In 2000, when stargirl was first published, the online world was really starting to boom. Jerry spinelli is the author of over fifteen immensely popular books for young readers, including eggs, stargirl, space station seventh grade, newbery honor winner wringer, and maniac magee, winner of more than fifteen state childrens book awards in addition to the newbery medal. Spinelli s first book, space station seventh grade, was published in 1982. There are entries that i can believe were written by a teenage girl and others that feel like im reading a ya novel. Like the tree that grows in brooklyn, milkweed is a tenacious plant, the only hint of green managing to survive in the desert of the warsaw ghetto. Awards for jerry spinelli your guide to fiction books.
Crash takes place mostly over the course of johns seventh grade year, and the novel follows john on his journey of maturity from someone whose opinions, actions, and emotions are determined by his crash man personality into someone whose identity is driven by his own motivations. Jerry spinellis first published novel was space station seventh grade 1982. Jerry spinelli won the newbery medal in 1991 for maniac magee, the sixth of his more than 15 acclaimed books for young readers. I loved reading, do the funky pickle by jerry spinelli.
Jan 24, 2011 jerry spinelli still remembers the sunday night when he was awakened by a phone call. Spinelli was born in norristown, pennsylvania, and currently resides in phoenixville, pennsylvania. His wellknown books include his space station seventh grade 1982, the 1991 newbery medal winning maniac magee, the newbery honorwinning 1998 novel wringer, the 2000. It picks up where the previous novel left off after stargirl left mica high and describes her bittersweet memories in the town of mica, arizona along with the involvements of new people in her life, in phoenixville, pennsylvania. Jerry spinelli born february 1, 1941 is an american writer of childrens novels that feature.
Jerry spinelli biography cliffsnotes study guides book. What is a conflict in the book eggs by jerry spinelli. No part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from. The novel takes the form of the worlds longest letter, in diary form, going from date to date through. He would then use that experience to edit other catalogs and magazines as he worked to get his first book published. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. Spinelli first decided he wanted to become a writer at the age of 16, when his high school football team won a big game. Jerry spinelli has a website called jerry spinelli intro. His fifth book, about a yearold boy, was embraced by childrens publishers, so he feels he accidentally became a childrens book author. The first book captured high school students more organically. Spinelli described this event, and the description eventually turned in to the story line for his first published novel entitled space station seventh grade. Crash by jerry spinelli overdrive rakuten overdrive. In our minds we tried to pin her to a cork board like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew. Jerry is known for his entertaining and funny books for children and young adults.
Asked in jerry spinelli what book is an autobiography made from jerry spinelli. All of this changed when his poem about a football game was published at age 16 in the. Jerry spinelli is an author who has written 23 books, including eggs, milkweed, stargirl, love stargirl, and the library card. However, because it was about a thirteenyearold boy, adult book publishers didnt even want to see it. Jerry spinellis imagination flew one night when one of his six children ate fried chicken that was being saved for the following day. Smiles to go, like so many of spinelli s stories, is essentially a character study. He is best known for maniac magee, stargirl and wringer. When i was growing up, the first thing i wanted to be was a cowboy. Jerry spinelli books, author biography, and reading level. Jerry spinelli primary author only author division. Awardwinning author of young adult novels whose best known works include wringer, stargirl, and maniac magee. But childrens publishers did and thats how, by accident, i became an author of books for kids. He wrote his first four books for adults and all were rejected by publishers. When did jerry spinelli get his first book published answers.
Jerry spinelli s first book was space station seventh grade, published in 1982. The novel takes the form of the worlds longest letter, in diary form, going from date to date through a little more than a years time. Spinelli attended gettysburg college and wrote short stories there as he edited the institutions magazine. From the moment he comes home from work, briefcase in hand, this dad is ready to spend quality time with the young narrator, whether it means jumping into the parked car together for a pretend trip to kalamazoo, playing hide and seek. Join facebook to connect with jerry spinelli and others you may know. Born in norristown, pennsylvania, on february 1, 1941, jerry spinellis first taste of celebrity made him eager to continue writing. What was the first book that jerry spinelli wrote and.
