Woodsong

After reading Gary Paulsen's Winterdance, I had to try this one. I teach 5th grade, so I thought Woodsong might be more geared toward them. I'm still reluctant to use this except in small groups...the depiction of nature's brutality with all the graphic detail, will be a little too intense for some of my students...only balanced by an adult's perspective (putting it into context).
Setting aside that one word of caution, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Like one of his dogs, once I was harnessed in, I couldn't stop running through the pages. Woodsong isn't the marathon that Winterdance is...more like a quick run from White Mountain to Nome...but I only stopped briefly to eat and sleep. [Couldn't get my wife to rub my shoulders or change my socks, though. No moose chili, either. C'mon [...]!] It's a book I'll read again and again.
What Paulsen does, he does extremely well. To begin, it's a parallel story to Winterdance, but draws from a completely different set of experiences: read both books! Paulsen masterfully strips away our romantic 'Disney' notions of nature with gritty reality. If you've ever spent time in remote places, off the beaten path, his stories will ring true to you. Paulsen is both humble and insightful in his understanding of himself, his thoughts and feelings, his limitations and motivations. That honesty is as rare as it is refreshing. Paulsen spends a little too much time focusing on the 'strange but true' encounters that happen in the wild, but I think it's part of his way of processing them...and sharing the wonder and awe that you get when you're out there. The grand scale of some of his stories, perhaps embellished, nevertheless leave you with the proper impression that the world of the Iditarod and Alaskan wilds are unimagineable and endless. You could explore them your entire life and never have seen it all.
Lastly, I have to add this personal commentary...how is Gary Paulsen STILL alive!!!!???? He must have a dozen, overworked, grumbling and sleepless guardian angels. His lack of caution and planning...or put more positively...his willingness to take risks and put himself in unfamiliar situations...does not usually go unpunished by Mother Nature. If there is anything bad in his message, it's the unspoken idea that you can take chances time and again...and somehow get away with it. My experience is that even with ALL preparations in place, you will still encounter the unpredictable. And although you prepare, risk is something you accept and live with. It's part of being in the wild. On our best days, we are small and powerless against the forces of nature. Wisdom, perseverance and adaptability are all essential survival tools. Paulsen seems lacking in wisdom (except that, in his self-deprecating style, he may be better than he says). Finally, Paulsen must have used his 'nine lives' long before he left Minnesota, and must therefore, be surviving on the borrowed or stolen 'lives' of others. That's wrong for him to do, of course, but he does put them to good use...and is nice enough to share them with US! Thank you, Gary Paulsen. And God bless your patient wife!

I was a little hesitant to pick this up from my local used bookstore, because I normally don't read non-fiction, but I'm glad I did.

The first thing you should know about this book is that it's not for young kids or kids who are squeamish about animals dying. There's a couple really graphic depictions of animal deaths--they are needed to tell the story--but they might upset some kids.

I think, most boys 12 y.o. and older would be able to handle it. Girls vary so much, it's hard to say. Paulsen does such a good job writing the scenes, it makes you feel like you are there. This is great, unless your kid is sensitive for his/her age. If so, definitely skip it.

The book itself is great. Told in the first person, with the same skill and grace as Paulsen's novels. It's fairly short which would make in ideal if your Reluctant Reader has a non-fiction book report due.

This book made me laugh, gave me the chills (there's a mini-ghost story), even almost shed a tear (when one of his pets passes) all within the span of a few hours.

It's a quick, great read that works on so many levels.

The book Woodsong is a great book writen by Gary Paulsen that explains his life and what it is about.
The way Paulsen writes is amazing the description he uses is so vivid that it makes you feel like you are right there with him on his sled or in his house. I think the way he described the surroundings really helps you to understad more what it is like in the Alaskan woods and what Paulson is going through. Another way he uses the description well is to describe the dogs. They way he does it makes it seem like they are reall people, he almost puts personalities on the dogs so u can really relate to them and what there like.
In the beginning of the book it helps you get aquanted with like in Alaska and what it is like to be around the dogs and the other animals, it also helps you understand some of the things he says and does. The beginning basically gives u a backround so you can understand the book better. I think that was a great idea because without that I might not of understood it as well.
As I read the book i really started to understand what it was really like in nature. I felt like what we know as nature is not what is really is like. We do not see what really happens, like when the wolves hunt the deer. That is what really goes on in nature but we dont not have a chance to see it. Paulsen helps to show us that because it is important that we know that.
My favorite part of the book was during the race. I think it is amazing how he uses description to bring you into the story so you think you are there with him. It helps to keep your attention and makes you want to read more.
From reading this book i really realized that no matter where you are or who you are you cant always do things by urself, you need a team in order to acheive your goals. It does not matter if you have a team of humans or a team of dogs, anyone or anything can help you

One big race

This is the book by the name of Woodsong by Gary Paulsen. Most of the book takes place in Alaska at the Iditarod.

A lot of work

Gary Paulsen trained a lot for the Iditarod. When he's training a lot of humorous stuff happens, like when they come across a dead frozen deer. There were also a lot of weird things that happen, like a chipmunk-eating squirrel. In the Iditarod Paulsen endures freezing negative weather. There are rumors everywhere and some of them are pretty scary, somebody froze their eye out, someone drifted out to sea and so on. There are some funny parts too like when one of his dogs falls asleep while he's running

So much detail!

I liked the book a lot but the thing I liked the most about the book is that it had so much detail. The author uses so much detail that it fells like you in the sled watching it all happen. He put so much detail that you can feel the chill of fifty below weather, you can feel the pain of the crash and you can feel the frightfulness when he comes across a moose.

An actual story

The book is a true story about the author and when he was in the Iditarod. What makes the book so good is that the funny and creepy parts are true. It's also pretty sad because a couple of dogs die.

Dog fans

I would recommend this book to dog lovers.

.

One big race

This is the book by the name of Woodsong by Gary Paulsen. Most of the book takes place in Alaska at the Iditarod.

A lot of work

Gary Paulsen trained a lot for the Iditarod. When he's training a lot of humorous stuff happens, like when they come across a dead frozen deer. There were also a lot of weird things that happen, like a chipmunk-eating squirrel. In the Iditarod Paulsen endures freezing negative weather. There are rumors everywhere and some of them are pretty scary, somebody froze their eye out, someone drifted out to sea and so on. There are some funny parts too like when one of his dogs falls asleep while he's running

So much detail!

I liked the book a lot but the thing I liked the most about the book is that it had so much detail. The author uses so much detail that it fells like you in the sled watching it all happen. He put so much detail that you can feel the chill of fifty below weather, you can feel the pain of the crash and you can feel the frightfulness when he comes across a moose.

An actual story

The book is a true story about the author and when he was in the Iditarod. What makes the book so good is that the funny and creepy parts are true. It's also pretty sad because a couple of dogs die.

Dog fans

I would recommend this book to dog lovers.

.

