SOLVED. Science Fiction - man travels to alternate world and joins alien species [s]

[Lindsay]

I read this book around 2004 plus or minus a few years. I was in 6th grade at the time, so it might be a children's book. Here's what I remember: the main character is a man who lives on present day Earth. Somehow he gets accidentally transported to an alternate world with other races on it (it may be post-Apocalyptic earth). The book follows his travels throughout the land and as he meets a different race of creatures. At first there's some conflict with them and then he ends up falling in love and joining their race and culture. [spoiler] The book ends with him waking up again in present day Earth and I think he wakes up in a fountain and people think he's crazy because he's still acclimated to life with this alien species.

I thought that the title of the book was the name of this alternate world - one word, starts with an A or R or S...My mind keeps jumping to Augustana or something like that but obviously that's not right. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm going crazy!

[Michele]

Does he fall in love with a particular person, or just their world/culture/lifestyle?

[Lindsay]

I think both - sort of at the same time. If I'm remembering correctly.

[Justanotherbiblophile]

bump

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Lindsay, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Lindsay]

I actually did figure it out finally! It's The Transall Saga by Gary Paulsen.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Great. Popular book, requested 6x now.