Jerry Spinelli

Jerry Spinelli

Who Is Jerry Spinelli?

Jerry Spinelli, a celebrated American author, is known for his contributions to children’s literature. A graduate of Gettysburg College, Spinelli worked as a magazine editor before his writing career gained momentum. He published his first book for young readers, Space Station Seventh Grade, in 1982. Spinelli’s breakthrough came in 1990 with Maniac Magee, a novel that won critical acclaim and several awards, including the Newbery Medal. He went on to author other notable works such as Wringer (1997), Stargirl (2000), and Milkweed (2003). More recently, his publications include Jake and Lily (2012), Hokey Pokey (2013), and Mama Seeton’s Whistle (2015).

Early Life

Jerry Spinelli was born on February 1, 1941, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. As a child, he harbored dreams of becoming a cowboy, even arriving at school in full western attire, complete with golden cap pistols and spurs. Later, his ambitions shifted toward becoming a professional baseball player. Spinelli was actively involved in sports throughout junior high and high school, but his path took an unexpected turn when he discovered a new passion—writing. His first published work, a poem about his high school football team’s victory, appeared in the local newspaper, sparking his interest in becoming a writer.

Early Career

After graduating from high school, Spinelli attended Gettysburg College, where he majored in English and served as the editor of the college’s literary magazine. He later attended writing seminars at Johns Hopkins University. Spinelli’s career began in the publishing world as a magazine editor, a role he used to refine his writing during lunch breaks. It was during this time that he met his wife, Eileen, with whom he would raise six children.

Initially, Spinelli focused on writing for adults, but after four unpublished manuscripts, he decided to write from a child’s perspective. This shift proved to be pivotal. His debut children’s book, Space Station Seventh Grade, was published in 1982, marking the start of his successful career in children’s literature. He followed it with Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush? (1984), which was inspired by the relationship between two of his own children.

Books

Jerry Spinelli’s literary career has been marked by continued success in capturing the lives of children and young adults. His 1990 novel Maniac Magee earned both the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction and the prestigious Newbery Medal. The story’s protagonist plays a pivotal role in uniting a racially divided community, resonating with readers for its powerful themes. In 1997, Spinelli received further acclaim with Wringer, a Newbery Honor book, which tells the story of Palmer LaRue, a boy who dreads turning ten because it means participating in a town ritual he finds morally unacceptable.

In 1998, Spinelli turned to memoir with Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid, sharing insights into his own childhood. His 2000 novel Stargirl became a beloved read for its unique heroine and message of individuality and self-acceptance, followed by the 2009 sequel Love, Stargirl. Spinelli explored historical fiction in Milkweed (2003), which tells the harrowing story of a young boy in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II.

His later works include Jake and Lily (2012), Hokey Pokey (2013), and Mama Seeton’s Whistle (2015), each continuing to showcase his talent for storytelling. Alongside his wife Eileen, a children’s book author herself, Spinelli co-authored Today I Will: A Year of Quotes, Notes, and Promises to Myself (2009), blending their literary voices in a collection designed to inspire young readers.