I remember reading this book as a child, and not quite knowing if I liked it or not. As an adult, I am able to enjoy and appreciate this book more than when I was younger. Gary Paulsen describes nature in such a way that makes it mystical but at the same time very real and not at all 'Disney'. There are many passages that are graphic, but it is nature, and things aren't always clean cut. I think I would have liked the book a little better if the first half of the book was more than loosely tied together passages (the second half is a day by day account of the Iditarod). He did succeed in getting me to research more on the Iditarod, so I consider that a sign of a successful book.

Woodsong by Gary Paulsen is a book I will never regret reading. The entire book is non-stop action filled with events that keep you on the edge of your seat. It all starts with the very first page. The beginning is the type of intro that hooks you in and never lets go. From the very first sentence, the suspense makes your palms sweat. The plot becomes part of your life while you are reading the book. You learn things that are not only educational, but emotional lessons that will stick with you your entire life. In a way, the book is hard to relate to. You probably have not and never will be in the situations that the characters are in. However, the concepts of the problems do relate to the average person's way of life. For example, money is fairly tight where the characters live. I know many people who have problems with money and ways to overcome the lack of things such as a computer. The difference that makes this book unusual is the fact that it is true. The main character is the author, Gary Paulsen. Due to this, instead of saying to yourself in the middle of the book, "Gee, I'm glad ths is fiction." You would say,"Boy this guy was brave!" I am obliged to tell about the strong points in this book because there are so many. The suspense and descriptions are vivid. the "hook of the book" reels you in and doesn't let you go. the content is very clear and you don't have to be a genius to get through the vocabulary. There is a happy ending that satisfies your need for "happy-ever afterness." However, unlike a Disney movie it's not all sugarsweet. There is one weak point that is important to include. It wasn't nearly long enough. I wanted it to go on forever. By now, you probably are dieing to run to the nearest library and pick up this book. Before you dash off, I'd just like to warn you of something. It had a few gruesome parts. If you are the type of person who can't stand the sight of blodd or the type who gets nightmares over ghosts under your bed, you might not want to read this. The blood contec is little high and the way he describes it is realistic. That's why it is not that nice. The level of the book is not that high but I agree with the recommendation of 12 years + up. The vocabulary is fairly high and the content is better for older people. Many peers have asked me if I liked the book. Honestly, it is fantastic, a perfect 10, never dull, very powerful and most of all, filled with edge-of-your-seat events. As soon as you're done this paragraph race out to the library and pick up the book "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen.

This is a classic tale for anyone who has ever loved dogs, or, to be more specific, any particular dog. I can say that this is also an icy tale that will actually take your breath away as Paulsen describes some of the conditions he's been in with his sled dogs. This is the true story of how he survives in the Minnesota wilderness, and then takes on the bigtime, The Iditarod in Alaska!
When you read this, there are times when you will probably feel different things. Like the feeling some people have had (I have personally) of losing a pet. Or at times, you laugh at the hilarity of some of the things that pets will indeed do that leave you laughing so hard that it almost brings you to tears. Paulsen brings this to life only in the way that he has always used to tell a story. I love it how he describes his, and every man's greatest fear when in The Iditarod, is to scratch. When Paulsen describes this, he compares it to being a leper! He loves his dogs, and talks about how they are practically insane to run. He slightly haunts us with stories of hallucinations as a result of sleep deprivation! Yet, he also describes his most human side throughout the race, describing a cup of hot chocolate given to him by a beautiful blonde. Or how children from the Shageluk school made a pot of Moose chili especially for the mushers, and how he ate 19 bowls because it tasted so great, and then suffered the wonderful indigestion as a result. It is those stories and more, that make this an easy classic, and a read that you find hard to put down!
I first read this about 10 years ago. It still is easy to pick up, and enjoy it from page 1. Awesome work!

Gary Paulsen writes about his own experience and adventures aboard the Iditarod race in Alaska. The author, Gary Paulsen, lived in Northern Minnesota and is well-equipped to handle the cold, fierce weather in the wintertime. His relationship with his dogs are very close. He knows each and every one of his dogs who are part of his Iditarod team.

Anyway, Paulsen writes about his personal experience firsthand and he's lucky to have lived. He keeps in mind about his audience readers whether young boys or girls. But I think boys and men who have some of his interests would be enticed to read Paulsen's book at any age. He writes about adventures especially the life-changing challenge of completing the Iditarod race if he finishes it.

Paulsen novels and books are an easy read and can be done in an hour. He gets to the point and is very descriptive and detailed about the race.

Paulsen's choice of the word, SONG--see WOODSONG and DOGSONG--goes beyond the expected audible and musical implications, for it embodies man and animals' in-touch-ness with static and living aspects of the natural world. Less a cohesive story with a clearly defined plot and anticipated character development this book reveals the author's reflective observations of his own maturation--as a musher and as a human being. With gritty honesty Paulsen chronicles the painful and often humiliating earning curve which he experienced, thanks to his faithful team of huskies over decades in the Minnesota wilderness.

Part I consists of the author's memories-fond and painful--of his cumulative years with dozens of dogs, the canine wisdom which he learned about their amazing personalities and dog sledding, not to mention lessons about Life itself. Part 2 relates in excruciating detail his actual 17-day ordeal (trial by Snow and Ice) running the famous arctic marathon: the Iditarod. Just to finish this endurance trail is a victory for both human and animal nature; they struggle for a thousand miles against extreme weather conditions and brutal terrain across which man and dogs are pitted against the harsh reality of Nature. Written in first-person narrative WOODSONG shares the author's intensely personal feelings with readers, as Paulsen combats the limitations of the body while celebrating the limitless urge of the spirit toward maturity and positive appreciation for the total environment.

It's a nice book, the Iditarod is hard in real life, and reading about a man doing it was amazing. There my have been some gross parts, (such as Ch. 1 & 2) but sometimes strange, and sometimes just amazing! A book where a man connects with man's best friend. And in a reality like this, anything could be possible!

A curious book about the author's various experiences with nature and the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. It's rated for upper elementary/middle school but is too explicit in it's violence for this age group. The reality of nature could have been presented in a realistic way without gratuitous violence. Readers who enjoy true dog stories may enjoy Ordinary Dogs Extraordinary Friendships. Ordinary Dogs, Extraordinary Friendships: Stories of Loyalty, Courage, and Compassion

Woodsong told me winter isn't just for presents on Christmas Day and we aren't supposed to stay indoors all the time during winter. Winter is to be experienced, because it's a wonderful experience, maybe the best experience in your whole life. I give this book five stars because this book had action! Plus, this book is true so Wood Song is even better. Gary Paulsen learns about dogs, bears, hawks, and life. Gary Paulsen, the author, and I have something in common, we train dogs! Gary trained dogs in this true book, Woodsong, and I am training my dog now. My dog, Pepsi, is a wild dog and she runs away. I recommend this book to nine-year-olds and up because there is blood in this true story. Some parts are sad and some are funny, but it will help you appreciate winter, dogs, and life.

