WELLSBORO, PA — Local author and independent bookstore owner Kevin Coolidge has announced the release of his highly anticipated middle-grade biography, “The Forest Rebel: The Adventures of George Washington Sears.” The book brings the thrilling, real-life adventures of the legendary 19th-century woodsman, conservationist, and Wellsboro resident known as “Nessmuk” to young readers everywhere.

This Saturday, Aug. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Coolidge will be autographing copies of his book about Nessmuk at From My Shelf Books and Gifts, his bookstore at 7 East Avenue in Wellsboro. 

George Washington Sears was no ordinary historical figure; he was a standard-bearer for the American wilderness. Under his pen name Nessmuk, Sears captured the hearts of outdoor enthusiasts across the nation with his tales of minimal-gear camping, solo canoeing, and fierce advocacy for protecting natural resources. Though his adventures took him across the country, Wellsboro was the place he ultimately called home, and his legacy is still deeply felt throughout Tioga County today.

For Coolidge, bringing Nessmuk’s story to a middle-grade audience composed of children ages 8 to 12 or roughly third through sixth graders was born out of a mix of community pride and sheer necessity. He had been waiting for someone else to write the book, but eventually realized that if you want a job done right, you have to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself.

“I actually had this idea way back during COVID,” Coolidge said. “But at the time, I was completely buried just trying to keep my bookstore alive. I don’t consider myself an outdoor writer. I figured someone else was already working on a young reader’s biography of Nessmuk, but years went by, and nothing came out. I decided there was a real need for it. Since then, I’ve made the jump to middle grade. I actually have several middle-grade manuscripts finished now, and one is currently in front of a top-tier literary agent.”

Designed to engage short attention spans while delivering deep historical value, each chapter of “The Forest Rebel” features an interesting, highly informational sidebar exploring the historical context of Nessmuk’s era. To bridge the past with the present, every chapter also concludes with a practical, authentic camping tip written by Nessmuk himself, pulled straight from his 1884 classic “Woodcraft and Camping”—a pioneering outdoor manual that he published 142 years ago and remarkably remains in print to this day.

Whether introducing kids to the concepts of conservation or inspiring them to step away from screens and explore the Pennsylvania Wilds, “The Forest Rebel” bridges local history with timeless outdoor wisdom in Coolidge’s signature accessible, down-to-earth storytelling style.

“The Forest Rebel: The Adventures of George Washington Sears” is available wherever books are sold. For readers looking for something extra special, exclusive signed copies can be purchased locally right in town at From My Shelf Books & Gifts, as well as at Nessmuk’s Sporting Goods at 91 Main Street in Wellsboro.