asked, like his father and grandfather before him, to spend the summer taking care of their sheep in the haymeadow. Six thousand sheep. John will be alone, except for two horses, four dogs, and all those sheep.

John doesn’t feel up to the task, but he hopes that if he can accomplish it, he will finally please his father. But John finds that the adage “things just to sheep” is true when the river floods, coyotes attack, and one dog’s feet get cut. Through it all he must rely on his own resourcefulness, ingenuity, and talents to survive this summer in the haymeadow.

When his family packs up and moves from the city to a small town deep in the Wisconsin countryside, 15-year-old Wil Neuton makes an exhilarating discovery. He finds a small island on a nearby lake, a place where he can be alone and learn to know nature-and himself. On his island, he can write, paint, and watch the loons and fish in the lake. Wil can’t stay away from the outside world forever, though. Sooner or later, he must return and face the bully determined to fight him and his bickering parents, who worry when Wil decides to stay on the island indefinitely. Can Wil bridge the growing gap between himself and the rest of the world? Lyric and reflective, Newbery Honor-winner Gary Paulsen’s tale displays all the adventurous spirit and wholesome optimism that have made his books so popular.

William Little Bear Tucker and his friend, Sarah, love to explore the caverns of the Sacramento Mountains. Some day the two youngsters hope to find the cave that holds a golden Apache statue that vanished long ago. But one afternoon, when they discover some spectacular rooms in one of the caverns, they also realize that they aren’t alone. Suddenly, armed bandits, the spirit of a headless Indian brave, and bottomless pits are lurking in the darkness that surrounds the two intrepid explorers. They have only a few tools and supplies. Can they be clever enough to find an exit from both the maze-like cave and the dangerous men? Gary Paulsen has won many awards, including three Newbery Honors for his popular books. His stories are always filled with suspense, action, and colorful settings. After you finish listening to The Legend of Red Horse Cavern, you’ll want to enjoy more of the hair-raising tales in Gary Paulsen World of Adventure.

When Janet’s parents divorce, the 15-year-old moved with her mother to the isolated artist colony in Tres Pinos, New Mexico. As the only Anglo girl in her class, Janet feels like an outsider. At night she dreams of an exquisite moonlit stream. On its banks a delicate doe gently sips from the cool waters. Then an Indian warrior appears, an almost poetic vision from a past tie with his bow drawn, ready to strike. Janet’s first encounter with a local Indian proves to be anything but dramatic. Dirty and in desperate need of a drink, Billy Honcho doesn’t meet a tourist’s definition of an Indian brave-yet Janet feels inexplicably drawn to him. As they forge an unusual and dangerous relationship, Janet wonders if the old alcoholic Indian might actually be the warrior haunting her dreams? Nearly four million copies of Paulsen’s young adult books are in print in the U.S. alone. Paulsen has been a teacher, trapper, soldier, actor, truck driver, satellite tracker, sailor, and an alcoholic-an unfortunate experience he brings to this splendid story of redemption.

In this wonderfully crafted novel, a rifle, not the people who come to own it, is the main character. This story follows the rifle from its creation in 1768 to a shattering event as it roars back to life in 1994. Gary Paulsen is one of the most popular writers of young adult fiction in America today.

The government sends Brian back to the Canadian wilderness in this beloved follow-up to the award-winning classic Hatchet from three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen!
 
Two years after Brian Robeson survived fifty-four days alone in the Canadian wilderness, the government wants him to head back so they can learn what he did to stay alive. This time Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, will accompany him. But a freak storm leaves Derek unconscious. Brian’s only hope is to transport Derek a hundred miles down the river to a trading post. He’s survived with only a hatchet before–now can Brian build a raft and navigate an unknown river?
 
For the first time it’s not only Brian’s survival that’s at stake. . .
 