I really enjoyed Woodsong by Gary Paulsen. I learned quite a bit about dogs and about Alaska's Iditarod. I probably would not have picked up this book, if not for my students' interest in Gary Paulsen after reading Hatchet. Now that I finished the book and shared some highlights with my class, I have a whole group of sixth grade students on a waiting list to share the 3 copies of this book we currently have in our classroom!

I really enjoyed this book because it talks alot about his life. The book is a little gorey in the first few chapters but it really talks about Gary Paulsen's life. Some quotes that I thought that were meaningful were the parts where he talked about The Doe, I thought that part was interesting to me becuase it talked about life or death which was always a mystery to me.

My favorite theme from the book is the sense of survival. I think this was a good book overall but for some people it is a little to adavanced. If you're a young adult and would like to know about Gary Paulsen I would highly recommend this book.

-Evan E.

4/4/06

Fifteen years ago, while teaching fifth grade, I was looking for a non-fiction book for my students who were, in many instances, reluctant readers. I loved reading Hatchet and knew that it was responsible for having lured many of my students into continuing the reading of "The Brian Novels." Not having any inkling about The Iditarod, only having heard bits and pieces of it on the news in March, I ordered copies of Woodsong for my class. From the first chapter, the kids are HOOKED! Of course, it's an eye-opener as I'm certain that you'll agree, but from then on the students cannot wait to read the next chapter, and then the next... They laugh out loud when Hawk reeks havoc on the family, and they cry when Gary's not there to say goodbye to Storm. And then we plunge into the Iditarod. It is, without a doubt, the high point of my teaching year. Students who are in high school and beyond still remember it and ask if we'll be reading Woodsong and following The Iditarod! You have to work to coordinate it with common core standards, but it's worth the effort! So if you're a teacher, please do yourself and your students a favor, read Woodsong. It's the best and most engaging example of non-fiction for students.

In Woodsong, Gary Paulson's autobiography, Paulson tells us amusing anecdotes and heart-warming stories about his life. Each chapter depicts a totally different story. He writes about his experiences in the Minnesota wilderness and what he learned from his dogs and other animals in nature. "It is always possible to learn from dogs and in fact, the more I am with them the more I understand how little I know, " Paulson states. Each of Paulson's stories tells about the lessons that his dogs and nature have taught him. Join the award-winning author of the Hatchet series as soda cans explode in his sled, he gets stuck in the woods on a stormy night with high winds and temperature readings of fifty-three degrees below zero, gets terrorized by his hen (named Hawk), gets run over by a moose, almost adopts a wild bear, and much, much more. Also, read how Paulson and his intelligent canine friends survive the Iditarod.
What I love about this book is how vividly detailed it is. It lets the reader experience life as Gary Paulson did. Once you open the page, you will feel the bone-chilling cold, the spray of the snow upon your face, and the light wind. You will hear the dogs barking. You will taste the fire-cooked animal meat. You will smell the portable parlor stove. You will see Paulson's hallucinations with him. You will experience life in what Gary calls "the diamond that is northern winter." I give this fantastic collection of Gary Paulson's life lessons five stars and two thumbs up.

The first thing I have to say about this book is that it's NOT for kids! With that said, I don't understand why people aren't reading the books themselves before starting to read gory descriptions to young children. This is also not a book to be read over cofee or any other food. Ever. It so beautifully describes Paulsens journey, and the best part is it is all true. Those who claim this book has no humor have clearly not read about Hawk yet! Great book, I would definitely recommend it for ages 13+.

This is a great story written by a great author. This story really captures the true pagentry of the great outdoors. This book is extremely entertaining! Once you've read this book, you'll want to read it over and over again. It's the story of a man and his dog team; who go to Alaska to compete in the biggest dog race of the year. They have to work as a team to overcome the obstacles of the harsh environment in Alaska. This story has terrific plot elements. If you have a chance to read this story, you should definitely seize the opportunity. You don't want to miss out on this one!

I really liked this book because the way he expressed his feelings made it seem completely real, and like it was happening to me. It shows how dogs are truly loyal to a person when they really need them. It also shows how hallucinations can seem so real, yet are just a trick being played on your mind. I like Gary Paulsen's writing very much because he puts a lot of feeling into his works, and he proves that dogs are really more loyal than you think. I would recommend any of his books to anyone who was looking for a good outstanding, informational, extremely interesting book.

Woodsong

By

Gary Paulsen

Woodsong is a story about the author's adventure in Alaska. He writes

about running dogs and racing in the Iditarod.

This story begins in Anchorage, Alaska in the 1980s. Paulsen runs the

dogs which means hitching a dog team to a sled and taking them for a

run.

One time while running the dogs, they saw a glowing light in the

woods. It seemed to be person walking in the dark with a lantern.

Paulsen also thought it was a ghost. It turned out to be a dead tree

with a glowing mushroom on it. He walked up to it and hit his head on

the dead tree. He felt the glowing light and realized it was a glowing

mushroom.

On another adventure, he was running his dogs in a snow storm. Paulsen

was headed for the edge of a cliff. He told the dog team to go straight

and straight would take them off the edge of the cliff. Paulsen did not

know because he was in a snow storm and he could not see. The dogs

knew they were about to go off the cliff. They tried to turn away but

Paulsen told them to go off the edge. They flew right off the edge of

the cliff. The sled and some of the dogs fell on him. He had a broken

rib. He got the dogs and the sled off of him and got the sled in to

shape. He got on the sled and the dogs knew the way and pulled him home.

The last part of the book is about the Iditarod race. The Iditarod

is an annual dog sled race in Alaska, where mushers and teams of dogs

cover about 1,150 miles in eight to fifteen days. Paulsen had a long

and hard race but he finished in about thirteen days.

I would recommend this book to someone who is a adventure seeker.

I liked it because it was a true story.

I have taught reading and writing to East Los Angeles - Hollenbeck Middle School - children of immigrants for the past three years. When I introduced "Woodsong" to my teens, I was worried that they would not be able to relate to a middle aged white guy in the snow. Not only do my "Americans of Mexican descent" love Paulsen but they love his dogs and other creatures he encounters: Scarhead, Hawk, Cookie, Columbia, Olaf, Obeah, the young dogs who discover fire, the doe that escapes into Paulsen's campsite, and especially Storm. The story of Storm and his stick brings tears to the eyes of even the most macho 14 year olds. Reading this book and others by Paulsen (Dirk the Protector and Older Run) have turned my kids onto reading other books by Paulsen, Jack London, Rudyard Kipling, and Louis L'Amour. I love you Gary!!!!!!!

