Gary Eldon Peter, OLPD Senior Lecturer, has been named the winner of the 2020 Acheven Book Prize for Young Adult Fiction sponsored by Fitzroy Books/Regal House for his upcoming novel, tentatively titled Carl Paulsen. 

Set on a small and struggling family dairy operation in southern Minnesota, the novel follows fifteen-year-old Carl as he confronts his crush on Andy Olnan, a handsome and confident “city boy” recently transplanted to farm life from Minneapolis who may or may not share the same feelings.

At the same time, Carl and his father clash over the future of their farm, a legacy of Carl’s late mother: how do they honor her dream for the family while also ensuring financial security?

Carl discovers his own resilience in the face of grief, adult-sized decisions, and unrequited love, and along the way learns to cope with both the challenges and rewards of being different.

Carl Paulsen is slated for publication in Fall 2022.