An IRA-CBC Children’s Choice
A Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year
 

“Vividly written, a book that will, as intended, please the readers who hoped that Paulsen, like Brian, would ‘do it again.’” —Kirkus Reviews

Read all the Hatchet Adventures!
Brian’s Winter
The River
Brian’s Return
Brian’s Hunt

Rick, J.D., and Spud are the Rock Jockeys. They have been practicing their climbing skills for months. Now they’re ready to tackle the sheer mountain face known as Devil’s Wall. Their equipment is in top shape; supplies are packed. With teamwork and perseverance, they hope to reach the top by nightfall. As they climb, the Rock Jockeys recall the rumors about a B-17 bomber that crashed somewhere on the mountain. But as they suddenly stumble upon the empty wreckage, they wonder: What happened to the men inside? What were they willing to do to survive? The eerie answers to these questions unearth a gruesome secret hidden for years. Gary Paulsen World of Adventure books offer children the fast-paced, exciting stories they love to read and hear. In addition to sheer thrills, The Rock Jockeys also provides valuable information on climbing equipment, techniques, and safety. Narrator Jeff Woodman captures every moment of the young climbers’ wonder and surprise.

Thirteen-year-old Mark Harrison has a week to hike across the desert. He will meet his parents on the other side. By his fourth day, he’s made good time. As he settles in for the night, he gazes up at the stars, feeling completely content. Suddenly, a blue light streams from the sky, jolting Mark into another dimension. Now, in a land filled with strange jungle animals and primitive tribes, Mark desperately battles hunger, armed enemies, and superhuman powers. To find the way back to his own world, Mark will need to find greater resources and strength-but time is running out. Gary Paulsen has written dozens of books for young people. His tales of adventure and survival have won the enthusiastic praise of young adults across the country and many awards, including three Newbery Honors and a Golden Spur award. In this imaginative story, Johnny Heller’s narration keeps you close by the resourceful young teenager’s side.

For the last few years, 13-year-old Tag Jones has been running the family bait shop on the sandy Bermuda beach. He has been helping earn money ever since his father died in a scuba diving accident while searching for a legendary Spanish shipwreck. Whenever he has free time, he dives with his best friend in the azure water above the hazardous coral reefs. Tag can’t believe his good luck when two wealthy tourists rent fishing equipment and give him a 20-dollar tip. But the men don’t seem to know anything about fishing. As Tag wonders what these strangers are really doing, the boys suddenly find themselves in dangerous water, way over their heads. Gary Paulsen, Newbery Honor-winning author, entertains young people with his fast-paced World of Adventure series. Filled with excitement and deep-sea diving lore, The Treasure of El PatrOn captivates the interests of readers of all abilities.

“I am going to be cremated. I want you to take my ashes out alone on the Frog, out to sea alone, and leave me there. Take me to where you can’t see land and scatter my ashes there on the water .” 14-year-old David Alspeth is the owner of a 22-foot sailboat, an inheritance from his uncle Owen, who recently died of cancer. Uncle Owen’s last request before he died was that David should take his ashes out to sea, a job David would give anything to avoid. When he finally sets sail on calm, clear evening, David feels the weight of what he must do all around him. He can’t imagine life without Owen. David completes his task, but on the return trip home he is caught unawares by a freak storm. Stranded, with no compass, no radio, and only a few cans of food, it seems as if things couldn’t get any worse. But they do.

This story of two Norwegian-American farm boys who discover the remarkable magic of storytelling is vintage Gary Paulsen-earthy, gritty, and ultimately poignant. Following the turn of the seasons, eleven year old Eldon traces the daily routines of his life on a farm and his relationship with his older brother Wayne. During the winter, with little work to be done on the farm, Eldon and Wayne spend the quiet hours with their family, listening to their Uncle David’s stories. But Eldon soon learns that, although he has lived on the same farm, in the same house with his uncle for eleven springs, summers, and winters, he hardly knows him.

In the National Book Award longlist book This Side of Wild, Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen shares surprising true stories about his relationship with animals, highlighting their compassion, intellect, intuition, and sense of adventure.

Gary Paulsen is an adventurer who competed in two Iditarods, survived the Minnesota wilderness, and climbed the Bighorns. None of this would have been possible without his truest companions: his animals. Sled dogs rescued him in Alaska, a sickened poodle guarded his well-being, and a horse led him across a desert. Through his interactions with dogs, horses, birds, and more, Gary has been struck with the belief that animals know more than we may fathom.

His understanding and admiration of animals is well known, and in This Side of Wild, which has taken a lifetime to write, he proves the ways in which they have taught him to be a better person.