Gary Paulsens book WoodSong is full of adventure and excitement. The book tells us about Mr. Paulsen's life and how he raced his sled dogs in the Iditarod.
I loved this book. It was humerous at times and also searious. I like chapter five where we really get to know a small Bantie chicken, named Hawk. Hawk is quite the charactor, she rules the farmyard with golden beak! You could never imagine an animal so small controlling all manner of creatures, (dogs, cats goats and even Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen.) Gary Paulsen gives Hawk some grousse eggs one day to go along with her chicken eggs. Hawk adopts the grousse as her own. She made sure any animal or human who dared to come too close to her children got what they deserved.
My favourite animal character in the whole novel was a sled dog by the name of Storm. Storm was a smart, strong and loyal dog. He would let Gary Paulsen know if he did something wrong. Storm was not the type to give up and he even had a way of communicating with Gary. Storm taught Gary Paulsen so many things and he was a wonderful character in the book.
I especially like how this book was written in first person. It brings a whole new prospective to things. I think it is much harder to write a good book in first person than in any other way. Gary Paulsen did an excellent job with this.
WoodSong was written with so much detail that I could feel the cold winter wind and I could feel the warmth of the Paulsen's kitchen. I could even sense the dogs excitement during the Iditarod race.
I learned alot from Gary Paulsens book WoodSong. For example everybody knows terrible things happen in the world, but when you are affected personally by these things it becomes real. In the book Mr. Paulsen knew that wolves often killed deer and that it was just a fact of nature. When he saw it happening though, it was like reality hit him. Also I learned that even our pets can teach us a thing or two about life.

The book "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen is an excellent book. I thought this book exemplified an interesting book to me. Gary Paulsen wrote the book in first person sharing stories that kept your attention, and keeping you filled with suspense the entire time.
The book is split up into two different sections. The first part gives you a background on the character and planning for Paulsen's trip on the Iditarod. It also provides you with the training that goes along with it. The second part of the book is about the race and their long excursion.
My favorite thing about this book was the great description Gary Paulsen uses. He makes you feel as if you were standing right next to him riding on the back of the sled. Every story takes you on a new adventure. Throughout the first part of the book Gary Paulsen introduces you to the dogs and how he met them and how is infatuation with dogs started. It really amazed me to see the great relationship he had with these dogs. The dogs were like people in the way they taught him lessons and helped him become a better racer. You almost felt a bond with each dog and each character of this book because of the way it is written.
The stories in the book gave you a very realistic view on the situation and goal both Paulsen and the dogs were working for. The stories provided you with the failures of the trip right along with the accomplishments. I really liked that a lot because I think that's what made it so realistic. In real life not everything turns out the way you want, so when Paulsen incorporates those failures to the book it adds reality to it. There were mistakes and problems that needed to be fixed. One of my favorites was when Paulsen took the dogs out even though he was still learning how to drive them. He did not know that much about them so the dogs kind of taught him as they went. His lead dog is there to lead the way. The dogs know where they are going and which path is good or not. Paulsen did not realize this as a gift the dogs had and forced them to go the wrong way while the dogs pulled to go to other. Paulsen finally managed to get the dogs on his path and when they started darting trees, he knew he was wrong. The dogs and sled flipped over as well as the food and equipment. Paulsen got up, untangled the dogs and never again led them the wrong way again.

Gary Paulsen's Woodsong is a unique biography in that it does not bore the reader, but instead presents a major part of the author's life an in intriguing and almost humorous way. From the beginning of his dog-sledding days to the final hour of the Iditarod race, I was kept captivated and turning pages.
The book is basically divided into two parts: training and history, and the running of the Iditarod. I liked how this was done. The first part really introduced you to dog-sledding and terms, and it was presented to you in a way that you learned as Paulsen learned. It made it interesting and you almost looked forward to the next 'lesson'. Also, the main characters of the story, the dogs, were introduced and given personality. You felt, at the end of the part, that you knew the dogs. This background information, normally presented in books in a somewhat boring way, was made clear to you in a style that kept the reader captivated and enraptured.
Part two began the Iditarod race. This part changed from the format of a story to the layout of a diary. It described the events of the day in a journal entry. I liked how part two of the book was set up because it made you feel like you were there, living each day with Paulsen, rather than just reading a book.
The Iditarod race brought back a few characters that were previously mentioned. This character helped Paulsen and his team of dogs get out of trouble at dangerous situations in the race. He also seemed to add a little bit of fiction to the purely non-fiction story. I liked this touch of seemingly-pretend drama.
Paulsen's description added flavor to the story. His ways of twisting words to paint a perfect picture in your head are superb. I rarely had problems understanding what was going on. The way the words flow and describe a scene leave you stunned. There is no denying Paulsen is an extremely talented writer; this book provides indisputable evidence.
I overall enjoyed this book very much. There wasn't a part of it that I didn't like. The plot was unique in that it was split into almost two separate stories. The wonderful and amazing description helped to create a beautiful picture and include you in the story. It was easy to get caught up in the book, and I enjoyed the story. 'Woodsong' is a novel worth reading.

I read the book "Woodsong" by Gary Paulson. I have very mixed feelings about the book. I liked it in the way I thought it was interesting. I didn't like it in the way that it was gruesome and certain times was boring. I thought Gary Paulson did a great job in righting all about his trips into the wild and the animals and good and bad conditions he faced. It gave readers a good idea and image of what the wilderness is really about.
In this book Gary Paulson tells us about his remarkable experiences in the wilderness and what he learned about life and the way it helped inspire his writing. He tells us about his experiences of running a sled dog team and his scary and amazing encounters while doing this. I thought it was really interesting to hear about how a person would react when falling down a frozen waterfall. What really got me was how the dogs reacted, how they helped lick his wounds and help him get back home. After reading the book it's like the dogs could see through his heart and read his mind. After Paulson's journey he could read dogs as well. He found out how smart they really are and to trust and believe in their instincts. They guided him through the journeys and helped him learn life long lessons that he would never forget. The lesson I liked hearing about most was when Paulson was aggravated and wanted to get home. The weather was bad and he thought he knew the part of the woods they were in. The dogs new better and new they were not going the right way. Cookie (the lead dog) was trying to pull the other way but Paulson got upset and tugged at her. So she decided to give Paulson a lesson. They ended up going over a cliff and tumbling down a steep hill. Cookie had leaded them off the cliff knowing it was there. Paulson then understood that he had to trust the dog's instincts and know they knew where they were going.
Overall I thought the book was good. There were a few gory parts that I didn't like but that's part of nature and what Paulson saw. The lessons he learned from nature and how he describes them are what make this story so good.

