Gary James Paulsen, born on May 17, 1939, and passing on October 13, 2021, was a celebrated American writer of children's and young adult fiction, most renowned for his coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He stands as the author of over 200 books, alongside more than 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily targeted at teenagers. Beyond his vast body of work, Gary Paulsen was honored with the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997, recognizing his lifetime contribution to writing for teens.