<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Bryan, thanks for noting Gary Paulsen’s passing and for your thoughts. He inspired countless readers and also writers. And you have inspired me. Thank you, Ruth Metz<br><br><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Oct 15, 2021, at 4:44 PM, Anne Billeter via Libs-Or <libs-or@omls.oregon.gov> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>When my special ed son told me his teacher was reading "Hatchet" to the class...I HAD to read it to find out WHAT this book was. As a result, I have informally booktalked <i>Hatchet </i>many times over the years, to kids and to parents.</div><div><br></div><div>Anne Billeter</div><div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Oct 15, 2021 at 4:33 PM MaryKay Dahlgreen via Libs-Or <<a href="mailto:libs-or@omls.oregon.gov">libs-or@omls.oregon.gov</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Brian,<div>Thanks for your impressions of Gary Paulsen and his incredible impact on kids and reading. I too have not read many of his books but the one that haunts me is <i>Dancing Carl</i>, his book about two boys and the quiet impact a returning war hero has on them and their town. In fact, I think I'll listen to it on my way home tonight.</div><div>MaryKay</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Oct 15, 2021 at 4:04 PM Bryan Miyagishima via Libs-Or <<a href="mailto:libs-or@omls.oregon.gov" target="_blank">libs-or@omls.oregon.gov</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div>It seems a bit funny that no one here in our Oregon library community has made mention of his death, but perhaps libs-or has become more of an announcement listserv. <br></div><div><br></div><div>I have to confess that he's never been one of my favorite YA authors, nor have I read many of his works. But I remember back to my days of being a high school English teacher, when during silent reading time one of my students pulled out a well worn copy of <u>Hatchet</u> and began reading. And I said something like, "John (I don't remember his name after all these years), didn't you already read <u>Hatchet</u>?" And he replied, "Mr. Miyagishima, the ONLY book I read is <u>Hatchet</u>!" While my memory is a bit fuzzy, I'm feeling pretty hopeful that I introduced him to some other works that year.<br></div><div><br></div><div>But what a superpower! I have to take my hat off and honor the memory of someone who induced so many reluctant teenage boys to read. I hope that some of you have similar stories to tell. And if not Gary Paulsen, then another author who has written that "only book" and hopefully gotten your patrons started on a love of reading.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Hope yours is a great Friday!</div><div><br></div><div>Bryan Miyagishima, Linn-Benton Community College Library<br></div></div>
</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1liOOOsRRaLfxCi5qQi4pMVy2QMHZmatb&revid=0B4Amiqsm17mCcVBCYzFRM1hFNVBJL2lsT2NhNTd6VXY2c1cwPQ" data-unique-identifier=""><br></div></div></div>
</blockquote></div>
</div></blockquote></body></html>