It has been eight years since maniac magee won both the prestigious boston globehorn book award and the newbery medal, and its popularity among young. This classic collection includes four of newbery awardwinning author jerry spinellis most popular books. The first book that jerry spinelli first published was space station seventh grade in 1982. His first childrens book, space station seventh grade, was published in the early 1980s. This classic book is perfect for fans of gordon korman and carl hiaasen. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Jerry spinelli began writing when he was 16 not much older than the hero of his book maniac magee. May 12, 2015 it seems fitting to look back after 25 years at a childrens novel that is so much about memory. Discover what makes being a kid so glorious and what sparked spinelli s storytelling career. As a kid he wanted to be a cowboy, then as a teenager he wanted to be a baseball player. Spinelli, jerry students britannica kids homework help. The book is about a boy in warsaw, poland in the years of world war ii during the holocaust.
Yes, in the sense that the first fifteen years of my life turned out to be one big research project. Growing up, jerry spinelli was really serious about baseball. This work, space station seventh grade, was published in 1982. In the end, the story will make you want to change your ways to be a better person. He writes childrens novels featuring adolescence and early adulthood. When he was in second grade, he dressed up in a cowboy outfit one day and headed off to school, sporting golden cap pistols and spurs on his boots. Spinellis writing concerns controversial topics such as racism, sexism, and homelessness, while accurately and humorously depicting adolescents. When he was in high school, he wrote a poem about a football game that was published in a newspaper. This week, on the 25th anniversary of jerry spinelli s maniac magee, its almost unreal how much.
Awardwinning childrens book author jerry spinelli was born on february 1, 1941, in norristown, pennsylvania. The noted novelist and childrens author jerry spinelli, born on the 1st february, 1941 at norristown in pennsylvania, united states, is best known for his specialized novels intended towards readers in their early adolescence. Originally published in 2000, stargirl was instantly embraced and has sold nearly two million copies. His novel, maniac magee, had just won the 1991 newbery medal. Since then, he has written over fifteen novels for adolescents, about adolescence. At the age of 16, his love of sports inspired him to compose. Readers will devour this humorous glimpse of what jocks are made of. Jerry spinelli books list of books by author jerry spinelli. Love, stargirl picks up a year after stargirl ends and reveals the new life of the beloved character who moved away so suddenly at the end of stargirl. Jerry spinelli born february 1, 1941 is an american writer of childrens novels that feature adolescence and early adulthood.
At one time, he dreamed of becoming a major league baseball player. Spinelli made his picture book debut with my daddy and me, a loving tribute to fathers and sons. Spinelli graduated from gettysburg college in 1963 and acquired his ma from johns hopkins university in 1964. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets all except spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. Jerry spinelli has 82 books on goodreads with 839923 ratings. Love stargirl is the second book in jerry spinelli s series stargirl, and it picks up right from where stargirl the first book in the series left off. His latest novel, stargirl, was a new york times bestseller and an ala top ten best book for young adults.
Little, brown and company takes great pleasure and pride in announcing that, effective immediately, we will be the sole publisher of the paperback edition of jerry spinelli s classic newbery medal winner, maniac magee. Spinelli worked full time as a magazine editor, writing novels during his lunch hour. More acclaimed works soon followed, including wringer. How have you changed from your first published book to now. John coogan is the narrator of crash and its main character. Dont miss the sequel, love, stargirl, and jerry spinellis latest novel, the wardens daughter, about another girl who cant help but stand out. Jerry spinellis first book was space station seventh grade, published in 1982.
He published his first book for kids, space station seventh grade, in 1982. Homer on george street, he admitted that he and maniac magee are one and the same. Actually, there was no particular inspiration it was time to start a new book, and i thought id like to write a book about a kid who was a hero to other kids. He later produced a sequel, jason and marceline 1986, set in the ninth grade.
Jerry spinelli bio, facts, family famous birthdays. May 15, 2015 what was the best thing about getting your first book published. Hes written over 25 books, won a newbery award maniac magee, and a newbery honor wringer. He played for the green sox little league team in his hometown of norristown, pennsylvania, and dreamed of one day playing for the major leagues, preferably as shortstop for the new york yankees. In 1990, spinelli debuted the awardwinning novel maniac magee. How old was jerry spinelli when his first childrens book. The father of seven children, spinelli often got story ideas from events in their lives. Eddie is in love with sunny and is trying to win her over with the help of salem and pickles.
