* Hatchet: A coming-of-age story about a boy who survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness.
* The River: A sequel to "Hatchet" that follows Brian's journey down a river.
* The Winter of the Birds: Another survival story, this time about a boy and his dog facing harsh winter conditions.
* Dogsong: A novel about a boy who must race his sled dog team in order to save his family.
While Paulsen wrote about survival and the natural world, he did not focus on mysteries.