Gone to the Woods Audiobook By Gary Paulsen cover art

Gone to the Woods

Surviving a Lost Childhood

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Gone to the Woods

By: Gary Paulsen
Narrated by: Dan Bittner
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About this listen

"Dan Bittner flawlessly narrates this matchless memoir, which captures writer Gary Paulsen's bittersweet life. ... The sublime narration and satisfying conclusion contribute to a rewarding listening experience." (AudioFile magazine, Earphones Award winner)

A middle grade memoir from a living literary legend, giving listeners a new perspective on the origins of Gary Paulsen's famed survival stories.

His name is synonymous with high-stakes wilderness survival stories. 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 13, 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.

A moving and enthralling story of grit and growing up, Gone to the Woods is perfect for newcomers to the voice and lifelong fans alike, from the acclaimed author at his rawest and realest.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux

©2021 Gary Paulsen (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
Biographies Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Literary Science & Technology Nonfiction Inspiring
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Critic reviews

2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year

2021 Parents Magazine Best Children's Books of the Year

2021 Shelf Awareness Best Books of the Year

2020 Minneapolis Star Tribune Holiday Book Recommendations

Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year

2021 NYTBR Notable Children's BOTY

Inspiring Life Story • Gripping Autobiographical Account • Uplifting Tale • Artful Storytelling
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The reader is probably the best I have heard! I think, for young readers/listeners this is a bit slow.

Outstanding performance

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You follow the boy, amazed as he survives each encounter with life and suddenly you are at the end, wanting more and knowing it was a life you would not have survived.

Mesmerizing Read

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Eastern Sun Winter Moon is one of the best Paulsen Novels. Wish it was narrated by Gary.

Too fast, but his whole life is chronicled in many novellas.

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Gary, you hit it outta the park, another great read (listen) and story !!

Love this book !!

Worth the wait !!!

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I personally love the woods and grew up in them. The ending was a little rushed and that’s why it gets for stars.

Amazing story line

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This is a high speed book to a MAN’s life. It is very well narrated and the author keeps a good steady pace all the way through.

A flash through a man’s life

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I'm really enjoying this book. It is my first Audible book. i promise it will not be my last.

loving it...

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Wow, last and greet autobiographical story from Gary Paulsen. The narrator does a superb job of expressing their feelings and emotions that Mr. Paulson put on paper. This was a finely produced production. a great finish for Gary Paulson's many literary triumphs. I used his books extensively as a teacher, and was very impressed by his ability to overcome obstacles.

Well done for a final finish

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Such a revealing story that provides insight into how a boy became one of the greatest authors alive.
I can't say enough about how moved I have been by the unofficial autobiography of Gary Paulsen's dysfunctional upbringing, and how that upbringing plays into the creation of the much loved Hatchet series.

Love this book! Great Insight to Hatchet!

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Gary Paulsen sadly passed away late in 2021 but he published this book in January of that same year, he had another book in the pipeline line just about to be published. Prior to the last year of his life
he had already written over 200 books, some of them absolute classic best sellers, survived a childhood of poverty and neglect, worked as a farmland, odd jobs man, a hunter, a circus hand, had learned how to survive alone in the wilderness, had a military career as a missile specialist attaining the rank of sergeant, bred sled dogs, raced in the Iditarod the world's toughest dog sled race, survived two plane crashes, married at least twice, raised kids from both marriages, not a bad innings for an 80+ year old. Somehow I feel something of that level of life force and determination and grit resonating throughout 'Gone to the Woods'. Gary Paulsen thank you.

A good life forged despite serious adversity

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