Ben Mikaelsen facts for kids
Ben Mikaelsen was born on January 5, 1952. He is a Bolivian American writer who creates amazing books for young people. His stories often teach important lessons about life and nature.
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Early Life and Learning
Ben Mikaelsen was born in La Paz, Bolivia. His parents were missionaries from Denmark. He didn't start school until he was in fourth grade. When he did, he faced bullying because of his background.
Before starting seventh grade, Ben and his family moved to the United States. Here, he faced more bullying because his English wasn't very good yet. Despite these challenges, Ben was determined. As a teenager in Minnesota, he taught himself how to swim and dive. This love for adventure led him to take flight and skydiving lessons! He later studied at the University of Southern California and Bemidji State University.
Ben's Life and His Bear Friend
Ben Mikaelsen has been a full-time writer since 1984. He lives in Anacortes, Washington with his wife, Connie. One of the most special parts of his life was adopting an American black bear named Buffy. Ben built his home in Montana, and Buffy lived with him for 26 years. He thought of Buffy as a "750-pound member of my family." Buffy passed away in September 2012.
Buffy inspired some of Ben's most famous books. These include Touching Spirit Bear and its sequel, Ghost of Spirit Bear. Ben also loves to share his experiences with young people. He visits schools across the country. He talks about his life and how he dealt with bullying. He even took a year off high school to join a parachute team and compete!
Books by Ben Mikaelsen
Ben Mikaelsen has written many popular books for young readers. Here are some of his published works:
- Rescue Josh McGuire (1991)
- Sparrow Hawk Red (1993)
- Stranded (1995)
- Countdown (1996)
- Petey (1998)
- Touching Spirit Bear (2001)
- Red Midnight (2002)
- Tree Girl (2004)
- Ghost of Spirit Bear (2008)
- Jungle of Bones (2014)
Awards and Special Recognition
Ben Mikaelsen's books have won many awards. These awards are given by states to honor great books for young people. Some of his awards include the California Young Reader Medal and Wyoming's Indian Paintbrush Book Award.
- 1991: Golden Spur, Juvenile Fiction, for Rescue Josh McGuire
- 1992: International Reading Association Children's Book Award, Older Reader Category, for Rescue Josh McGuire
- 1999: ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults, for Petey
- 1999: Golden Spur, Juvenile Fiction, for Petey
- 2002: ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults, for Touching Spirit Bear
