Tracker

Tracker by Gary Paulsen (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1984) follows a boy’s journey tracking a deer and coming to terms with the imminent death of his grandfather. The novel won the Society of Midland Authors Award for Children's Fiction (1985) and was named an ALA Best Book For Young Adults. Gary Paulsen (1931-2021) was an American author of over 100 books for young readers, three of which received Newbery Honors: Dogsong (1985), Hatchet (1986), and The Winter Room (1989). In 1997, the American Library Association awarded Paulsen the Margaret Edwards Award for his lifetime contributions of writing for teens. This guide follows the 2012 Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers eBook edition of Tracker.

Plot Summary

John Borne recently learned that his grandfather (Clay Borne) will die from cancer within the next few months. Fearful of losing his grandfather and how much his own life will change, John denies the possibility of his grandfather’s death, throwing himself into his chores and preparations for deer-hunting season. These distractions help John feel better for a time, until hunting season begins and he sets out on his own, his grandfather having opted to stay behind because he isn’t feeling up to the hunt.