His name is synonymous with high-stakes wilderness survival adventures. Now, beloved author Gary Paulsen portrays a series of life-altering moments from his turbulent childhood as his own original survival story. 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, he would not have discovered his true calling as a storyteller.
An entrancing account of grit and growing up, perfect for newcomers and lifelong fans alike, this is the famed author at his rawest and most real.
Paperback, 368 pages
Published January 10, 2023
by Square Fish
4/5 stars
Gone to the Woods was my first real experience with Gary Paulsen’s writing, even though his books were a big part of my kids’ reading growing up. I went into this memoir not quite knowing what to expect, but it didn’t take long to realize this was going to be a honest, no-frills look at the life behind his stories.
Paulsen writes about a childhood filled with neglect, instability and he doesn’t soften it. The woods weren’t just a setting for him, they were an escape and in many ways, a way to survive. Seeing how nature, books, and eventually writing became lifelines added a lot of depth to the story.
This isn’t a light or nostalgic memoir, some parts are tough to read, especially with his straightforward approach. That being said, there’s a quiet strength that runs through this book, especially in how Paulsen reflects on the role storytelling played in shaping his life.
Gone to the Woods is a compelling and eye-opening introduction to his stories. I have already read a couple and will most likely continue and introduce him to my grandkids.
This book was part of my 2025 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge (#43)
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