When i read Gary Paulsen's Woodsong I really enjoyed it, as I felt great ebullience with every chapter I read. Gary Paulsen used great transition and detail to help me fully understand the novel, without having to look up inscrutable words. He made you feel part of his book as you built a relationship with every character that you read about. He also made you feel like you were riding with him in his travels with his description and detail. When he wrote about his experiences, describing each in their own way, you too felt they way he felt. This in turn made you feel touched after reading it.
The first thing, like all books, that I fell in love with was Woodsong's plot. I really enjoyed reading about the story of a mans sincere relationship with his dogs, and the wilderness. I'm excited when I get to read about different stories, that are not very common to me. This story did exactly that, as I was pulled into the emotion, and physical pain of the novel.
I also fell in love with the characters of Woodsong. I love books in which you are able to grow with the characters, like the book woodsong. Gary Paulsen first introduced you to his dogs, and his new hobby. This started the beginning of Gary Paulsen and his travels. The main dog in the story was Storm in which Gary Paulsen learned very much from, and loved with all his heart.
With every book there are some minor problems. I would change two things in the book Woodsong. The first thing I would change is the way Gary Paulsen jumps around in which i would rather him go in more of an order. For instance he went from running the dogs as he trapped, to then talking about how he got the dogs. From there I would change what I call the chapters inside a chapter. Gary Paulsen told many stories inside of one chapter which I got very confused. They seemed to create no point to the chapter after i read it. He just went from a sad story to a happy story in a matter of words.
At the end of the book , I felt very overwhelmed, and happy at the same time. Gary Paulsen really drags you into his story and makes you want to read it all in one day. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Gary Paulsen's novel "Woodsong" strongly demonstrates his ability to involve the reader in the story using descriptive elements. As a Paulsen fan, and frequent reader of his various works, I began reading this book with expectations of satisfaction.
One of the first aspects of this book that I noticed was the style it was written in. As Paulsen writes, it is virtually impossible to not visualize what he is describing, and as a result, the reader is compelled to continue reading. Another major aspect of the novel "Woodsong" is the way Paulsen identifies his memories and observations of nature. As each memory is introduced, it is backed by great amounts of description, and the reader visualizes a mental picture Paulsen has created. However, the memories Paulsen recalls do not have a type of organization that causes them to maintain a comfortable "flow." At the beginning of the novel, Paulsen more or less "lists" his memories, and later on they begin to relate to each other. I believe this is an effective way to relate the reader to the story and even help them "become" part of his memories and understand as well as feel what he felt as he went through the experiences and made the discoveries he describes in the novel.
A final characteristic of this novel that I would like to observe is that of the graphic nature used to describe various instances throughout the novel. Paulsen uses this technique throughout the book, and as a result, the reader can visualize and feel virtually exactly what Paulsen has written. A few examples of this technique can be found in the opening scene with the doe and the wolves, the scene where he injures his kneecap, and even in the words used to describe Hawk's attacks on the family and pets around the house. This technique, as well as the others I have mentioned, prove to perfectly match this novels goal of creating a vivid picture and description of the many mysteries of nature and differences between human beings and animals.

I have always found Gary Paulsen book's to be very enjoyable. I have read a few of his books and have enjoyed them. Woodsong was no different than the others. I have always enjoyed books about the outdoors and to stories of other people's adventures. Gary Paulsen's, Woodsong is filled with adventure and real life occurrences.
I felt the book had two main sections. It started off with the training of his dogs and finished with Gary Paulsen's completion of the Iditarod. The first part talked mostly about how a dog sled team works and also the dogs in general. Gary Paulsen went through and talked about each dog. The main dog, Storm, taught him a lot. This dog was the leader of the team.

When the second half of the story started it was in the shape of a journal. It felt like you were there with him running the race. Gary Paulsen wrote Woodsong with such great details. Through out the whole second half of the story it was detail after detail. Everything about his dogs, himself, his surroundings, and his encounters along the way are mentioned somewhere. Many of the people he met were very generous and gave a shelter for the night and food to eat. The environment around him was not always so nice. At one point he crossed a burned area in the trail. The sled was getting stuck on dead logs and he would have to stop to cut the sled out. Paulsen also faced hallucinations through out the whole race. The first one was on day two of his journey due to his lack of sleep.
The story over all I thought was very good. I enjoy reading about real situations and adventures that that person has had and this book definitely fell into the category. The book gave intense details about his experience. To me it sounded like Gary Paulsen had an adventure of a lifetime.

If you like the outdoors and books about nature and the wilderness you will enjoy the book Woodsong by Gary Paulsen just as I did. I liked how he studied and learned to understand his sled dogs personalities. I enjoyed the way he interacted with his sled dogs throughout the book. It was very interesting to hear him describe the beauty of the wilderness while on the Iditarod. Even though he was exhausted, in pain and times even hallucinating he was still able to appreciate the beauty of Alaska.
I like how Paulsen, the character developed throughout the story. In the beginning of the story Paulsen was given four old dogs and a broken sled to help him with trapping beavers. This was the beginning of his passion for running a team of dogs through the wilderness. This passion that Paulsen has with his dogs and the wilderness leads him to the ultimate challenge in racing the Iditarod in Alaska. I found Paulsen a likeable character and found myself wanting him to complete the race.
Paulsen's detailed and descriptive style of writing allows the reader to visualize the events that took place in the story. I enjoy this type of writing style because it allows me to follow the storyline better. Some readers may get bored with this type of writing and not enjoy the book as much as I did.

Overall this book was one of the most exciting books I have read in a very long time. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the wilderness and nature. I found Paulsen's book exhilarating and heart-pounding as I read about his adventures.

Synopsis: The book is divided into two parts. Woodsong is Gary Paulsen's adventure with training sled dogs and completing the Iditarod in Alaska. The first half of the book is his orientation with sled dogs and nature. Chapter one starts with an eyewitness account of the slaughter of a deer by a wolf pack. Throughout various chapters he describes his encounters with training his dogs and Mother Nature at her best. He recalls incidents of not trusting his dog's instincts. They survived but his dogs weren't too happy. He describes his run in with a bear that he threw a stick at and angered. Paulsen stated that he learned to appreciate and respect nature in it's' entirety.

Part two is all about the Iditarod race, he gives daily accounts of the race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. This 17 day journey which focuses on his personal battles with hallucinations, the conditions of the terrain, his own personal weariness and sometimes unwise decisions; that put him and his dogs in precarious situations.

Evaluation: This book is a narrative about a man following his dream despite the obstacles before him. This is Paulsen personal story of lessons learn, some the hard way. His images are clear and graphic, while others are humorous. This is a tale of determination and will. Students will enjoy the action which starts immediately in chapter one detailing the conquest of predators vs. prey. There is a map of the Iditarod with a listing of the checkpoints, which gives the reader a visual sense of the race. This book has a real sense of escapism. Who wouldn't want to shuck the daily grind of everyday life and be free to experience nature at another level? It is something that everyone has probably thought of at one time or another, only Paulsen acted on his. This book will be enjoyed by all who live vicariously through others.

Woodsong is a intersting book to read if you are into adventures. Garry has a team of dogs. He runs them on some land in their back yeard. He trained the team. He gets in some really interesting runs.He also gets in a really funny one. He gets three sodas. Thay EXPLODE because thay are so cold. One of the dogs gets frost bite. So he is in the sled. He gets some on his booties. When he runs with the other dogs he is sucking on his booties when he is running. That is the funniest in the race....

