Gary Paulsen

Gary Paulsen

Gary Paulsen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on May 17th, 1939 and passed away at the age of 82 on October 13th, 2021.

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Gary Paulsen Stats: The highest rated book by Gary Paulsen on Book Notification is Hatchet, the first novel in the Brian Robeson series. The second-highest rated book is The River / The Return (Brian Robeson #2).

The most read book by Gary Paulsen on Book Notification is Hatchet, the first novel in the Brian Robeson series. The second most read book is The River / The Return (Brian Robeson #2).

Below is a complete list of Gary Paulsen books in publication and chronological order, broken down by series. The most popular series by Gary Paulsen is the Brian Robeson Series.

List of Francis Tucket Books in Publication Order

A boy captured by Pawnees heads west to find his family, adopts two children, and faces outlaws, war, and prairie dangers.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
Mr. Tucket / Chance for Escape
1994
Go
2
Call Me Francis Tucket
1995
Go
3
Tucket's Ride
1997
Go
4
Tucket's Home
1998
Go
5
Tucket's Gold
1999
Go

List of Lt. Ronnie Gold Books in Publication Order

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
The Sweeper
1981
Go
2
Clutterkill
1991
Go

List of Brian Robeson Books in Publication Order

A boy repeatedly endures survival challenges in the Canadian wilderness.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
7.1
Hatchet
1986
Go
2
7
The River / The Return
1991
Go
3
8
Brian's Winter / Winter
1996
Go
4
6
Brian's Return / The Call
1999
Go
5
7
Brian's Hunt
2003
Go

List of Murphy Books in Publication Order

Ranked by popularity, the top Murphy books are Murphy's Gold, Murphy's War, and Murphy's Herd.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
Murphy
1987
Go
2
Murphy's Gold
1988
Go
3
Murphy's Herd
1989
Go
4
Murphy's War
1990
Go
5
Murphy's Stand (With: Brian Burks)
1993
Go
6
Murphy's Ambush (With: Brian Burks)
1995
Go
7
Murphy's Trail (With: Brian Burks)
1996
Go

List of Tales to Tickle the Funnybone Books in Publication Order

Kids stumble through wildly funny, everyday disasters and unexpected adventures.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
The Boy Who Owned the School
1990
Go
2
6
Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered
1993
Go
3
6
The Schernoff Discoveries
1997
Go
4
The Glass Cafe
2003
Go
5
4
Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day
2004
Go
6
The Amazing Life of Birds: The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech
2006
Go

List of Alida Books in Publication Order

A boy finds refuge with his grandmother on a farm, where hard work, music, and her love help him heal and grow stronger.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
8
The Cookcamp
1991
Go
2
Alida's Song
1999
Go
3
The Quilt
2004
Go

List of Duncan Culpepper Books in Publication Order

Dunc and Amos find adventure when a pet store parrot speaks four languages and has outlived ten owners.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
The Case of the Dirty Bird
1992
Go
2
Dunc's Doll
1992
Go
3
Culpepper's Cannon
1992
Go
4
Dunc Gets Tweaked
1992
Go
5
Dunc's Halloween
1992
Go
6
Dunc Breaks the Record
1992
Go
7
Dunc and the Flaming Ghost
1992
Go
8
Amos Gets Famous
1992
Go
9
Dunc and Amos Hit the Big Top
1993
Go
10
Dunc's Dump
1993
Go
11
Dunc and the Scam Artists
1993
Go
12
Dunc and Amos and the Red Tattoos
1993
Go
13
Dunc's Undercover Christmas
1993
Go
14
Dunc and the Haunted Castle
1993
Go
15
Cowpokes and Desperados
1993
Go
16
The Wild Culpepper Cruise
1993
Go
17
Prince Amos
1994
Go
18
Coach Amos
1994
Go
19
Amos and the Alien
1994
Go
20
Dunc and Amos Meet the Slasher
1994
Go
21
Dunc and the Greased Sticks of Doom
1994
Go
22
Amos's Killer Concert Caper
1994
Go
23
Amos Gets Married
1995
Go
24
Amos Goes Bananas
1996
Go
25
Dunc and Amos Go to the Dogs
1996
Go
26
Amos and the Vampire
1996
Go
27
Amos and the Chameleon Caper
1996
Go
28
Amos Binder, Secret Agent
1996
Go
29
Dunc and Amos on Thin Ice
1997
Go
30
Super Amos
1997
Go

