Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood is a memoir by Gary Paulsen, a renowned author of survival stories for young readers. The book tells the story of Paulsen’s turbulent and adventurous childhood, from his escape to a North Woods homestead at age five, to his enlistment in the Army at age seventeen. The book reveals how Paulsen’s experiences shaped his writing career and inspired his bestselling novels, such as Hatchet.