Every winter, John Borne looked forward to the days when he and his grandfather headed into the snowy Minnesota woods to hunt together. John admired the reverent, familiar way the old man had with the woods. But this year his grandfather is dying and 13-year-old John must make the hunt alone. Without his beloved grandfather, the hunt is cold and lonely-until John spots the doe watching and waiting for him in the clearing. She is an easy target, but as John raises his rifle to shoot, he knows he cannot kill the vulnerable creature. There is something strangely familiar about this doe, something that John recognizes in her eyes that stops him. Vivid and reflective, Newbery Honor-winner Gary Paulsen’s tale of a boy coming to terms with death displays the wholesome optimism and the adventurous spirit that makes his books so popular.

In 1848, Francis Tucket was stolen from his family while they were travelling west along the Oregon Trail. After his escape, he spent a year learning the ways of the land from a one-armed mountain man. Trying to catch up with his family again, Francis found two stranded children, Lottie and Billy. Together, they’re facing the dangers of the old West while making their way to Oregon. In this exciting continuation of the story from Mr. Tucket, Call Me Francis Tucket, and Tucket’s Ride, Francis, Lottie, and Billy race to escape the outlaw Comancheros, discover hidden gold, and find a lost cliff city. As they struggle to survive, they discover that by working together, they can accomplish nearly anything. Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen fills this exciting, historically accurate adventure with gritty, realistic details. Narrator John Randolph Jones portrays each thrilling new encounter with zest.

Fifteen-year-old Francis Tucket has been searching for his parents ever since Pawnees kidnapped him from their wagon train on the Oregon Trail. He owes his survival to a one-armed mountain man, Jason Grimes, who came to his rescue. Now Francis owes his life to the mountain man once again. Unfortunately, it’s a debt he’ll never be able to repay. Grimes is killed defending Francis and his young friends, Lottie and Billy, from a band of marauding robbers. As the three young people approach the end of their journey, they wonder if they can make it across the raging Columbia River. But a friendly young Indian offers Francis some good advice. Newbery Award-winning author Gary Paulsen skillfully juxtaposes exciting adventure with the dangers endured by pioneers on the Oregon Trail. This tale of heroism and courage is also a realistic look at the hardships endured by early settlers. John Randolf Jones’ expert narration provides the perfect climax to this fifth and final book in the Francis Tucket saga.

Francis Tucket’s life has been exciting ever since his family headed to Oregon in a wagon train. First he was kidnapped by Pawnee Indians. Then Mr. Grimes, a one-armed mountain, man rescued him and taught him wilderness survival skills. Later when Francis set off alone to find his parents on the Oregon Trail, he ended up rescuing two young children stranded in the barren land. Now in Tucket’s Ride, winter is forcing 15-year-old Francis to take Lottie and Billy south to avoid snowy mountains. Soon they are in the midst of a war between Mexico and the United States! But Francis’ troubles really begin when they meet up with the West’s most ruthless outlaw band, the Comancheros. Newbery Honor winner Gary Paulsen spins tales of the American frontier in the 1840s with realistic details and gritty honesty. Tucket’s Ride continues Francis’ action-packed adventure series that begins with Mr. Tucket , then Call Me Francis Tucket.

Fueled by a passion for running dogs, Gary Paulsen entered the Iditarod-the eleven hundred and eighty mile sled-dog race through the Alaskan wilderness-in dangerous ignorance and with a fierce determination. For seventeen days, he and his team of dogs endured blinding wind, snowstorms, frostbite, dogfights, moose attacks, sleeplessness, hallucinations-and the relentless push to go on. Winterdance is the enthralling account of a “stunning wilderness journey of discovery and transformation” (Chicago Tribune), lived and told by “the best author of man-against-nature adventures writing today” (Publishers Weekly).

Samuel, 13, spends his days in the forest, hunting for food for his family. He has grown up on the frontier of a British colony, America. Far from any town, or news of the war against the King that American patriots have begun near Boston.

But the war comes to them. British soldiers and Iroquois attack. Samuel’s parents are taken away, prisoners. Samuel follows, hiding, moving silently, determined to find a way to rescue them. Each day he confronts the enemy, and the tragedy and horror of this war. But he also discovers allies, men and women working secretly for the patriot cause. And he learns that he must go deep into enemy territory to find his parents: all the way to the British headquarters, New York City.

The award-winning creator of popular survival stories turns his attention to his own real life adventures in Minnesota and Alaska as he prepares for the grueling Iditarod sled dog race.

“The lure of the wilderness is always a potent draw, and Paulsen evokes its mysteries as well as anyone has since Jack London.” (The Horn Book)