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.
The wonderful grandmother whom listeners saw through the eyes of a young boy in The Cookcamp reaches out to him when he is fourteen, offering him a haven from his harsh and painful family life. She arranges a summer job for him on the farm where she is a cook for bachelor brothers Gunnar and Olaf. Farm life offers the camaraderie and the routine of hard work, as well as good food, peaceful evenings spent making music together, and even dancing lessons. Life with Alida gives the boy strength and faith in himself, drawing him away from the edge and into the center of life.
Millions of readers of Hatchet, The River, Brian's Winter, and Brian's Return know that Brian Robeson is at home in the Canadian wilderness. He has stood up to the challenge of surviving alone in the woods. He prefers being on his own in the natural world to civilization. When Brian finds a dog one night, a dog that is wounded and whimpering, he senses danger. The dog is badly hurt, and as Brian cares for it, he worries about his Cree friends who live north of his camp. His instincts tell him to head north, quickly. With his new companion at his side, and with a terrible, growing sense of unease, he sets out to learn what happened. He sets out on the hunt.
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 in civilization, he can't find a way to make sense of high school life. He feels disconnected, more isolated than he did alone in the North. The only answer is to return-to "go back in"-for only in the wilderness can Brian discover his true path in life, and where he belongs.
In Hatchet, 13-year-old Brian Robeson learned to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness, armed only with his hatchet. He was rescued at the end of the summer. Brian's Winter begins where Hatchet might have ended: Brian is not rescued, but must build on his survival skills to face his deadliest enemy--a northern winter.
In 1848, fourteenyearold Francis Tucket was kidnapped from an Oregonbound wagon train by a Pawnee hunting party. But a onearmed 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 ownto follow the dangerous trail to Oregon and find his family. Francis thinks he can handle just about anythingbuffalo stampedes, guntoting 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 actionpacked 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.From the Paperback edition.
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.
Another such wave could easily be the end of us I had to do something, fix something, save the boat, save myself. But what? Gary Paulsen takes readers along on his maiden voyage, proving that ignorance can be bliss. Also really stupid and incredibly dangerous. He tells of boats that owned him, good, bad, and beloved, and how they got him through terrifying storms that he survived by sheer luck. His spare prose conjures up shark surprises and killer waves as well as moonlight on the sea, and makes readers feel what it's like to sail under the stars or to lie at anchor in a tropical lagoon where dolphins leap, bathed in silver. Falling in love with the ocean set Gary Paulsen on a lifelong learning curve, and readers will understand why his passion has lasted to this day. *"Slashes of humor help weather the rough seas in this memoir that will appeal to reluctant readers and boaters of all ages" - Voice of Youth Advocates, starred
Every time Kevin Spencer sees Tina Zabinski, the Most Beautiful Girl in the World, he's in danger of tripping, falling, and making a fool of himself. He can hardly say a word to her. But Kev knows he'd be the perfect boyfriend for Tina. He's not bragging. Just pointing out the obvious.
Kev decides to take a scientific approach to getting a date with Tina. After all, love is based on chemistry. When new kid Cash Devine zeroes in on Tina, Kevin hustles to find the formula that will make her forget all about Cash.
In Gary Paulsen's companion to Liar, Liar and Flat Broke, Kevin's experiments in true love are truly hilarious.
In the winter, life in McKinley, Minnesota, revolves around the rinks, where kids play hockey and grown-ups skate to scratchy phonograph records. Then, the year Marsh and his best friend, Willy, are twelve, Carl appears at the rink, wearing a battered, old leather flight jacket and doing a strange dance that is both beautiful and disturbing to watch. It is Marsh and Willy who discover the terrible secret behind Carl's dance, a secret that threatens to destroy him. But a small miracle occurs, and Carl's dance becomes a fragile and tentative expression of hope and the healing power of love. An ALA Best Book for Young Adults "Filled with poetry and with life . . . an insightful, beautifully written story." - Horn Book
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.