List of Nightjohn Books in Publication Order

Sarny learns to read from Nightjohn, escapes slavery after the Civil War, and begins a new life.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
6
Nightjohn
1993
Go
2
Sarny
1997
Go

List of World Of Adventure Books in Publication Order

Ranked by popularity, the top World Of Adventure books are Escape from Fire Mountain, The Gorgon Slayer, and Thunder Valley.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
The Legend of Red Horse Cavern
1994
Go
2
Rodomonte's Revenge / Video Trap
1994
Go
3
Escape from Fire Mountain
1994
Go
4
The Rock Jockeys / Devil's Wall
1995
Go
5
The Gorgon Slayer
1995
Go
6
Hook 'Em Snotty
1995
Go
7
Danger on Midnight River
1995
Go
8
Captive!
1995
Go
9
Project: A Perfect World / Perfect Danger
1996
Go
10
The Treasure of El Patron / Treasure Ship
1996
Go
11
Skydive!
1996
Go
12
The Seventh Crystal
1996
Go
13
The Creature of Black Water Lake
1997
Go
14
Time Benders
1997
Go
15
Grizzly
1997
Go
16
Thunder Valley
1997
Go
17
Curse of the Ruins
1998
Go
18
Flight of the Hawk
1998
Go

List of Lawn Boy Books in Publication Order

A boy's summer lawn-mowing business explodes into big money, investments, and unexpected adventures.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
8
Lawn Boy
2007
Go
2
Lawn Boy Returns
2010
Go

List of Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties Of...Books in Publication Order

Ranked by popularity, the top Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties Of...Series books are Liar, Liar, Flat Broke, and Crush.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
Liar, Liar
2011
Go
2
Flat Broke
2011
Go
3
Crush
2012
Go
4
Vote
2013
Go

List of Road Trip Books in Publication Order (with Jim Paulsen)

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
Road Trip
2013
Go
2
Field Trip
2015
Go

List of Liar, Liar Books in Publication Order

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
Family Ties
2014
Go

List of Standalone Novels in Publication Order

Ranked by popularity, the top standalone books are The Haymeadow / The Fourteenth Summer, Soldier's Heart, and Woods Runner.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
Some Birds Don't Fly
1968
Go
2
Winterkill
1976
Go
3
The Implosion Effect
1976
Go
4
The Death Specialists
1976
Go
5
The Foxman
1977
Go
6
Tiltawhirl John / Tasting the Thunder
1977
Go
7
The Golden Stick
1977
Go
8
CB Jockey / The C.B. Radio Caper
1977
Go
9
The Curse of the Cobra
1977
Go
10
The Green Recruit
1978
Go
11
Tracker
1978
Go
12
The Night the White Deer Died
1978
Go
13
Meteorite Track 291
1979
Go
14
The Spitball Gang
1980
Go
15
Compkill
1981
Go
16
Dancing Carl
1983
Go
17
Popcorn Days and Buttermilk Nights
1983
Go
18
10
Dogsong
1985
Go
19
Sentries
1986
Go
20
The Crossing
1987
Go
21
8
The Island
1988
Go
22
The Voyage of the Frog
1989
Go
23
8
The Winter Room
1989
Go
24
Night Rituals
1989
Go
25
Kill Fee
1990
Go
26
Canyons
1990
Go
27
The Monument
1991
Go
28
7.5
The Haymeadow / The Fourteenth Summer
1992
Go
29
Clabbered Dirt, Sweet Grass
1992
Go
30
A Christmas Sonata
1992
Go
31
Sisters/Hermanas
1993
Go
32
8
The Car
1994
Go
33
The Tent
1995
Go
34
6
The Rifle
1995
Go
35
Ice Race
1997
Go
36
The Transall Saga / Blue Light
1998
Go
37
8
Soldier's Heart
1998
Go
38
The White Fox Chronicles / White Fox
2000
Go
39
The Beet Fields
2000
Go
40
The Time Hackers
2005
Go
41
The Legend of Bass Reeves
2006
Go
42
Notes from the Dog
2009
Go
43
6
Mudshark
2009
Go
44
7
Woods Runner
2009
Go
45
Masters of Disaster
2011
Go
46
10
This Side of Wild
2015
Go
47
10
Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat
2016
Go
48
Fishbone's Song
2016
Go
49
Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood
2021
Go
50
8
How to Train Your Dad
2021
Go
51
8
Northwind
2022
Go

