Dorany Pineda writes: “Gary Paulsen, the acclaimed and prolific author of page-turning children’s novels of adventure and survival, including Dogsong and The Winter Room as well as Hatchet, died suddenly last Wednesday at his home in New Mexico, the Associated Press reported. Throughout his life, Paulsen wrote more than 100 books, sold more than 35 million copies, and was a three-time John Newbery Medal finalist. Teachers and librarians in Los Angeles and beyond were saddened by the news but expressed deep gratitude to a man whose inspiring, plot-driven stories captivated readers young and old. ‘Hatchet was something that was so out of the ordinary,’ said Damitri Boone, children’s librarian at the Inglewood (Calif.) Public Library.”