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{{distinguish|Ben Michaelson}}
{{distinguish|Ben Michaelson}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
'''Ben Mikaelsen''' (born November 24, 1952) is a [[Bolivian American]] writer of [[children's literature]].
'''Ben Mikaelsen''' (born January 5, 1952) is a [[Bolivian American]] writer of [[children's literature]].


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Ben Mikaelsen was born on November 24, 1952, in [[La Paz]], [[Bolivia]], the son of [[missionary]] parents of [[Denmark|Danish]] descent.<ref name="wordsmorehurtful">{{cite news|last1=Hobbs|first1=Bonnie|title='Words . . . More Hurtful Than Fists'|url=http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2012/jul/09/words-more-hurtful-fists/|access-date=December 10, 2014|publisher=Connection Newspapers|date=July 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Cortés|first1=Carlos E.|title=Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia, Volume 1|date=September 3, 2013|publisher=SAGE Publications|page=380|isbn=9781452276267|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VQ1zAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA380|access-date=December 10, 2014}}</ref> He wasn't sent to school until fourth [[Educational stage|grade]] where he was [[Bullying|bullied]] for his [[Race (classification of humans)|race]]. Mikaelsen moved to the United States with his family shortly before entering [[seventh grade]],<ref name="wordsmorehurtful" /> where he encountered further bullying because of his poor [[English language|English]] capabilities.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Malernee|first1=Jamie|title=Author: Don't Be Afraid To Be Different|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-02-23/news/0202230182_1_imagination-students-story|access-date=December 10, 2014|work=Sun Sentinel|date=February 23, 2002}}</ref> As a [[Adolescence|teen]] in [[Minnesota]], he taught himself to [[Swimming (sport)|swim]] and dive, and this led him to take [[flight]] and [[Parachuting|skydiving]] lessons.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Olp|first1=Susan|title=Bozeman writer's head full of stories|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/bozeman-writer-s-head-full-of-stories/article_3b046b66-b213-59c4-9de6-c2b24777df47.html|access-date=December 10, 2014|date=April 2, 2002}}</ref> Mikaelsen attended [[Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota)|USC]] and [[Bemidji State University]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Miller|first1=Wanda J.|title=Teaching U.S. History Through Children's Literature: Post-World War II|date=1998|publisher=Libraries Unlimited|isbn=9781563085819|page=99|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gvPDt70CRgAC&pg=PA99|access-date=December 10, 2014}}</ref>
Ben Mikaelsen was born on January 5, 1952, in [[La Paz]], [[Bolivia]], the son of [[missionary]] parents of [[Denmark|Danish]] descent.<ref name="wordsmorehurtful">{{cite news|last1=Hobbs|first1=Bonnie|title='Words . . . More Hurtful Than Fists'|url=http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2012/jul/09/words-more-hurtful-fists/|access-date=December 10, 2014|publisher=Connection Newspapers|date=July 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Cortés|first1=Carlos E.|title=Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia, Volume 1|date=September 3, 2013|publisher=SAGE Publications|page=380|isbn=9781452276267|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VQ1zAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA380|access-date=December 10, 2014}}</ref> He wasn't sent to school until fourth [[Educational stage|grade]] where he was [[Bullying|bullied]] for his [[Race (classification of humans)|race]]. Mikaelsen moved to the United States with his family shortly before entering [[seventh grade]],<ref name="wordsmorehurtful" /> where he encountered further bullying because of his poor [[English language|English]] capabilities.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Malernee|first1=Jamie|title=Author: Don't Be Afraid To Be Different|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-02-23/news/0202230182_1_imagination-students-story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213223827/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-02-23/news/0202230182_1_imagination-students-story|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2010|access-date=December 10, 2014|work=Sun Sentinel|date=February 23, 2002}}</ref> As a [[Adolescence|teen]] in [[Minnesota]], he taught himself to [[Swimming (sport)|swim]] and dive, and this led him to take [[flight]] and [[Parachuting|skydiving]] lessons.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Olp|first1=Susan|title=Bozeman writer's head full of stories|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/bozeman-writer-s-head-full-of-stories/article_3b046b66-b213-59c4-9de6-c2b24777df47.html|access-date=December 10, 2014|date=April 2, 2002}}</ref> Mikaelsen attended [[University of Southern California|USC]] and [[Bemidji State University]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Miller|first1=Wanda J.|title=Teaching U.S. History Through Children's Literature: Post-World War II|date=1998|publisher=Libraries Unlimited|isbn=9781563085819|page=99|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gvPDt70CRgAC&pg=PA99|access-date=December 10, 2014}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
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* ''Petey'' (1998)
* ''Petey'' (1998)
* ''Touching Spirit Bear'' (2001)
* ''Touching Spirit Bear'' (2001)
* ''Red Midnight'' (2002)
* ''[[Red Midnight]]'' (2002)
* ''Tree Girl'' (2004)
* ''Tree Girl'' (2004)
* ''Ghost of Spirit Bear'' (2008)
* ''Ghost of Spirit Bear'' (2008)
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[[Category:Bolivian people of Danish descent]]
[[Category:Bolivian people of Danish descent]]
[[Category:Writers from Bozeman, Montana]]
[[Category:Writers from Bozeman, Montana]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American writers]]}
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American writers]]

