Jerry Spinelli

Jerry Spinelli (born February 1, 1941)[1] is an American writer of children's novels that feature adolescence and early adulthood. He is best known for Maniac Magee,[2] Stargirl and Wringer.

Jerry Spinelli
Spinelli signing one of his books
Born (1941-02-01) February 1, 1941
Norristown, Pennsylvania, US
OccupationWriter
NationalityAmerican
GenreChildren's and young-adult novels
Notable works
Notable awardsNewbery Medal
1991
Website
JerrySpinnelli.com

Life

Spinelli was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania,[3] and currently lives in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. At the age of 16, his love of sports inspired him to compose a poem about a recent football victory, which his father published in the local newspaper without his knowledge. It was at this time he realized that he would not become a major league baseball shortstop, so he decided to become a writer.[2]

At Gettysburg College, Spinelli spent his time writing short stories and was the editor of the college literary magazine, The Mercury.[4] After graduation, he became a writer and editor for a department of nothing magazine. The next two decades, he spent his time working "normal jobs" during the day so that he had the energy to write fiction in his free time. He found himself writing during lunch breaks, on weekends, and after dinner.[5]

His first few 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.[5]

Spinelli graduated from Gettysburg College in 1963 and acquired his MA from Johns Hopkins University in 1964. In 1977, he married Eileen Mesi,[1] another children's writer.[5] Since about 1980, as Eileen Spinelli, she has collaborated with illustrators to create dozens of picture books. They have six children and 21[6] grandchildren.[7]

Works
Title Year Ref.
Space Station Seventh Grade1982
Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?1984[8]
Night of the Whale 1985 [8]
Jason and Marceline1986[8]
Dump Days1988 [8]
Maniac Magee1990 – Newbery Award[9][8]
The Bathwater Gang1990[8]
Hallie Jefferys Life1991
Fourth Grade Rats1991[8]
Report to the Principal’s Office1991[8]
There's a Girl in My Hammerlock1991[8]
Do the Funky Pickle1992[8]
Who Ran My Underwear Up the Flagpole?1992[8]
The Bathwater Gang Gets Down to Business 1992 [8]
Picklemania1993[8]
Tooter Pepperday1995[8]
Crash1996[8]
The Library Card1997[8]
Wringer1997 – Newbery honor book[8][10]
Blue Ribbon Blues: A Tooter Tale1998[8]
Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid1998[8]
Stargirl2000[8]
Loser2002[8]
Milkweed: A Novel2003[8]
My Daddy and Me2003[8]
Love, Stargirl2007[8]
Eggs 2007[8]
Smiles to Go2008[8]
I Can Be Anything 2010 [8]
Jake and Lily2012[11]
Third Grade Angels 2012
Hokey Pokey 2013 [8]
Mama Seeton's Whistle 2015
The Warden's Daughter 2017
My Fourth of July 2019

In culture

George Plimpton related an anecdote about Spinelli having bought at auction an evening with the Plimptons, in New York City, during which George Plimpton introduced Spinelli to writers and editors dining at Elaine's, and two months after which Spinelli wrote Plimpton to announce the publication of Spinelli's first book (a children's book) by Houghton Mifflin.[12]

References
  1. "Biography, Pictures, Videos, & Quotes". JerrySpinelli.net. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  2. "He's a man of Many Words". The Washington Post. June 8, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  3. "My Gen Club author Q&A: Jerry Spinelli". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 12, 2006. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  4. "The Mercury". The Cupola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College. Gettysburg College. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  5. "A video interview with Jerry Spinelli". WETA Washington, D.C. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  6. Consulting, Temean. "Jerry Spinelli Bio Page". www.jerryspinelli.com. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  7. "My Gen Club author Q&A: Jerry Spinelli". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 12, 2006. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  8. Contemporary Authors Online. Gale. 2013. ISBN 978-0-7876-3995-2.
  9. "Newberry and Caldecott honor authors, illustrators". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, CA. AP. January 16, 1991. Retrieved November 30, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "1998 Newbery Medal and Honor Books". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). American Library Association (ALA). Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  11. Peck, Richard (June 1, 2012). "Twin Powers". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  12. Plimpton, George (March 29, 1999). "Dinner at Elaine's" (Podcast). The Moth. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
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