• He is the author of more He is the author of more than twenty books for than twenty books for young readers, including young readers, including Maniac Magee, winner of Maniac Magee, winner of the Newbery Medal; the Newbery Medal; Wringer, a Newbery Wringer, a Newbery Honor Book; and Knots in Honor Book; and Knots in My Yo-Yo String, his My Yo-Yo String, his autobiography. autobiography.

Who is Jerry Spinelli?Who is Jerry Spinelli?

Spinelli’s Early YearsSpinelli’s Early Years

• He was born on February 1, 1941 in He was born on February 1, 1941 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he still Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he still lives today with his wife Eileen and six lives today with his wife Eileen and six children.children.

• He once dreamed of becoming a cowboy He once dreamed of becoming a cowboy and a major league baseball player.and a major league baseball player.

How did he become a How did he become a writer?writer?

• Spinelli first decided he wanted to Spinelli first decided he wanted to become a writer at the age of 16, become a writer at the age of 16, when his high school football team when his high school football team won a big game. won a big game.

• Most of his friends roamed the streets Most of his friends roamed the streets to celebrate, but he celebrated in a to celebrate, but he celebrated in a different way. He wrote a poem about different way. He wrote a poem about it, and the next day the poem was it, and the next day the poem was published in the local newspaper. published in the local newspaper.

–A writer was born!A writer was born!

Why does he write?Why does he write?

• Spinelli says that writing is a way of Spinelli says that writing is a way of completing his experiences. completing his experiences. – ““It’s like things that I see and feel have It’s like things that I see and feel have

not totally happened to me until I write not totally happened to me until I write about them.”about them.”

– He says he gets his ideas from everyday He says he gets his ideas from everyday life, memories, his imagination, and life, memories, his imagination, and especially his children.especially his children.

Education & CareerEducation & Career• Spinelli is a 1963 graduate of Spinelli is a 1963 graduate of

Gettysburg College. He earned an MA Gettysburg College. He earned an MA from Johns Hopkins University in 1964, from Johns Hopkins University in 1964, and from 1966 to 1972 he served in the and from 1966 to 1972 he served in the U.S. Navy Reserve. U.S. Navy Reserve.

• He worked as an editor for many years He worked as an editor for many years before becoming a writer.before becoming a writer.

• In 1977, he married his wife Eileen (who In 1977, he married his wife Eileen (who is also an author of children’s books). is also an author of children’s books).

What does he write about?What does he write about?• Jerry's first book for children was published when Jerry's first book for children was published when

he was 41 years old; he was 41 years old; Space Station Seventh Space Station Seventh GradeGrade (inspired by his own children) (inspired by his own children)– His stories are written for kids about kids. He has the His stories are written for kids about kids. He has the

rare ability to write about human differences in a way rare ability to write about human differences in a way that children can relate. that children can relate.

– Most of his novels are about children who struggle to Most of his novels are about children who struggle to be accepted by the group and must overcome be accepted by the group and must overcome obstacles to find out that sometimes being different is obstacles to find out that sometimes being different is the best way to be.the best way to be.

Who is Maniac Magee?Who is Maniac Magee?• Jeffrey “Maniac” Lionel Magee is an Jeffrey “Maniac” Lionel Magee is an

11-year-old boy who was orphaned 11-year-old boy who was orphaned from a young age and longs for a from a young age and longs for a family and a place to call home.family and a place to call home.

• Maniac travels 200 miles until he Maniac travels 200 miles until he reaches Two Mills, a town divided reaches Two Mills, a town divided by race into the East and West.by race into the East and West.

• He quickly becomes a legend He quickly becomes a legend because of his athleticism, bravery, because of his athleticism, bravery, and inability to see color and race.and inability to see color and race.

• In his search to belong, he In his search to belong, he eventually succeeds by forcing eventually succeeds by forcing some of the blacks and whites to some of the blacks and whites to know each other.know each other.

How many of Spinelli’s How many of Spinelli’s books have you heard of?books have you heard of?

• Space Station Seventh Space Station Seventh GradeGrade, 1982 , 1982

• Who Put That Hair in My Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?Toothbrush? 1984. 1984.

• Night of the WhaleNight of the Whale, 1985. , 1985. • Jason and MarcelineJason and Marceline, 1986. , 1986. • Dumping GirlsDumping Girls,, 1988. 1988. • Dump DaysDump Days, 1988, 1988 • Maniac MageeManiac Magee, 1990 , 1990

(Newbery Award Winner, has (Newbery Award Winner, has been made into a movie). been made into a movie).

• The Bathwater GangThe Bathwater Gang (illustrated by Meredith (illustrated by Meredith Johnson), 1990. Johnson), 1990.

• There's a Girl in My There's a Girl in My HammerlockHammerlock,, 1991. 1991.

• Report to the Principal's Report to the Principal's OfficeOffice, 1991. , 1991.

• Fourth Grade RatsFourth Grade Rats (illustrated (illustrated by Paul Casale), 1991. by Paul Casale), 1991.

• The Bathwater Gang Gets The Bathwater Gang Gets Down to BusinessDown to Business, 1992, 1992

• Who Ran My Underwear Up Who Ran My Underwear Up the Flagpole?the Flagpole?,, 1992. 1992.

• Do the Funky PickleDo the Funky Pickle, 1992. , 1992. • PicklemaniaPicklemania, 1995. , 1995. • CrashCrash, 1996. Has a film , 1996. Has a film

contract contract • The Library CardThe Library Card, 1997. , 1997. • WringerWringer, 1997. Has a film , 1997. Has a film

contract contract • Knots in My Yo-Yo StringKnots in My Yo-Yo String, ,

1998 - Autobiography1998 - Autobiography • LoserLoser, 2001. , 2001. • StargirlStargirl, 2001. Has a film , 2001. Has a film

contract contract • MilkweedMilkweed, 2003. , 2003. • Tooter PepperdayTooter Pepperday, 2004. , 2004. • EggsEggs, 2007, 2007 • Love, StargirlLove, Stargirl, 2007. Has a , 2007. Has a

film contract.film contract.

"Each of us, in our kidhood, was a Huckleberry "Each of us, in our kidhood, was a Huckleberry Finn, drifting on a current that seemed Finn, drifting on a current that seemed

torturously slow at times, poling for the shore to torturously slow at times, poling for the shore to check out every slightest glimmer in the trees … check out every slightest glimmer in the trees … the taste of brussel sprouts … your first forward the taste of brussel sprouts … your first forward

roll … cruising a mall without a parent … roll … cruising a mall without a parent … overnighting it … making your own grilled cheese overnighting it … making your own grilled cheese

sandwich … the thousand landfalls of our sandwich … the thousand landfalls of our adolescence .… And now we know what we did adolescence .… And now we know what we did

not know then: What an adventure it was!“ not know then: What an adventure it was!“

--Jerry Spinelli on childhoodJerry Spinelli on childhood