Jerry Spinelli is an American author born in 1941 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He is best known for writing children's books that often address themes of being different and finding acceptance, such as the Newbery Medal winning Maniac Magee. Some of his other popular books include Wringer, Stargirl, and Loser. Spinelli drew inspiration from his own childhood and experiences raising six children to craft stories that help kids feel understood.

2. • He is the author of more thanHe is the author of more than
twenty books for youngtwenty books for young
readers, including Maniacreaders, including Maniac
Magee, winner of theMagee, winner of the
Newbery Medal; Wringer, aNewbery Medal; Wringer, a
Newbery Honor Book; andNewbery Honor Book; and
Knots in My Yo-Yo String, hisKnots in My Yo-Yo String, his
autobiography.autobiography.
Who is Jerry Spinelli?Who is Jerry Spinelli?

3. Spinelli’s Early YearsSpinelli’s Early Years
• He was born on February 1, 1941 inHe was born on February 1, 1941 in
Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he stillNorristown, Pennsylvania, where he still
lives today with his wife Eileen and sixlives today with his wife Eileen and six
children.children.
• He once dreamed of becoming a cowboy andHe once dreamed of becoming a cowboy and
a major league baseball player.a major league baseball player.

4. How did he become a writer?How did he become a writer?
• Spinelli first decided he wanted toSpinelli first decided he wanted to
become a writer at the age of 16, whenbecome a writer at the age of 16, when
his high school football team won a bighis high school football team won a big
game.game.
• Most of his friends roamed the streetsMost of his friends roamed the streets
to celebrate, but he celebrated in ato celebrate, but he celebrated in a
different way. He wrote a poem aboutdifferent way. He wrote a poem about
it, and the next day the poem wasit, 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!

5. Why does he write?Why does he write?
• Spinelli says that writing is a way ofSpinelli says that writing is a way of
completing his experiences.completing his experiences.
– ““It’s like things that I see and feel haveIt’s like things that I see and feel have
not totally happened to me until I writenot totally happened to me until I write
about them.”about them.”
– He says he gets his ideas from everydayHe says he gets his ideas from everyday
life, memories, his imagination, andlife, memories, his imagination, and
especially his children.especially his children.

6. Education & CareerEducation & Career
• Spinelli is a 1963 graduate ofSpinelli is a 1963 graduate of
Gettysburg College. He earned an MAGettysburg 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 theand from 1966 to 1972 he served in the
U.S. Navy Reserve.U.S. Navy Reserve.
• He worked as an editor for many yearsHe worked as an editor for many years
before becoming a writer.before becoming a writer.
• In 1977, he married his wife Eileen (whoIn 1977, he married his wife Eileen (who
is also an author of children’s books).is also an author of children’s books).

7. What does he write about?What does he write about?
• Jerry's first book for children wasJerry's first book for children was
published when he was 41 years old;published when he was 41 years old;
Space Station Seventh GradeSpace Station Seventh Grade
(inspired by his own children)(inspired by his own children)
– His stories are written for kids aboutHis stories are written for kids about
kids. He has the rare ability to writekids. He has the rare ability to write
about human differences in a way thatabout human differences in a way that
children can relate.children can relate.
– Most of his novels are about childrenMost of his novels are about children
who struggle to be accepted by thewho struggle to be accepted by the
group and must overcome obstacles togroup and must overcome obstacles to
find out that sometimes beingfind out that sometimes being
different is the best way to be.different is the best way to be.

8. Who is Maniac Magee?Who is Maniac Magee?
• Jeffrey “Maniac” Lionel Magee is anJeffrey “Maniac” Lionel Magee is an
11-year-old boy who was orphaned11-year-old boy who was orphaned
from a young age and longs for a familyfrom a young age and longs for a family
and a place to call home.and a place to call home.
• Maniac travels 200 miles until heManiac travels 200 miles until he
reaches Two Mills, a town divided byreaches Two Mills, a town divided by
race into the East and West.race into the East and West.
• He quickly becomes a legend becauseHe quickly becomes a legend because
of his athleticism, bravery, andof his athleticism, bravery, and
inability to see color and race.inability to see color and race.
• In his search to belong, he eventuallyIn his search to belong, he eventually
succeeds by forcing some of thesucceeds by forcing some of the
blacks and whites to know each other.blacks and whites to know each other.

9. How many of Spinelli’sHow many of Spinelli’s
books have you heard of?books have you heard of?
• Space Station Seventh GradeSpace Station Seventh Grade,,
19821982
• Who Put That Hair in MyWho 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 (Newbery, 1990 (Newbery
Award Winner, has been made intoAward Winner, has been made into
a movie).a movie).
• The Bathwater GangThe Bathwater Gang (illustrated(illustrated
by Meredith Johnson), 1990.by Meredith Johnson), 1990.
• There's a Girl in MyThere's a Girl in My
HammerlockHammerlock,, 1991.1991.
• Report to the Principal's OfficeReport to the Principal's Office,,
1991.1991.
• Fourth Grade RatsFourth Grade Rats (illustrated by(illustrated by
Paul Casale), 1991.Paul Casale), 1991.
• The Bathwater Gang Gets DownThe Bathwater Gang Gets Down
to Businessto Business, 1992, 1992
• Who Ran My Underwear Up theWho Ran My Underwear Up the
Flagpole?Flagpole?,, 1992.1992.
• Do the Funky PickleDo the Funky Pickle, 1992., 1992.
• PicklemaniaPicklemania, 1995., 1995.
• CrashCrash, 1996. Has a film contract, 1996. Has a film contract
• The Library CardThe Library Card, 1997., 1997.
• WringerWringer, 1997. Has a film, 1997. Has a film
contractcontract
• Knots in My Yo-Yo StringKnots in My Yo-Yo String, 1998, 1998
- Autobiography- Autobiography
• LoserLoser, 2001., 2001.
• StargirlStargirl, 2001. Has a film, 2001. Has a film
contractcontract
• MilkweedMilkweed, 2003., 2003.
• Tooter PepperdayTooter Pepperday, 2004., 2004.
• EggsEggs, 2007, 2007
• Love, StargirlLove, Stargirl, 2007. Has a film, 2007. Has a film
contract.contract.

10. "Each of us, in our kidhood, was a Huckleberry Finn,"Each of us, in our kidhood, was a Huckleberry Finn,
drifting on a current that seemed torturously slow atdrifting on a current that seemed torturously slow at
times, poling for the shore to check out everytimes, poling for the shore to check out every
slightest glimmer in the trees … the taste of brusselslightest glimmer in the trees … the taste of brussel
sprouts … your first forward roll … cruising a mallsprouts … your first forward roll … cruising a mall
without a parent … overnighting it … making your ownwithout a parent … overnighting it … making your own
grilled cheese sandwich … the thousand landfalls ofgrilled cheese sandwich … the thousand landfalls of
our adolescence .… And now we know what we did notour adolescence .… And now we know what we did not
know then: What an adventure it was!“know then: What an adventure it was!“
--Jerry Spinelli on childhoodJerry Spinelli on childhood