MY THOUGHTS ON GARY PAULSEN
AND HIS WORK

To me, Gary Paulsen is the most outrageous and animal-loving author I have ever read. Books written by Gary Paulsen that I have enjoyed include The Rifle, Canyons,The Monument,The River,Hatchet,Puppies Dogs and Blue Northers, and Brian's Winter.

While I am reading he makes me feel as if I am the main character. I felt that I was Brian Robeson stranded in the middle of the Canadian wilderness in the book Hatchet. While reading Brian's Winter I felt that to survive I would have to hunt moose, and watch out for wolves, like Brian did.

The way he describes animal's behavior and reactions, as in the book Puppies Dogs and Blue Northers, is so incredible because he gives them human characteristics. This trait is what helps bring me so close to my own dog Missy. I hope that I get the chance to read just about every book that Gary Paulsen has ever written in his whole life. I also hope that Gary Paulsen continues to write books about animals and nature.

It is really exciting for me to know that I have the same thoughts and feelings about animals that Gary Paulsen does when he writes these stories. I have grown up to have a keen relationship with animals, dogs especially, because ever since I was born my family has owned a dog. When I was first born we had a ninety-five pound Black Lab named Champ, and now we have an eighty-five pound Golden Retriever named Missy. Besides my two brothers Dunc and Griff these dogs have seemed like they were an additional brother and sister to me.

By having two dogs of my own makes me realize how important all animals are in general. White reading Gary Paulsen's books I get the feeling that he shares my feelings about animals. I enjoy reading his books so much because of how he describes everything, and makes you feel like you are the main character.

Gary Paulsen is a very intense writer, and to enjoy his books to the fullest extent, you must either have an animal of your own, or share his thoughts. I am lucky enough to have both of these.

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