List of Picture Books in Publication Order

Ranked by popularity, the top picture books are Dogteam, Work Song, and Canoe Days.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
Dogteam
1993
Go
2
The Tortilla Factory
1995
Go
3
Work Song
1997
Go
4
Canoe Days
1999
Go

List of Short Story Collections in Publication Order

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
All Aboard Stage 5 Traditional Tales
1998
Go
2
Paintings from the Cave
2011
Go

List of Non-Fiction Books in Publication Order

Ranked by popularity, the top non-fiction books are Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod, Guts: The True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books, and Woodsong.

ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
Building a New, Buying an Old, Remodeling a Used Home/Shelter How-to-Do-It Book
1976
Go
2
Martin Luther King, the Man Who Climbed the Mountain
1976
Go
3
The Small Ones
1976
Go
4
Hitting, Pitching, and Running--Maybe
1976
Go
5
Dribbling, Shooting, and Scoring--Sometimes
1976
Go
6
Riding, Roping, and Bulldogging--Almost
1977
Go
7
Farm: A History and Celebration of the American Farmer
1977
Go
8
Tackling, Running, and Kicking - Now and Again
1977
Go
9
Forehanding and Backhanding--If You're Lucky
1978
Go
10
Hiking and Backpacking
1978
Go
11
Successful Home Repair
1978
Go
12
Canoeing, Kayaking, and Rafting
1979
Go
13
Downhill, Hotdogging, and Cross-Country If the Snow Isn't Sticky
1979
Go
14
Full of Hot Air / Launching, Floating High and Landing
1979
Go
15
Track, Enduro, and Motocross--Unless You Fall Over
1979
Go
16
Pummeling, Falling, and Getting Up Sometimes
1979
Go
17
Athletics
1980
Go
18
Ice Hockey
1980
Go
19
Motor Cycling
1980
Go
20
Skiing
1980
Go
21
Tennis
1980
Go
22
Sailing
1981
Go
23
Money Saving Home Repair Guide
1981
Go
24
Beat the System
1982
Go
25
6
Woodsong
1990
Go
26
Eastern Sun, Winter Moon
1993
Go
27
Madonna Stories
1993
Go
28
9
Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod
1994
Go
29
Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers
1996
Go
30
My Life in Dog Years
1997
Go
31
Pilgrimage on a Steel Ride / Zero to Sixty
1997
Go
32
Caught by the Sea: My Life on Boats
2001
Go
33
6
Guts: The True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books
2001
Go
34
How Angel Peterson Got His Name and Other Outrageous Tales About Extreme Sports
2003
Go
35
Father Water, Mother Woods
2012
Go

List of Gary Paulsen Anthologies in Publication Order

#ReadTitle Avg.YearBook Link
1
Shelf Life: Stories by the Book
2003
Go
Show All Anthologies
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Gary Paulsen

Gary Paulsen (Gary James Paulsen) was born on May 17th, 1939. Gary passed away October 13th, 2021 at 82 years old. Gary Paulsen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Gary Paulsen is known for writing in the Adventure Fiction genre.

Gary Paulsen had written 51 standalone novels, starting with Some Birds Don't Fly in 1968. The most recently released novel was Northwind, which was released in 2022.

