WHEN YOU GROW up in a small town in the north woods, you have to make your own excitement. High spirits, idiocy, and showing off for the girls insp...
read full description
reviews
Nov 27, 2008
Jennifer
rated it: 
A mother of three boys recommended this book to me. Such a funny book about boys and their seriously shocking ability to make it to adulthood. My husband (who had his share of dangerous adventures growing up) read it and loved it too. Laugh out loud funny. This book will stay safely shelved until my son is thirty - I don't want him getting any ideas. The girls can read it all they want.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 30, 2011
Amanda
rated it: 
Angel Peterson, Gary Paulsen, and their friends tried a number of daredevil stunts in their thirteenth year, and they are chronicled in hilarious detail in this book. Have you ever wondered what could happen if you tried to ski while tied to the bumper of a car? What about shooting a waterfall in a barrel, or wrestling a bear? Gary Paulsen's stories of his youth describe a time when the Army/Navy store had target kites that could be used for hang gliding and circuses had tents where you could pa
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 05, 2009
Eileen
rated it: 
Definitely, the adult in me was laughing at Angel Peterson. I was chuckling out loud while reading this book. My favorite story was when the boys went to the tent revival meeting and threw crab apples on the roof to mimic the “footsteps of God” just as the preacher was saying those words. When Orvis is caught, he inexplicably gives Archie’s name and that makes for even more trouble. As is his custom, Orvis devises his own punishment, which is much worse than what Archie had in store for him!
More...
May 06, 2010
Becca
rated it:
I gladly call this book a biography of Gary Paulsen as well as for every male alive. Gary Paulsen, while writing of his life experiences particularly, captures the essence of every boy: an abundance of ideas and lack of prefrontal brain development. The biography begins with the title's story and describes how one movie preview + Carl Peterson's idea= Carl "Angel" Peterson. The book goes on from there to describe all the crazy things boys do from riding bikes through flaming hoops t
More...
Oct 15, 2009
Barky
rated it:
From peeing on electric fences to setting records for speed and distance, these boys are lucky they made it into adulthood without any other serious mishaps. Angel Peterson wanted to set the new speed record for skiing, so he and his buddies outfit him at the local Army Surplus Store and then, since there are no hills in their small Minnesotan town, they decide to get the local cool teenage guy to get their skier up to speed by pulling him along behind the car. They get up to 80 miles an hour
More...
Jul 19, 2009
Terri
rated it:
I recently read an article where the author talked of the best biographies and autobiographies of all time. Number one on his list was "How Angel Peterson Got His Name" by Gary Paulsen. I had seen this book on the shelf in our library many times but had never picked it up. I am so glad that I did! This short masterpiece has been one of my favorite reads of the summer! It is a treasure to be sure.
I read it in one sitting (actually one standing on the treadmill at the gym) and More...
I read it in one sitting (actually one standing on the treadmill at the gym) and More...
Feb 15, 2009
Amy
rated it:
This is a hysterical book about the antics of a group of 13 year old boys in post-WW II Minnesota. It tells of their antics to amuse themselves in the flat, cold wilderness that they lived in and compares them to extreme sports of today. This is a sports book that would appeal to teens that are not necessarily into sports because it is as much about the adventure and ridiculous danger of the antics as it is about extreme sports. It is also a humorous, quick read. The characters are believabl
More...
Jun 11, 2010
Justin
rated it:
This is a non-fiction autobiographical account of Gary Paulsen when he was 13 years old. The book contains five short stories that Paulsen wrote about his 13th year where he tried extreme things with his friends in Minnesota. They are all hilarious and show keen insight into young boys. One of them, the funniest story, is what the title of the book is named after. It recounts Paulsen and his friends' attempt to ski behind an 80 mile per hour car. This book will relate to almost any make YA reade
More...
Oct 22, 2009
Kasha
rated it:
David and I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a 6.0 on the AR reading list. It's about boys (probably David's age) and the stupid things they do trying to break records and experimenting with wind, flight, and generally dangerous things. It is very humorously written. I laughed out loud several times. The only reason to use caution in reading it, is it makes mention of one older boy having a picture of a half-naked woman on his steering wheel...it also mentions one boy searching for "
More...
Oct 14, 2011
Patrice
rated it: 
There are times in my life as a fledgling 8th grade teacher where I have to read books like How Angel Peterson Got His Name. I mean, it is written by Gary Paulsen of Hatchet fame, which is pretty much a staple in the middle school reading curriculum canon.
There were parts of this book where I laughed out loud at the idiocy and antics of young gentlemen in this nonfiction account. I can't say that I would have finished it, were it not a requirement for my coaching the Battle of the Boo More...
