Ben Mickaelsen

Is the author of children’s  novels.  He has also won many awards for his books.  He also lives in Bozeman, Montana, but what make this so interesting is the fact that he lives with his wife and a 750 pound black bear that he adopted 25 years ago.  He did this because Buffy, the bear, was born on a rescued farm and was being studied.  Why after about 16 week they no longer were studying him Ben never really found out.  So since Buffy could not be returned to the wild, because his claws were removed, Ben decided to adopt him.  What make things more interesting is that when Ben writes a book and just like how some of his book were written, he will actually experience what he is about to write.  For example, in the novel Rescue Josh McGuire, it was based on his experiences with Buffy his black bear.  In sparrow Hawk Red, its about a boy who runs away and then lives on the streets in Mexico, to prepare for this Ben spent sometime actually living on the streets.  He did this in order to know really what one goes through while living on the streets.  Also in Stranded he spent time in a rescue facility helping to rescue two dolphins that had been rescued.  This is what I really like about him, because he wants to experience what he writes about.

Awards

RESCUE JOSH MCGUIRE, published

International Reading Association Award - 1992

North Dakota Flicker Tale Book Award - 1998

Western Writers Spur Award -1993

Nebraska Golden Sower Award - 1995

California Young Reader Medal - 1994

Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award - 1993

SPARROW HAWK RED, published 1993

California Young Reader Medal -1997

STRANDED, published 1995

Maryland Children's Book Award - 1999

COUNTDOWN, published 1996

None, but nominated of many.

PETEY, published 1998

Western Writer's Golden Spur Award - 1999

ALA Notable Book - 1999

YALSA best Book for Young Adults, ALA -1999

Touching Spirit Bear, published 2001

YALSA best Book for Young Adults, ALA - 2002

North Dakota Flicker Tale Award - 2002

Nautilus Award for Young Adult Literature - 2002

California Young Reader Medal - 2003

Nevada Young Reader Award - 2003

Wisconsin Golden Archer Award - 2004

Florida Sunshine State Award - 2004

Nebraska Golden Sower Award - 2004

The Wyoming Soaring Eagle Award - 2004

Minnesota Maude Hart Lovelace Book Award - 2004

Red Midnight, published 2002

IRA Notable Book for a Global Society - 2003

IRA Book List Selection - 2004

Nevada Young Reader Award - 2005

Tree Girl, published 2004

International Reading Association Teacher Choice List - 2005

Also there are numerous other awards that he was nominated for, for all of his books.