HATCHET

1. HATCHET BY GARY PAULSEN

2. GARY PAULSEN Gary Paulsen was born in Minnesota in 1939 and still lives there part time with his wife and son. He writes survivor stories for young adults—and has been there, done that, himself.

3. A GOOD STUDENT? • He was not a good student, but enjoyed reading. At 14, he ran away from home to travel with a carnival. He had several different jobs and was even in the Iditarod. These experiences have provided ample material from which he creates his powerful stories. • .

4. A BORN WRITER? NOT! • HE FAKED HIS RESUME TO GET A WRITING JOB AT A MEN’S MAGAZINE. HE WROTE AN ARTICLE A NIGHT FOR THE NEXT YEAR. HIS EDITORS LOOKED OVER THE ARTICLES AND ACCEPTED ONE AFTER 11 MONTHS. • HE WON A NEWBERRY HONOR MEDAL IN 1986 FOR DOGSONG.

5. HATCHET • HATCHET ALSO WON A NEWBERY HONOR MEDAL • THE STORY WAS SO REAL THAT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE CALLED PAULSEN TO GET THE BOY’S NAME. PAULSEN HAD TO TELL THEM IT WAS ONLY A STORY.

6. AFTER HATCHET • THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR SEQUELS TO HATCHET: THE RIVER, WHICH PICKS UP THE STORY A YEAR LATER; BRIAN'S WINTER, A "WHAT-IF" SEQUEL (WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE RIVER SEQUEL HAD NOT OCCURRED) AND WRITTEN IN RESPONSE TO ALL THE "SEQUEL-LETTERS" HE RECEIVED FROM FANS; BRIAN'S RETURN; AND BRIAN'S HUNT (2004).

7. AWARDS • Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year • ALA Best Books for Young Adults • ALA Quick Picks • IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award • ALA Notable Children's Book • Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ADtOjxmRs

8. PAULSEN NOW • PAULSEN MOVED TO NEW MEXICO FOR HIS HEALTH AND WROTE A BOOK A YEAR. • HE THEN MOVED BACK TO ALASKA WHERE HE WENT BACK TO RUNNING DOGS. • http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/paulsen-2.html