Canyons

Canyons by Gary Paulsen is a 1990 novel published by Delacorte Press. Paulson uses his story of two 14-year-old boys, Brennan Cole and Coyote Runs, to explore themes such as Human Behavior Transcending Time and Culture, Deep Connections to the Natural World, and Violence as a Part of Colonization. Paulsen, who was the author of more than 200 books of children’s and young adult fiction, frequently explores notions of independence and survival in rural settings, both of which are topics present in Canyons. When Paulsen was awarded the 1997 Margaret Edwards Award, which is awarded to young adult authors for their entire body of work, Canyons was specifically cited as a contributing factor to the decision.

Other works by this author include Northwind, How Angel Peterson Got His Name, The Voyage of the Frog, and Woodsong.

This guide is based on the Kindle version of this work.

Content Warning: Canyons explores concepts such as racism, colonialism, and violence against children.

Plot Summary

In the first nine chapters of Canyons, the

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