"[In this biography, author Gary Paulsen portrays a series of life-altering moments from his turbulent childhood.] If not for his summer escape from a shockingly neglectful Chicago upbringing to a North Woods homestead at age five, there never would have been a Hatchet. Without the encouragement of the librarian who handed him his first book at age thirteen, he may never have become a reader. And without his desperate teenage enlistment in the Army,...

A horrid shriek erupted from behind the stairs, and clammy, leathery wings exploded into Warren’s face. He slammed his eyes shut and beat the Gorgon off, hearing Rick’s sword swish through empty air. Warren dove back, rolled on his shoulder, and came up clear, his sword slicing in every direction…

With his turned-up nose and pointy ears, Warren Trumbull looks a lot like a pig. Even in a world of evil warlocks and eight-foot...

Tag pointed his flashlight into the hole and peered inside. It was impossible. The inside was hollow, like an underwater cave. Something shiny lay near the opening and reflected the beam from his light. He reached inside and pulled it out.
 
A pewter spoon.
 
If he could have made a sound, he would have screamed with joy. He tucked the spoon in his vest pocket and reached into the hole again.
 
A...

Slow learner Daniel Martin escapes peer teasing by spending most of his time outdoors, and when a van crash plunges him and a gang of bullies in the river, Daniel must choose between saving himself and risking his life to save the others.

“I’ve had enough . . .” Alex let go of her horse and hit Bobbie like a tigress, driving her back and knocking her on her rear. “Now we’ll see if you have problems with your rump.”

Bobbie leapt to her feet. Her lips were tight. She stalked past Alex and as she did reached out and shoved her backward. Into the water tank.

There’s plenty of family feuding when Bobbie...

Will veered to the left and ducked into one of the passages leading away from the palace room. Sarah stumbled and fell. Will pulled her up. They could hear the big man closing in on them. Will took another left turn and then another. Scarface’s footsteps echoed in their ears.
 
Deep in the damp, dark caverns of the Sacramento Mountains, Will Little Bear Tucker and his friend Sarah Thompson discover the secret of an ancient...

It’s spy vs. spy when Amos is mistaken for a government double agent and give a top-secret assignment. He’s got the trench coat, he’s got the dark sunglasses, he’s go that smooth and debonair James Bond way about him. Now all he needs is Dunc to bail him out!
 
Join best friends Dunc and Amos as they try a little espionage, Culpepper style!

Anyone who knows Amos knows that in his case, dogs are definitely not man's best friends. Even his own dog growls and shows his teeth whenever Amos is around. Amos isn't exactly fond of Scruff either. It's a dog-eat-dog world. But when Scruff gets mixed up in a dognapping scheme, Amos and his best friend, Dunc, have to team up to spring him.
Join Gary Paulsen's cool sleuths as they go undercover at the city pound!

Justin McCallister loves life on his aunt and uncle's Montana sheep ranch...until a grizzly bear begins terrorizing the livestock, injuring Justin's collie, Radar, and killing his pet lamb, Blue. Justin decides to take matters into his own hands and sets out to track down the bear. But things become more dangerous than Justin ever could have imagined when he comes face-to-face with the grizzly.

Something loud crashed over their heads, and they could hear gravel and dirt hitting the top of the truck. It happened again and again. The last sound they heard was the scrape of a shovel picking up more dirt. Then it was quiet.

“Where do you think we are?” Woody asked. “It’s getting really cold in here.” Roman hit the back door with his fist. “I’ll tell you where we are. We’re buried...