Gary Paulsen. "Paulsen is the best man-against-nature adventures writing today" according to Publisher Weekly. He lives with his wife Ruth in Minnesota. In "Wood Song" Gary talks about his like in the woods with his dogs. The book is about how unforgiving the wild can be and how he had to learn to deal with death in a hole new way. In just the first few chapters he talks about how on one of his first runs with a sled team he encounters a pack of wolfs chasing a deer. Also he learns that he knows very little about running a dog sled team in the begging, but once he starts running with the team more and more he starts to understand them and why they like to run. The book talks about how close Gary gets to his first led dog Storm. The book then talks about when he ran the Iditarod in Alaska. How he had to survive against the elements with only his dogs as company. In the book Gary talks about where he has been and what he has done.

Basically the book is all about action and adventure. Which is why I like Gary's books so much. One of the reasons I like his books so much is because there is not that many dry spots in the book. There isn't any really low parts, there is always something going on in the story. The great thing is that he makes you feel like you are right where he is.

I think that if you enjoy the wilderness then you will love this book or any of Gary Paulsen's books.

My mom used to read this book to my little brothers and I when we went camping (in the car on the way to the campsite, if it rained, at night around the campfire, etc). It always sparked our imaginations and gave us imaginary games to play. It also led to fun family discussions. I just bought it to read to my husband (we are newly weds). He liked it too! We were both entertained, even as adults.

I had never, as a child, realized how "tree hugger"ish the book was. My husband loves to hunt and this book mentions several times how the author sees hunting as a negative thing. It didn't seem to matter much, tho, since the rest of the book was so enthralling. I hope to read it to my kids someday.

This was a very enjoyible book about gary paulson and his dogs but it suffers from a few problems. the first ploblem is that it is too short, i went through the book in a few hours. that may not actully be a bad thing if you are looking for an easy read. The biggining starts with a scene of killing and gore but don't be discouraged it gets better. therefore i don't think this is a must read but if you are looking for a enjoyible adventure (or just a book about the iditorod) then this is your book.

livon, jimmy and bruce.

students from minnisota.

Woodsong is about Gary Paulsen's experience with dogsledding and animals. This book is fulled with a lot of short stories about the woods some of which are extremely gruesome. Gary also writes about his first experience running the Iditarod. The book is filled with beautiful writing and strong emotion.
Personally I enjoyed this book. Gary Paulsen is very good at describing his experiences and uses beautiful language. I'm not very fond of the gruesome stories but I do like the emotion it evoked. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

After reading the book Woodsong, by Gary Paulsen, I would have to say that I found it very enjoyable. From the vividly described characters to the intensity and excitement of the race, Woodsong was interesting from start to finish. It was very rejuvenating to read about the relationship between man and nature.
Paulsen describes his dogs as if they were his children. It amazed me, how much he cared about each of his dogs individually. The ways in which he described his dogs made me feel as if I knew them. Specificly when he wrote about Wilson, and how he was running on three legs, while trying to eat his booty on his other leg; I felt like I was watching along with Paulsen.
Although the individual dogs turned out to be great characters, my favorite character was the eskamo man. I guess that no one will ever really know if he was real or a hallusination, but nevertheless he was an amazing character and a real breath of hope for Paulsen. The eskimo man never let him down; even when he was miles from the trail the eskimo man safely helped him return to it.
The hallucinations were one of the most interesting parts of Woodsong. When Paulsen described the way that the snow looked like fire, I found myself picturing it in my mind over and over again. The boring man who talked about educational grants was also very interesting. I had no idea that hallucinations could seem so real.
The intensity of the race was more exciting than I could have imagined. Although I knew that Paulsen had entered the race to see if he could finish it, throughout the different days I was cheering him on. Even though he didn't win, I think that finishing the race was a big enough victory for him and the readers of this book.
Now that I understand more about dog sled racing than I ever thought I would, I think that I want to know even more. Woodsong is an inspiring piece of literature that I feel fortunate to have read.

In woodsong by gary paulsen there were many interasting points.The book woodsong is about a man and his name is manie.
He loves dogs he started falling apart.He gave dogs dry food he would do things wrong.Then he found out that he had a spell on him.When it was time to race in the middle of it he herd his wife screem.He stoped the race and was happy his wife broke the spell.I would recomand it for ages 6-12 because woodsong is a good book that is good for kids to read.And it is good and kids will enjoy that book.

What an inspiring book Woodsong was. This book left me on the edge of my seat. Gary Paulsen takes you along the journey through the Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska. This book has so much to offer, from the frozen waterfall to the lead dog Cookie leading the team off the cliff. Gary Paulsen proved to be a strong individual while taking on the task of leading his dogsled team through Alaska. At times he wanted to give up, but he remained determined and stayed true to himself. While reading this book you will feel as though you are in the Alaskan wilderness with Gary. Although a bit bloody and gruesome at times, the book proved to be an excellent choice. The plot structure was a little slow and skipped around, which made it hard to follow at times. People who read this book will find it to be a compelling story that will inspire them in the future. Woodsong is a great book for all people to read. If you are ready for adventure and suspense then you should read Woodsong. This book is a quintessential look into a man's trials and tribulations and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I realy liked this book cause i agreed with the politial views and its pretty interesting. It wasnt the best book when it cme to keeping me enterned though. i realy think if youre looking for somthing interesting this is the book for you but if you want to read somthing entertaining i would recamend picking up a graphic novel or somthing by stephen king or a copy of garfield or whatever your interested in (if your going to read a graphic novel i would recamend inuyasha or uzumaki) speaking of stephen king this book may be gory at some points and i wouldnt recamend it to sensitive people (i wouldnt recamend anything i read to somone who doesent like gore) but anyway overall it was a gooc book

In the book WoodSong by Gary Pausen, he explains his realations to dogs and the woods. Pausen was drawn into sled dog running when his trapline grew to long to manage on foot. With a beat up sled and 6 old dogs givin to him by friends; his new hobby turned into a way of life, and soon he was training for his first round of the Iditerod. A 1,420 mile sled dog race across Alaska.
The aurthor explains his run of the Iditerod it extreme detail. There are few flat spots caused by the over explanation of the simple happenings in the book. The author pulls you into the book so effectively that part 2(The race) of it seems to travel to fast to the end.
This book was very well written and extreamly detailed. It brings you into the story even if you have little or no interest on the subject of sled dog racing. Or adventure storys.
Over all the book was very well written despite of some minor flat spots and story flaws. This novel will be liked by any reader that like adventure, or doesn't. its written that well.

We thougth WoodSong was a very great and, detailed book. The author isn't afaid to say what happend, in his life. We learned things we didn't know, like the weather and the Iditarod. Gary Paulsen is a great and detailed author. We would recommend it to everyone. You will never put it down, once you pick it up! Just want until you read about the race. Hold On!