Gary Paulsen also wrote 35 Non-Fiction Books, including Building a New, Buying an Old, Remodeling a Used Home/Shelter How-to-Do-It Book and Martin Luther King, the Man Who Climbed the Mountain.

Gary Paulsen: Awards & Accolades

Paulsen's books have won multiple awards, Dogsong won the John Newbery Medal Awards, Newbery Honor, in 1986. Hatchet won the John Newbery Medal Awards, Newbery Honor, in 1988. The Winter Room won the John Newbery Medal Awards, Newbery Honor, in 1990. The Haymeadow / The Fourteenth Summer won the Spur Awards, Best Western Juvenile Fiction, in 1992.

Paulsen's book, Soldier's Heart was nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Best Young Adult Literature, in 1998.

Gary Paulsen: Lists & Other Mentions

  • Hatchet:
    1. Wall Street Journal: The 25 Best Mystery Novels of the Past 25 Years Selection in 2025.
    2. PBS: The Great American Read Selection in 2018.

Related Authors

Fans of Gary Paulsen also enjoy these authors:

  1. Andy Weir, author of: Project Hail Mary.
  2. William Golding, author of: Lord of the Flies.
  3. Yann Martel, author of: Life of Pi.
  4. Jules Verne, author of the Voyages Extraordinaires Series.
  5. Jack London, author of: The Call of the Wild.
  6. Alan Dean Foster, author of the Pip & Flinx Series.
  7. Daniel Defoe, author of the Robinson Crusoe Series.
  8. Scott O'Dell, author of the Island of the Blue Dolphins Series.
  9. Michael Morpurgo, author of the War Horse Series.
  10. Jean Craighead George, author of the Mountain Series.

Gary Paulsen: F.A.Q

When was Gary Paulsen Born?

Gary Paulsen was born on May 17th, 1939.

When did Gary Paulsen die?

Gary Paulsen died on October 13th, 2021 at 82 years old.

Where was Gary Paulsen Born?

Gary Paulsen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

What book awards has Gary Paulsen won?

Dogsong: John Newbery Medal Awards: Newbery Honor (1986).
Hatchet: John Newbery Medal Awards: Newbery Honor (1988).
The Winter Room: John Newbery Medal Awards: Newbery Honor (1990).
The Haymeadow / The Fourteenth Summer: Spur Awards: Best Western Juvenile Fiction (1992).

What was the first book Gary Paulsen wrote?

The first book written by Gary Paulsen was Some Birds Don't Fly, published in 1968.

What was the most recent book Gary Paulsen wrote?

His most recently released work was Northwind on January 11th, 2022.

What is the most popular book by Gary Paulsen?

Based on the number of readers on Book Notification, the most popular Gary Paulsen book is Hatchet. Here are his most popular books and their average ratings:
  1. Hatchet (7.05)
  2. The River / The Return (7.00)
  3. Brian's Winter / Winter (8.00)
  4. Brian's Return / The Call (6.00)
  5. Brian's Hunt (7.00)

What genres does Gary Paulsen Write?

Gary Paulsen primarily writes in the Adventure Fiction genre. His work includes sub-genres such as Survival / Robinsonade Fiction.

How many books has Gary Paulsen written?

Gary Paulsen has written 179 books across 18 series and categories, excluding contributions to anthologies.
  • 5 books in the Francis Tucket Series
  • 2 books in the Lt. Ronnie Gold Series
  • 5 books in the Brian Robeson Series
  • 7 books in the Murphy Series
  • 6 books in the Tales to Tickle the Funnybone Series
  • 3 books in the Alida Series
  • 30 books in the Duncan Culpepper Series
  • 2 books in the Nightjohn Series
  • 18 books in the World Of Adventure Series
  • 2 books in the Lawn Boy Series
  • 4 books in Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties Of..Series
  • 2 books in the Road Trip Series
  • 1 book in the Liar, Liar Series
  • 51 Standalone Novels
  • 4 Picture Books
  • 2 Short Story Collections
  • 35 Non-Fiction Books

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