Jerry spinelli was born in norristown, pennsylvania in february 1941. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. It is a story about love, bullying, and friendship. Growing up in norristown, pennsylvania, spinellis first claim to fame was that a local paper published a poem he wrote about a hometown teams football victory. Jerry spinelli says most of his inspiration for writing childrens books came from his childhood. When spinelli was six years old, his family bought a house and moved to the other side of town. It includes four main characters, eddie, pickles, sunny, and salem. Jerry spinelli s many jobs acclaimed childrens novelist jerry spinelli discusses the inspiration for his new childrens book i can be anything. Jake and lily by jerry spinelli and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The son of a typesetter, spinellis family lived in an apartment in front of a brewery for the first years of his life. Over time he is taken in by a jewish group of orphans and he must avoid the nazis or jackboots while living on the streets with other orphans. The novel takes the form of the worlds longest letter, in diary form, going from date to date through a. Teens were being pressured more and more to fit into a certain standard. His fifth novel was also intended for adults but became his first childrens book.
It was the fifth book he had written, but the first one that was considered a childrens book. Oct 06, 2004 jerry spinelli is the author of over fifteen immensely popular books for young readers, including stargirl, space station seventh grade, newbery honor winner wringer, and maniac magee, winner of more than fifteen state childrens book awards in addition to the newbery medal. Jerry spinelli is currently considered a single author. Jerry spinelli s perceptions are engaging and thoughtprovoking. I thought i was simply growing up in norristown, pennsylvania. Mcpeak called the story firstrate, and twichell, writing in horn book, deemed space station seventh grade a truly funny book. The book is the sequel to the new york times bestselling book, stargirl, and centers on the worlds longest letter in diary form. His first few novels were written for adults and were all rejected. Milkweed by jerry spinelli 208 pages, read from 11.
I guess that would be my first published book, space station seventh grade. Designed and developed by temean consulting 2017 no part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from this sites webmaster. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Jerry spinelli is the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including maniac magee, winner of the newbery medal. His first novel was space station seventh grade, which was published in 1982. Jerry spinelli s memoir, knots in my yoyo string, makes it clear that he has always had a knack for drawing attention to himself. Jerry spinelli is the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including maniac magee, winner of the newbery medal, and stargirl, a new york times bestseller and an ala top ten best book for young adults. The writing, while in no way bad, seems to falter in finding its voice. Jerry spinelli was born on february 1, 1941 in norristown, pennsylvania. After my high school football team won a big game, i went home to write a poem about it while the town celebrated and blared in the streets. American author of childrens and youngadult novels, jerry spinelli was born on february 1, 1941, in norristown, pennsylvania, united states of america.
He is known for such works as maniac magee 1990, wringer 1997 and. With its depiction of a nonconformist with a heart of gold, its lyrical writing from newbery medalist jerry spinelli, and its charming love story, stargirl quickly asserted itself as a modern classic. Jerry spinelli is an american author of childrens books. I once told my 5th graders that spinelli s books contain little words and big ideas.
Their six children have given jerry spinelli a plethora of clever material for his writing. Stargirl by jerry spinelli, maniac magee by jerry spinelli, love, stargirl by jerry spinelli, loser by jerry spinelli, a. School library journal jerry spinelli is the author of the newbery awardwinning maniac magee, as well as many other titles, including stargirl and his autobiography, knots in my yoyo string. Jerry spinelli is the author of many books for young readers, including stargirl. Will is who decides where this story goes and it responds to him. Jerry spinelli books biography and list of works author of. Jerry spinelli books biography and list of works author. In spinelli s acceptance speech for the 1990 boston globehorn book award for fiction, maniac magee. This classic collection includes four of newbery awardwinning author jerry spinelli s most popular books. I expected stargirls voice to be more dynamic and captivating. Jerry spinelli still remembers the sunday night when he was awakened by a phone call.
Jerry spinellis maniac magee is 25 years old, and its. This study guide consists of approximately 66 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of crash jerry spinelli. John seemingly writes his destiny from an early age when he. In this celebration of nonconformity, newbery medalist jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love. He lives in pennsylvania with his wife, eileen, also a childrens author. Milkweed is a 2003 young adult historical fiction novel by american author jerry spinelli.