There were parts of this book where I laughed out loud at the idiocy and antics of young gentlemen in this nonfiction account. I can't say that I would have finished it, were it not a requirement for my coaching the Battle of the Boo More...
Feb 18, 2009
Melissa
rated it:
Aspects of the work that appeal, or do not appeal to teens:
This is simply hilarious. I found this book picturing X-games style extreme sports, and instead found short stories about all of the incredibly stupid things that pre-teen boys can do. I laughed out loud and read pieces to my friends, and I think that teens would do the same. The stories were so incredibly ridiculous that they pretty much have to be believed. This book doesn’t really include any of the 40 Developmental Assets f More...
This is simply hilarious. I found this book picturing X-games style extreme sports, and instead found short stories about all of the incredibly stupid things that pre-teen boys can do. I laughed out loud and read pieces to my friends, and I think that teens would do the same. The stories were so incredibly ridiculous that they pretty much have to be believed. This book doesn’t really include any of the 40 Developmental Assets f More...
Dec 05, 2010
Rene
rated it:
Geared toward 13 year old boys, this book had us belly-laughing several times. Just boy humor. I love it when we laugh together while reading a book! Engagingly written and fun to read-aloud. Topics included peeing on an electric fence, skateboarding while holding onto a car bumper, and skiing behind a car at high speeds. I had to do some editing though--I left out a damn, and skipped over several passages focusing on the picture of a girl on the steering wheel that the boys liked to look at.
More...
Dec 07, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
PAULSEN- NONFICTION
This book is a collection of stories from Gary Paulsen’s teenage years. They are a collection of daredevil stunts that he and his friends did. Before extreme sports, quality protective gear, and television Paulsen and his friends have a lot of fun. They do wild things like try to beat a record for how fast you can ski0- 74mp- being pulled by a truck. Another is flying a giant parachute like a kite, and ending up hang gliding. Paulsen’s story of his own first date is hilar More...
This book is a collection of stories from Gary Paulsen’s teenage years. They are a collection of daredevil stunts that he and his friends did. Before extreme sports, quality protective gear, and television Paulsen and his friends have a lot of fun. They do wild things like try to beat a record for how fast you can ski0- 74mp- being pulled by a truck. Another is flying a giant parachute like a kite, and ending up hang gliding. Paulsen’s story of his own first date is hilar More...
Jun 02, 2011
Annie
rated it:
All I can say is thank the lord Gary Paulsen and his friends lived through all of these insane shenanigans so that Paulsen could grow up to write some amazing books. I'm almost hesitant to give this book to a child because if it makes me want to make a homemade skateboard and make my own backyard bungee setup, I can't imagine what it would spur in a 10-year-old. Paulsen, for his part, does seem to recognize this danger and put a large disclaimer at the front of the book (although he does also in
More...
Nov 27, 2011
Doug
rated it:
Hilarious! There are few books which have had me laughing so much, cringing a little too at times. This is a short read for an adult, the individual chapters are perfect for stand-alone class read-alouds at the end of the period and the book can be completed over time this way. This is also a great book to recommend for boys that may like to read about other boys (like themselves?) who have adventures and try stupid stunts, a la TV's Jackass. There is some historical context which helps put the
More...
Sep 02, 2010
Sherry
rated it:
Mothers of daredevils beware: don't let your adolescent read this book, or else they'll get some great ideas! Flashback-style, Gary Paulsen reminices about his 1940's childhood, his thirteenth year, frought with daring stunts and escapades executed without much forethought as to potential consequences. All turns out right in the end, amidst much laughter and bravado! For ages 10-13.
*Author Gary Paulsen relates tales from his youth in a small town in northwestern Minnesota in More...
*Author Gary Paulsen relates tales from his youth in a small town in northwestern Minnesota in More...
Dec 08, 2010
Joel
rated it:
How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulsen Non-fiction, boy
activities, dare-
devil stunts,
rural America
This non-fiction book is simply one of the funniest narratives I have read on 8 to 17 year old boys doing hilarious, dare-devil activities like breaking the speed record on skis, bungy-jumping from More...
activities, dare-
devil stunts,
rural America
This non-fiction book is simply one of the funniest narratives I have read on 8 to 17 year old boys doing hilarious, dare-devil activities like breaking the speed record on skis, bungy-jumping from More...