Woodsong is a well written story about a determined man and his bond with man's best friend, the dog. As the story begins, he turns from a novice, inexperienced dog runner to a experienced dog runner. He goes from losing his way and standing on deaths front doorstep to making a lifesaving decision only an expert could make. Through many tragedies, joys and sorrows, such as the feeling of seeing the finish at the end of the Iditarod(the most challenging dog race in North America) or having to watch your favorite dog grow old and pass away slowly and not being there when he draws its last breath or when you are shooting off a 40 foot tall cliff and plummeting to the bottom onto a frozen lake. And don't forget staying up all night watching the wolves skulk around the perimeter of your camp and making sure they stay at the perimeter and advance no more. It's a challenging book about 8th grade level but it's worth it. It's a book that really shows you the bond between man and dog. There are life lessons aplenty too. It teaches you things, the hard way, but you will stop and it will make you think, hmmm. It shows you nature has no mercy, something as beautiful as a frozen lake pockmarked with snow can quickly change into a frigid icy pool of death with a simple crack in the ice. There are some more gruesome scenes but they all have a purpose. To prove to you the lesson of only the fittest survive in the wild, they drill home the fact a sick or injured deer is chosen from the herd, chased and hunted down by wolves. It shows you how mercilessly the wolves rip into the deer. It is indeed a gruesome part but a quite important part. There are some parts in it that are a little hard to follow in my opinion such as when he starts talking about life, why are we here, etc. etc. Now for me that boring but you should look into it, plus it always somehow wraps into the story to prove quite vital. One man's ventures into the woods teach you so many lessons and morals such as only the strongest survive in the wild. Now we all know animals can sense things such as earthquakes and other events that people can not. In this book the majority of the leading is done by the dogs with a little help from the driver. For example, when they are in the middle of nowhere, its pitch-black and they come upon a fork in the trail. The dogs sense's say go left and they all pull left but the driver wants to go right. After a series of beatings the dogs give in and go right. Of course 5 minutes down the trail they end up shooting off the cliff down onto the lake. This story shows how one man's ambition, determination and a lot of help from his dogs all mixed in together is a perfect combination for braving nature and living to tell about it.

I liked the parts when he talked about his dogs and raced in the Iditarod. I loved how he told the truth about what really happened in his life. My favorite part was when he described what he saw on the race. Some parts were adventurous, some were funny, and some were sad. It's the best true book I ever read.

Woodsong is a great book, for children or adults alike.

I would highly recomend it to anyone who loves dogs, Gary Paulsen does a great job of showing just how wonderful they

can be. You will find yourself really getting into the characters of Storm, Cookie, and all the others. I would not, however, use this book as education for children, beacuse some of it is misleading. There is no such thing as a "bush wolf", the animals making the kill that Paulsen writes about so vividly are in fact coyotes, not wolves, and such things can mislead children. Otherwise Woodsong is a great read, based on real and amazing occurences.

Woodsong is an autobiography of Gary Paulsen's life in Minnesota and in a dog-sled race in Alaska. Gary trained dogs to trap and to race. He had many adventures with his dogs. He starts off by trapping in Minnesota with his dogs. After an encounter with the death of a deer that got chased down by wolves, he decides trapping is cruel and he will not trap anymore. He enters a race in Alaska called the Iditarod. It is a long cold race across Alaska. He trains his dogs by running in Minnesota. In the race he encounters many obstacles; running in -20 degree weather, falling down a 30 foot frozen waterfall, bears eating his food and long runs through mountain passes. In the end of the book Gary finishes the race. Although not in first, he learns great lessons of life.

This truly is a wonderful story, but I'd like to interject a word of caution. The author has taken an certain amount of artistic license to enhance his 'nonfiction autobiography,' so you might want to research your facts before you start going around and impressing your friends with them. ;)

Woodsong was a great book. It is funny. Some parts were so funny I practically fell out of my seat. He explains life like it really is in Alaska. Some parts are very disgusting, but I liked it. Gary Paulsen really gives good descriptions. Woodsong is the best book I ever read.

dear who are readiing my review, i loved this book as much as i loved any other book. but you see, i don't really understand the lessons Gary Paulsen learned in wood song can someone please help me and send them to my e-mail [email protected]?
a bientot natalie,

This book has no fun to it at all. IT's really boaring. All the character does is ride sleds. There is one enteresting part in the book and it is when they come up on this figure that they think it is a ghost. But it wasn't so that wasn't no fun.This book had no humor. I like books that gives you different emotion through out the book. This book made me want to trow up.The genre of this book is adventure. That is what I like but it has to have a few exciting parts to it. I barly could read the book cause I never got into it.IT's hard to read a book when there is no excitement. I wanted to change books but I figured it would get better. The guy in the book which was the main charicter raced in dog sled races. He always went wrideing throug the woods. He would not kill no animals. That runt this book a lot for me because I love deer hunting and killing all kinds of animals.But anyway his dog dies and that relates to me because I had a good hunting dog and he died and that just broke my heart. It broke the charicters heart to because his dog died. This is mainly the only parts that go on in this book so it gives you a several reasons why not to choose this book.I do not reconmend this book to no one. I figure if you read this you will be as miserable as I was.

What is wrong with these kid reviewers? I admit, I've never been really fond of Gary Paulsen's books, but i was pleasantly surprised. Seriously, every kid reviewer who hated this book should go out and get a life! Very well written book.

I read this book in 4th period Reading Class. However, most of the time we were reading this spesific book, I fell asleep. However, Gary Paulsen did a good job of living this book, I didn't really care for it.. I am very sorry but aventure books arent my type! :-(

In this book Gary Paulsen gives his life to running sled dogs. When he joins the Iditarod he faces many problems from hallucinations to getting wiped off the sled. Read to find out if he wins the race or not!

-Katie B.

This was a book about a man who had a slay team in Alaska. In the begining he thinks he knows everything about his dogs but later he found out that he knew nothing. He will show you that dogs are extreamly caring, smart, and loving.

i give this book a 4 because it is descriptive. it was about gary paulson in a dog sled race in the middle of alaska called the ididorod. in alaska it is it is very cold. on the dog sled they carry supplys li9ke food. if you stay in the race for the whole thing you are good.

Gary Paulsen has a dogsled race in Alaska. His dogs are interesting and smart too on this trip. Gary has lost a few friends and items and it is amazing. Let me give you a hint about the book, Gary's favorite dog is Storm.

In this book Gary Paulsen gives his life to running sled dogs. When he joins the Iditarod he faces many problems from hallucinations to getting wiped off the sled. Read to find out if he wins the race or not!

-Katie B.

This was a book about a man who had a slay team in Alaska. In the begining he thinks he knows everything about his dogs but later he found out that he knew nothing. He will show you that dogs are extreamly caring, smart, and loving.

i give this book a 4 because it is descriptive. it was about gary paulson in a dog sled race in the middle of alaska called the ididorod. in alaska it is it is very cold. on the dog sled they carry supplys li9ke food. if you stay in the race for the whole thing you are good.

Gary Paulsen has a dogsled race in Alaska. His dogs are interesting and smart too on this trip. Gary has lost a few friends and items and it is amazing. Let me give you a hint about the book, Gary's favorite dog is Storm.

The description of the book that I have just finished is called Woodsong by Gary Paulsen. In this book it talks about how he struggled to get acrossed the artic of Minnesota. The trip he took was called a brutality trip. It was one of the most dangeros trips he had ever taken, and he has taken many trips before. This is a very thrilling book. I would very highly roccomend this book to anybody that likes adventure books or any type of book that keeps you on edge, because this book certainly does.

