Biography
Gary James Paulsen was born on May 17, 1939 at the brink of World War II. His father, Oscar Paulsen, had joined the U.S. Army and shortly after Gary was born, he served as an officer on the staff of famous army general, George Patton. For this reason, Oscar was rarely present the first five years of Gary’s life. While Oscar was away, Gary’s mother, Eunice (Moen) Paulsen, developed a drinking problem and rarely came home after work.
With no parents there to raise him as a young boy, his primary caretaker was his babysitter; one whom did not read to him, cook for him, or show much affection. At the age of five
Gary was sent to live with his grandmother, Alida, who loved him and took care of him like he was her own. His affection and love for his grandmother is seen in many of his books, especially the Alida books which, he states, though written in third person, are highly autobiographical.
When Gary’s father returned, the family moved to the Philippines and later returned to the U.S. where they moved from one military base to the next. Gary estimates that during elementary school years, he never spent more than five months in any given place.
Moving this much can take a toll on any young child, but Gary was also shy and not great at sports. He believes this to be why he had no friends and did poorly in school, remaining a C and D student through high school. One place that Gary did feel comfortable, was the woods. From the young age of twelve, Gary taught himself how to use a rifle and kill animals for food. This knowledge would later prove to be invaluable when he wrote many of his future books.
It All Started With a Librarian
To make money, Paulsen sold newspapers. In the evening cold, he would stand outside of bars patiently waiting to get money from those leaving. One night, he was so cold he went inside to escape the weather. The place that gave him warmth that night, was a library. When the librarian saw young Paulsen warming himself up, she did not ask him his intentions, or tell him to leave; she asked him if he would like a book. Thankful that she wasn’t banishing him, he said yes. The librarian gave him a Library Card along with a book and a warm smile. She told him to bring it back when he was done and he could get another one. He took the book home and worked desperately to read. Being a poor student, Gary struggled to complete the book, but when he did he went back for another, and this became his new routine. “She kept me reading.”
At the age of 17 Gary forged his parent’s signature and joined the army, which he later regret and
knew he wanted something different; a new life for himself. This was when he started to write.