Jerry Spinelli

Jerry Spinelli

Jerry Spinelli signing one of his books
Born February 1, 1941 (1941-02-01) (age 71)
Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation Author
Nationality American/Italian
Genres Children's books, Young adult, Novels
Notable work(s) Maniac Magee
Stargirl
Wringer
Notable award(s) Newbery Medal, ALA Best Book for Young Adults Award
Spouse(s) Eileen Spinelli

www.jerryspinelli.com

Jerry Spinelli (born February 1, 1941)[1] is an author of children's novels on adolescence and early adulthood. He is best known for the novels Maniac Magee[2] and Wringer.

Spinelli was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania[3] and currently resides in Wayne, PA. At the age of sixteen, his love of sports inspired him to compose a poem about a recent football victory. Later, unbeknownst to him, his father published it in the local newspaper. It was at this time he realized that he would not become a Major League Baseball player, and decided to become a writer instead.[2]

During his time at Gettysburg College, Spinelli spent his time writing short stories and was the editor of the college literary magazine. After graduation, he became a writer and editor for a department store magazine. The next twenty years, he spent his time working ordinary jobs during the day so that he had the energy to write fiction in his spare time. He found himself writing during lunch breaks, on weekends, and after dinner.[4]

His first four novels were written for adults and were all rejected. His fifth novel was also intended for adults, but became his first children's book. This work, Space Station Seventh Grade, was published in 1982.[4]

Spinelli graduated from Gettysburg College in 1963 and acquired his MA from Johns Hopkins University in 1964. He married Eileen Mesi in 1977,[1] who also writes children's books.[4] They have seven children and sixteen grandchildren.[3]

Bibliography

Title Publication Awards References
Space Station Seventh Grade 1982
[[Who Put That Hair on my pee pee

|| 1984 || ||

Jason and Marceline 1986
Maniac Magee 1990 Newbery Award
The Bathwater Gang 1990
Dump Days 1991
Fourth Grade Rats 1991
Report to the Principal’s Office 1991
There's a Girl in My Hammerlock 1991
Do the Funky Pickle 1992
Who Ran My Underwear Up the Flagpole? 1992
Picklemania 1993
Crash 1996
Tooter Pepperday 1996
The Library Card 1997
Wringer 1997 Newbery Honor (1998) [5]
Blue Ribbon Blues: A Tooter Tale 1998
Knots in My Yo-Yo String 1998
Stargirl 2000
Love, Stargirl 2007
Loser 2002
Milkweed: A Novel 2003
My Daddy and Me 2006
Eggs 2007
Smiles to Go 2008
I Can Be Anything! 2010

References

External links