A most amazing book about a man and his dogs. There are many animal stories in publication but none compare to this heartwrenching and truthful as this one. I used to think James Hariott was amazing but not even he compares to this. Anyone who loves animals should read this.

Gary Paulsen is wonderful. I love books on dogsledding, and this is one of my favorites. An action-packed race to the finish, in an ultimate book, by an excellant author. What more could anybody want

Gary Palson is a very good writer!This is preatty good book but it does not have a lot of action in all of the chapters , that is why I did not think that it was a very good book. It had a lot of good things in it like , the mysteries ,blood squrts, and the Iditrod part was very good.If I had to read this book again I probly would not because it is good the first time but I would proubaly fall asleep if I read it again. It has a lot of good information about wilderness , dogs and mental life (hallucinations and little men who help him with dogs . I am a very good person and I have good taste in and books!

This book was so fantastic. This book was so fascinating that I kept thinking that all of the information wasn't true. Gary described the book so well that I felt like I was him and I was sled dog racing. I thouroughly reck a mend it to anybody that likes winter adventures, and I also hope there will be a sequal to this book, since it is so good. I also hope there are books kind of close to this but they probably will be nothing in comparison.

This is the best book I have read since the first day of 7th grade. The best part is when
they finish the race and when he hugged his wife and dogs and his kids. I loved this book! This book makes me want to read more books

Woodsong is one of many boring books by Gary Paulson. I was forced to read it in 6th grade and I thought it was total (...)! It is about the time when Gary Paulson was a dog racer. It starts out with Gary explaining how he got something out of watching a poor Doe being devoured by wolves (horrible part of the book.) The rest of the book he tells how he learns things from his sled dogs. It's so stupid to learn about his dogs personality. Frankly I don't care. He also thinks he sees an alien at one point.
If all Gary Paulson can do is just write books that repeat words over and over again, I suggest that he stop writing his [...] books and go play with his dogs. Unfortunatly, that won't happen, because all of his books have a pretentious spirit in them that somehow draws the viewers into trance. Last of all, I would suggest reading good books like THE GOLDEN COMPASS or any of the HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy. PEACE OUT

This is a great read for nature and Animal Lovers. The most exciting part of the book was at the very end when the main character is racing in the Iditarod. I really liked it. I would recommend it to people who like dogs and want to learn more about dog sledding and Alaska.

In Woodsong by Gary Paulsen, Manny wanted to win the race he was about to race all day he he thinking about the dogs.The nignt and race made this an exciting book. I would recomend it to kids of all ages.

This book was not placed in the right order. in the begining the first and second chapter are put in the right place but after that the race should come. Then the rest of chapters 3-8 should come at the end.I think the book was ok. I have read better books in my life. I think that anybody that doesn't like blood should skip through the first 2 chapters.

If you read this book be prepaired to use your mind to put the book in the right order.

I read this book with my 11 year old son, each of us taking turns reading to each other. It was captivating - an exciting adventure we both became thoroughly engrossed in. Lots of insight into the adversity of Minnesota wilderness during the winter. A must read for young adults, and a spectacular book for a parent to enjoy with a child.

I think this was a wonderful book. When I read with my book group we always had questions. I would give Gary Paulson two thumbs up. There was always somthing exciting going on. When he told the story you could feel what he was going through the situation, how he felt about entering the biggest and longest dog sled race in the world. I recomend this to anyone who likes a good adventure book. This book is definitely worth reading.

I read this book in class and at home for school and I found it extremely BORING. I have read other Paulson books and enjoyed them, albeit this one was AWFUL. The thing I thought was totally wrong about this book is that it's supposed to be about the Iditarod, but 80 of the 120 pages were just experiences he had in the wilderness! It discusses how the author learned from a dog...I have a dog and love her but she doesn't speak to me!

great book will read it over and over mostly because it tells you facts and just a great book over all. I Loved
this book because it was creative could have been true and it was really just well wroten

I think that Woodsong is a five star book because some parts are interesting, some are hilarious, some were scary and some disgusting, so PICK THIS BOOK!!! I thought it was a challenging book for me to read as a 9 year old. It's a book for all ages of readers. I would not want to miss anything Gary Paulsen writes and I hope he writes more books.

This book was terrible. Probably the worst book in the universe. It talks about very inappropriate things like blood and death. And it bored me so much. I would definitely not recommend this book.

Written by a 9 year old

I love this book Woodsong because it keeps you on your toes throughout the whole book. The Idiotorod where he doesn't win but you feel just as good inside. I gave this book 5 stars because he does a great job of describing every little thing.

This is one of the worst books in the planet. I would rate it 0 stars but i cant. this book is about a guy and how he wins a race with horrible description, awful vocabulary. it would be used to teach 2 year olds how to talk but its to bloody unnatrul and unrealistic. if a teacher is reading this your kids will hate it and wil say they like it. if a kid is reading this, if your teacher makes you read this skip chapters 3 at a time or switch schools. cant get any worse than this, I used to say, guesse what? it just got alot worse.

I did not like this book at all! It was gross and sooo not worth taking the time to read! It was ridiculous. Our teacher read this to us and we did nt like it at all. We all groaned when he said to take it out and read it. I hated it! I do not like Gary Paulsens writing at all!

Woodsong by Gary Poulsen. He really detailed a lot of the if things in the book. When you start reading Woodsong you would never put the book down. We recomend this book to anybody who likes adventure books.

I loved this book alot.It allowed me to watch it in my mind.Reading this book gave me different emotions such as sadness and surprised when Storm died and did not blame the owner.I think you should read this.

I read this because the school had a 5th grade class read it and several of the kids expressed discomfort with the level of violence. This book has 132 pages. Death, blood, fear, horror, violence, injuries are on at least half of the pages. There are several scenes that include such things as well described horrible death, of ripping, tearing, steaming blood filled events. Yes, most of it involves animals, though the humans are described with kneecaps ripped away (twice), noses amputated, faces scraping on streets dragged behind sleds, etc. as well.
The writing is done well enough to make this all quite visually real. It is not for children. Not in my opinion. If you must see for yourself, read pages 5 - 8, the deer death scene. Imagine yourself reading it to your child. Imagine reading it to your child's friends. The entire book is a short read. There is more to consider. No question it's a an experience to read. No question that the person narrating the story is compassionate and has a story to tell. The audience matters, though, and this is not for 5th graders.

I just started reading this book and I already want to kill myself. I am required to do this and if I don't I get detention. I would rather do that than read anymore of this terrible book. The first part almost made me puke the gave details of a wolf eating an alive deer!!!! WORST BOOK EVER DO NOT BUY!!!!!!!!!!

Woodsong was the worst book i ever read except missing may! i hated it! it's too wordy and it has to much useless info and basically no plot. It was bad and gross. Storm is a dog who pooped blood when he ate dry doog food it was good graphics but gross. Overall, woodsong wasa horrible book!!