Mar 18, 2011
Jennie
rated it:
I've always LOVED Gary Paulsen, and this book appears to be somewhat of a "sequel" to his hit "Harris & Me"...one of the funniest books I've EVER read! Anyway, "Angel Peterson" is another autobiographical book about Gary's adventures as a young boy in Minnesota. It's literally laugh-out-loud funny, and it's a true miracle that none of the boys died as a result of their "childhood curiosity". I'd recommend this for 4th graders through adults. A very qui
Feb 03, 2010
Cindi
rated it:
Oh heavens. I haven't laughed this hard in months. I laughed so hard in fact, that my kids kept looking at me in wonder (who is this crazy woman?). Though the book is inscribed to all thirteen year olds, I think I'd rather mine didn't get hold of it. Too many crazy ideas.
I don't think my dad was this crazy, but he grew up in this generation and has many good stories to tell my kids about the fun he had. Makes me wonder if we will ever see these kind of days again??
I don't think my dad was this crazy, but he grew up in this generation and has many good stories to tell my kids about the fun he had. Makes me wonder if we will ever see these kind of days again??
Oct 31, 2010
Ziyan
rated it:
What would happen if you were on skies with a rope tied around your hand and the other end of the rope tied to the car and the car was going more than 80 miles per hour?What would happen if you were in a boxing ring trying to wrestle a bear just to impress girls?And what would happen if you were riding your bike away from a vicious dog and you jumped over like 5 clothes line but you got unlucky and almost CUT YOUR HEAD OFF?Well those are some of the things these weird boys try to do to have fun
More...
Sep 08, 2011
Mrfisher
rated it:
I like this book it is a thriller kind of because of all of the things this kid does. He tries to do amazing things but does not succeed in all of these things. The setting in this book is a town inside of Minnesota. In the book it is after world war two and all the war things are for sale. I would recommend this book to any boy or girl that likes stunt and other things or fails.
Dec 08, 2010
Erin
rated it:
A fabulous account of all Gary Paulsen's (and his friends') misadventures during his 13th year. What wonderfully stupid stunts they pulled! :-) I was laughing out loud, and was brought back to memories of some of my own stupid childhood stunts (yes, we all have them!).
A quick and easy book, recommended for reluctant readers...especially boys who think they're tough :-)
A quick and easy book, recommended for reluctant readers...especially boys who think they're tough :-)
Sep 01, 2008
Elizabeth
rated it:
Dedicated to all 13-year-old boys (“The miracle is that we live through it”), Paulsen’s latest collection of possibly autobiographical anecdotes, his most hilarious yet, celebrates that innate impulse to try really stupid stunts, just to see what happens. What sort of bad ideas can a group of young teens in a small Minnesota town come up with? “Angel” Peterson ties himself, on skis, to a fast car, earning his nickname after claiming to hear angels singing “Your Cheatin’ Heart” when the attempt g
More...
Aug 04, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
Great short stories! Each chapter is a different tale about the near death experiences of a group of teenage boys. I laughed out loud throughout the whole book. You might want to read Harry and Me by Paulsen first because he does reference events from that book a few times, but it is still a great read even if you don't.
Jan 11, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
Memoir documenting Gary Paulsens's childhood and the escapades of him and his friends. Angel broke the speed record on skis by being towed behind a car. Wrestling a bear to impress girls. Flying a giant kite and inventing hang gliding. The list is entertaining and long.
Jul 28, 2011
Hilarious! I finished this collection of stories about Gary Paulsen's childhood in one sitting. My dad, who tells the most outrageous tales of stupid things he did as a child, has finally been outdone. I'll have to pick him up a copy for Christmas. :)
Oct 20, 2010
Trixie
rated it:
This book is episodic, it presents short stories that a reader could imagine their father or grandfather telling them. The "adventures" describe the harebrained ideas adolescent boys think up to pass the time. The vignettes are humorous and are fitting for a younger audience.
Mar 06, 2011
Kapila
rated it:
Inventive. Nostalgic. Jaw-dropping. GD'd hilarious. (I still liked Scieszka's Knuckleheads better - I'd give Paulsen's book a strong 2nd place). Definitely for older or more savvy kids - 5th grade, despite the slimness of the book.
Feb 26, 2011
Darby
rated it:
These fun short stories provide a glimpse at Gary Paulsen's childhood and teen years. Paulsen keeps it light - reminiscing about funny and stupid things he and his friends attempted as they were growing up. Definitely a good choice for young readers who will be reluctant to pick up biographies - some of the stories had be laughing out loud!
Jan 18, 2011
This book was halarious and also full of daring excitement! I loved the part when Angel says that he hear angel sing and obviously how he got his name. I also liked the part when Orvis crashes his head into a wall. I recommend this book to people who love Gary Paulsen and whoever loves action(and extreme sports)!
