“The 2003 California Young Reader Medal goes to Ben Mikaelsen.” That’s right in Ben Mikaelsen has won many awards and has made amazing books such as Petey and Touching Spirit Bear. His articles about Touching Spirit Bear have appeared in many articles of today’s world and in many magazines.
Ben Mikaelsen was born in Bolivia in 1952. He was one of six children and each of the children were adventurous which was up Ben’s alley. He used to think that everybody and everything was the same. People used to bully him in Bolivia and would feel how hard it was listening to the racist comments . He grew up speaking Spanish which would later be harder for him to speak in America. Ben’s parents were very strict and wouldn't let him play