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Gary Paulsen Books: Biography, Best Books & Where to Read Them

1939–2021 · Minneapolis, Minnesota
📖 Best for: Grades 6–8 (ages 11–14)

Gary Paulsen booksbooks by Gary PaulsenDogsongHatchetThe RiverBrian’s Winter

Gary Paulsen books in order · Borrow free (Open Library & your library) · Free books like these

Who is Gary Paulsen?

Gary Paulsen wrote more than 200 books, many drawn from his own life outdoors — he ran the Iditarod sled-dog race twice. Hatchet (1987), in which 13-year-old Brian survives alone in the Canadian wilderness, is a middle-school favourite.

Where to start

New to Gary Paulsen? Start with Hatchet.

Gary Paulsen’s best-known books, in order

Gary Paulsen’s books are under copyright, so Pagine doesn’t host them — but you can borrow every title below free. Tap Local library to see which libraries near you have it, Libby / OverDrive to borrow the ebook or audiobook with your library card, or Open Library for free online lending.

  1. Dogsong (1985)
    Find it: Open Library · Local library · Libby / OverDrive
  2. Hatchet (1987)
    Find it: Open Library · Local library · Libby / OverDrive
  3. Woodsong (1990)
    Find it: Open Library · Local library · Libby / OverDrive
  4. The River (1991)
    Find it: Open Library · Local library · Libby / OverDrive
  5. Brian’s Winter (1996)
    Find it: Open Library · Local library · Libby / OverDrive

Find more books by Gary Paulsen

📖 Read & listen free online

🏛️ Check your local library

Most public libraries lend ebooks and audiobooks free with a library card — ask at the desk or sign up online.

📖 Free books like Gary Paulsen — read now in Pagine

Love Gary Paulsen? Try these free books for grades 6–8 (ages 11–14) and up — no download, no cost.

The Call of the Wild
The Call of the Wild
Jack London
Read free →
A Watch-dog of the North Sea: A Naval Story of the Great War
A Watch-dog of the North Sea: A Naval Story of the Great War
Percy F. Westerman
Read free →
Away in the Wilderness
Away in the Wilderness
R. M. Ballantyne
Read free →
Elizabethan Sea-Dogs: A Chronicle of Drake and His Companions
Elizabethan Sea-Dogs: A Chronicle of Drake and His Companions
William Wood
Read free →
The Dog Crusoe and His Master: A Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies
The Dog Crusoe and His Master: A Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies
R. M. Ballantyne
Read free →
The fort in the wilderness
The fort in the wilderness
Edward Stratemeyer
Read free →
The Heart of a Dog
The Heart of a Dog
Albert Payson Terhune
Read free →
The Pioneer Boys of the Columbia; or, In the Wilderness of the Great Northwest
The Pioneer Boys of the Columbia; or, In the Wilderness of the Great Northwest
St. George Rathborne
Read free →
The Pioneer Boys of the Mississippi; or, The Homestead in the Wilderness
The Pioneer Boys of the Mississippi; or, The Homestead in the Wilderness
St. George Rathborne
Read free →
The Wilderness Fugitives
The Wilderness Fugitives
Edward Sylvester Ellis
Read free →
Trading Jeff and His Dog
Trading Jeff and His Dog
Jim Kjelgaard
Read free →
Travels and Adventures of Little Baron Trump and His Wonderful Dog Bulger
Travels and Adventures of Little Baron Trump and His Wonderful Dog Bulger
Ingersoll Lockwood
Read free →

More American children’s authors

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All American Children’s Authors → · Popular kids’ authors around the world →

Frequently asked questions

Who is Gary Paulsen?

Gary Paulsen wrote more than 200 books, many drawn from his own life outdoors — he ran the Iditarod sled-dog race twice. Hatchet (1987), in which 13-year-old Brian survives alone in the Canadian wilderness, is a middle-school favourite.

What is Gary Paulsen’s most famous book?

Hatchet is a great place to start; other favourites include Dogsong, The River, Brian’s Winter.

What age are Gary Paulsen’s books for?

Gary Paulsen’s books are best for grades 6–8 (ages 11–14).

Can I read Gary Paulsen’s books free online?

Gary Paulsen’s books are still under copyright, so they are not free to download. You can borrow them free: from your public library (search WorldCat), as ebooks and audiobooks with a library card through Libby/OverDrive, or from Open Library’s free lending. Pagine links to each below, and suggests similar books you can read free right now.

Where can I borrow Gary Paulsen books near me?

Search WorldCat to see which libraries near you have a copy, or ask your school or public library. Most libraries also lend Gary Paulsen ebooks and audiobooks free through the Libby app.

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