McFarland Companions to Young Adult Literature American novelist Gary Paulsen is best known for his young adult fiction, including bestsellers Nightjohn, Soldier’s Heart, and Woods Runner. From his trenchant prose in The Rifle and The Foxman to the witty escapades of Harris and Me and Zero to Sixty, Paulsen crafts stories with impressive range. The tender scenes in The Quilt and A Christmas Sonata speak to his empathy for children, with characters who endure the same hardships that marred his own early life.
This literary companion introduces readers to his life and work. A-to-Z entries explore themes such as alcoholism, coming of age, slavery, survival, and war. A glossary defines terms unique to his work. Appendices provide related historical references, writing, art, and research topics.

Mary Ellen Snodgrass is an award-winning author of English and Latin textbooks and reference works for 35 years. She taught at Hickory High School and Lenoir Rhyne University in North Carolina for 23 years. Her writing focuses on women’s and world literature and history and general research topics, including epidemics, the history of money, clothing, food, and dance. She lives in Hickory, North Carolina.

Mary Ellen Snodgrass
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 199
Bibliographic Info: glossary, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7331-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3185-1
Imprint: McFarland
Series: McFarland Companions to Young Adult Literature

Acknowledgments  viii
Preface  1
Introduction  3
Chronology of Gary Paulsen’s Life and Work  5
Genealogy  29
Gary Paulsen: A Companion to the Young Adult Literature  31
Glossary  161
Appendix A: Timeline of Historical References  167
Appendix B: Writing, Art and Research Topics  172
Bibliography  179
Index  187

• “Snodgrass introduces readers to the life and works of Gary Paulsen, prolific author of wilderness and coming-of-age books for young people…. The detailed chronology conveys the chaotic events of Paulsen’s childhood and how those events influenced his writing…. useful for librarians and educators working with young people”—Booklist

• “In-depth reference…Snodgrass provides readers with insights and background information regarding all of Gary Paulson’s books”—Children’s Literature Association