Latest revision as of 23:58, 27 October 2024

Not to be confused with Ben Michaelson.

Ben Mikaelsen (born January 5, 1952) is a Bolivian American writer of children's literature.

Early life and education

[edit]

Ben Mikaelsen was born on January 5, 1952, in La Paz, Bolivia, the son of missionary parents of Danish descent.[1][2] He wasn't sent to school until fourth grade where he was bullied for his race. Mikaelsen moved to the United States with his family shortly before entering seventh grade,[1] where he encountered further bullying because of his poor English capabilities.[3] As a teen in Minnesota, he taught himself to swim and dive, and this led him to take flight and skydiving lessons.[4] Mikaelsen attended USC and Bemidji State University.[5]

Personal life

[edit]

When building his home in Montana, Ben adopted an American black bear named Buffy for 26 years until the bear's death in September 2012.[6] Ben Mikaelsen considered Buffy a "750-pound member of my family."[7] He has been writing full-time since 1984 and lives in Anacortes, Washington with his wife, Connie. He has written a few books inspired by his bear, such as Touching Spirit Bear and the sequel Ghost of Spirit Bear. He also took a year out of high school to join a parachute team and compete around Minnesota. He goes around the country visiting schools to teach kids about his life and his experience as a victim of bullying.[citation needed]

Published works

[edit]
  • 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 honors

[edit]

Mikaelson's work has won many state youth literature awards, including the California Young Reader Medal and Wyoming's Indian Paintbrush Book Award.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Hobbs, Bonnie (July 9, 2012). "'Words . . . More Hurtful Than Fists'". Connection Newspapers. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  2. ^ Cortés, Carlos E. (September 3, 2013). Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia, Volume 1. SAGE Publications. p. 380. ISBN 9781452276267. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  3. ^ Malernee, Jamie (February 23, 2002). "Author: Don't Be Afraid To Be Different". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. ^ Olp, Susan (April 2, 2002). "Bozeman writer's head full of stories". Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  5. ^ Miller, Wanda J. (1998). Teaching U.S. History Through Children's Literature: Post-World War II. Libraries Unlimited. p. 99. ISBN 9781563085819. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  6. ^ Bauer, Jennifer (April 24, 2013). "Ben Mikaelsen draws from the events of his own extraordinary life to bring to life his books for young adults". Inland360. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  7. ^ Mikaelsen, Ben. "Ben Mikaelsen Biography". Scholastic Inc. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Spur Awards Past Winners". Western Writers of America. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  9. ^ "IRA Children's and Young Adults' Book Awards". International Reading Association. Archived from the original on August 4, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Best Fiction for Young Adults". American Library Association. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
[edit]
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