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 the late 1940s and early 1950s, such as skiing behind a souped-up car and imitating daredevil Evel Knievel.

I hadn't read this book since I taught fourth grade, which means at least six years ago. I remembered it as being hilarious. I wasn't disappointed.

I love Paulsen's memoirs because they are always hilarious and believable even while making your eyes widen with incredulity and your breath catch a little, caught between worry and laughter. I think I love this book even more because it reminds me of my husband and his brother. No, they didn't have these same adventures, but they would have been up for them. My guys, instead, had races to see who could unspool a toilet paper roll to the end. The catch is that the toilet paper is on fire and you can only use one finger on each hand for the unspooling. The boys also threw knives at each other's bare feet, and swam among water moccasins during their Tennessee childhood. Oh, the stories! They have since introduced their daughters, mothers, and wives to the pleasures of toilet paper fire races. ... I wouldn't want to raise my daughter any other way.

Funny! It's kind of like listening to your dad or favorite uncle tell all of his crazy stories about growing up when kids actually played outside. Tween boys would totally eat this up. There are a few instances of the author mentioning how much 13 year-old boys like pictures of half-naked women, and there is some giggling over an ice cream treat that shares its name with a part of the male anatomy, so know who you're giving this to.

My husband laughed until tears formed in his eyes. He would have been just the same as these boys. And my dad immediately knew the movie "Them."

This book is Soo good!! It is so hilarious and I was almost crying laughing during some parts of the book. I love how these are all true stories that happened to the author too. Overall a great book!

This is a short set of stories of boys doing dangerous things. He mentions "Harris and Me" which I enjoyed/was horrified by. The things boys used to do when unsupervised! They were almost always unsupervised! I don't know who the intended reader is for this book. I don't think most 13-year-old boys will see the humor in these shenanigans. Can't believe they survived these crazy ideas. He tells about some crazy things he and his friends did while growing up. One of his friends wrestled with a bear! Paulsen has a great voice, so this was a nice, fun easy read.

kinda boring ngl

Gary Paulsen at his best, in my humble opinion. It's laugh-out-loud funny and also incredibly well written.

Screamingly funny--even the preface written by the author. Considering that these are feats that he and his pals tried while growing up, it's amazing that Gary Paulsen lived to write so many wonderful books.

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 a hay loft, hang gliding with an old WWII parachute, and fighting a bear at the fair. The book is chalk-full of "boys being boys" as they try to out-do the other, usually finding as a consequence trouble, but always triumph. Paulsen impressively captures the outrageous thought processes of him and his childhood friends, forcing the reader (especially if male) to recall his or her adolescent years. Every chapter contains some comical new activity that the boys in northern Minnesota try as they pass their mostly innocent summer and winter days. Paulsen's descriptions of the activities made for an easily vicarious reading as I felt like I was accompanying Paulsen as he watched his friends crash and tumble, usually coming out of their near-death experiences with a smile and pride.

The humor in this book that accompanies these boys and their boldness makes it a must-read for middle-school male young-adults and above. And if females want to understand males better, then this book is perfect!

I just got done reading the book How Angel Peterson Got His Name By: Gary Paulsen. This book is about a 13 year old boy named Carl and he did a lot sorts of crazy things. One of the crazy things he did was to try to break the speed record on skis but he had to go seventy-four miles an hour to break the record. But there was one problem, there were no hills any where so he wasn't able get any enough speed. I remembered what Carl had said, "I don't need any hills all I need is a car." He and all his friends went and bought the car and gear so they wouldn't get hurt. They got everything and went back to break the recorded. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to do crazy things and to people who just want to laugh and want to find humorous books to read.

Really funny :D


What I got out of it:
I feel so sad for the boys I nanny and for many other kids who aren't able to really be kids these days. I grew up building forts and jumping off the roof of my house into piles of leaves with my siblings as a kid.
So many kids I know now are unable to adventure and explore and get into trouble and try stupid things. I constantly have to tell the boys I nanny not to do things that might hurt them. It's my job to keep them safe. But when are they going to learn to be boys and get messy and have fun!? Their suburban neighbourhood doesn't even allow a swingset in the yard!

This book makes me want, whatever the cost, a place where my future children can run around, get into innocent, childish trouble, and have a good childhood!