Gone to the Woods: A True Story of Growing Up in the Wild

It might seem unlikely that such an unflinching account could have an uplifting effect. Yet it does. A child may grow up in privation, and he may grow up in ease, but suffering comes to all. Through his example, Gary Paulsen models how it can be overcome. * The Wall Street Journal *
Leaves you gritting your teeth and clutching the pages … Beautiful language … stunning detail … Haunted me as a reader. * The New York Times Book Review *
Recalls many tense and dangerous moments. Readers will find themselves turning the pages quickly to see what happens next and whether the boy survives, perhaps forgetting that this is the life story of a popular author now 81 years old. * The Washington Post *
A rich, compelling read that is emotive and expressive without forcing empathy from the reader. Both brightly funny and darkly tragic, it is fresh in its honest portrayal of difficult themes.Readers will fall into this narrative of succeeding against overwhelming odds amid deep trauma. – Kirkus, starred review
A riveting, hopeful survival story about personal resilience amid trauma * Publishers Weekly *
Beautifully written, Paulsen’s memoir demonstrates that good can triumph over bad beginnings. With three Newbery Awards in his rucksack, Paulsen writes reliably great books, and everybody will want to get their hands on his latest. * Booklist *
In a memoir that reads like the fiction that has made him famous, Gary Paulsen leads his audience through the rugged terrain of his childhood, a period that profoundly inspired his Newbery Honor-winning classic wilderness and survival stories The Winter Room, Hatchet and Dogsong. * Shelf Awareness, starred review *
Resonant themes and beautiful writing. * Horn Book, starred review *

Gary Paulsen (1939-2021) wrote more than two hundred books for children and adults. Three of his novels - Hatchet, Dogsong, and The Winter Room - were Newbery Honor books. In 1997, he received the ALA’s Margaret A. Edwards Award for his contribution to young adult literature. His books have sold over 35 million copies around the world.

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