He often drew on his own experiences in the wilderness, particularly his time in the Alaskan wilderness, to create stories that were both thrilling and deeply personal.
While his books are often categorized as adventure, they also frequently explore themes of survival, self-reliance, nature, and coming-of-age.
Some of his most popular books include:
* Hatchet
* The River
* Brian's Winter
* The Winter of the Birds
Though he's best known for his young adult fiction, he also wrote books for younger children and adults, including Dogsong and The Voyage of the Frog.