Jerry spinellis imagination flew one night when one of his six children ate fried chicken that was being saved for the following day. Spinelli graduated from gettysburg college in 1963 and acquired his ma from johns hopkins university in 1964. His latest novel, stargirl, was a new york times bestseller and an ala top ten best book for young adults. 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. 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. 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. 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. The novel takes the form of the worlds longest letter, in diary form, going from date to date through.
John coogan is the narrator of crash and its main character. Spinelli s first book, space station seventh grade, was published in 1982. Jerry spinellis first book was space station seventh grade, published in 1982. Asked in jerry spinelli what book is an autobiography made from jerry spinelli. Join facebook to connect with jerry spinelli and others you may know. However, because it was about a thirteenyearold boy, adult book publishers didnt even want to see it. Crash by jerry spinelli overdrive rakuten overdrive. Awardwinning childrens book author jerry spinelli was born on february 1, 1941, in norristown, pennsylvania. 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. The father of seven children, spinelli often got story ideas from events in their lives. What is a conflict in the book eggs by jerry spinelli.
He would then use that experience to edit other catalogs and magazines as he worked to get his first book published. Jerry spinelli won the newbery medal in 1991 for maniac magee, the sixth of his more than 15 acclaimed books for young readers. Readers will devour this humorous glimpse of what jocks are made of. In 2000, when stargirl was first published, the online world was really starting to boom. He writes childrens novels featuring adolescence and early adulthood.
Jerry spinelli born february 1, 1941 is an american writer of childrens novels that feature. 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. The book is the sequel to the new york times bestselling book, stargirl, and centers on the worlds longest letter in diary form. Jerry spinelli biography cliffsnotes study guides book. Jerry spinelli is the author of many books for young readers, including stargirl.
This classic book is perfect for fans of gordon korman and carl hiaasen. No part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from. Spinellis writing concerns controversial topics such as racism, sexism, and homelessness, while accurately and humorously depicting adolescents. Awards for jerry spinelli your guide to fiction books. I expected stargirls voice to be more dynamic and captivating. Jerry spinelli bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Jerry spinellis first published novel was space station seventh grade 1982. Jerry spinelli books, author biography, and reading level. His first childrens book, space station seventh grade, was published in the early 1980s. The writing, while in no way bad, seems to falter in finding its voice. All of this changed when his poem about a football game was published at age 16 in the. His first novel was space station seventh grade, which was published in 1982.
His fifth novel was also intended for adults but became his first childrens book. Jerry spinelli is an author who has written 23 books, including eggs, milkweed, stargirl, love stargirl, and the library card. It includes four main characters, eddie, pickles, sunny, and salem. Jan 24, 2011 jerry spinelli still remembers the sunday night when he was awakened by a phone call. Jerry spinelli still remembers the sunday night when he was awakened by a phone call. 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. But childrens publishers did and thats how, by accident, i became an author of books for kids. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life.
In 1990, spinelli debuted the awardwinning novel maniac magee. Spinelli attended gettysburg college and wrote short stories there as he edited the institutions magazine. What was the first book that jerry spinelli wrote and. At one time, he dreamed of becoming a major league baseball player. I once told my 5th graders that spinelli s books contain little words and big ideas. In the end, the story will make you want to change your ways to be a better person. Mcpeak called the story firstrate, and twichell, writing in horn book, deemed space station seventh grade a truly funny book. His fifth book, about a yearold boy, was embraced by childrens publishers, so he feels he accidentally became a childrens book author. Jerry spinelli was born in norristown, pennsylvania in february 1941. Jerry spinelli books list of books by author jerry spinelli. Milkweed by jerry spinelli 208 pages, read from 11.
Jerry spinelli is an american author of childrens books. 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. He later produced a sequel, jason and marceline 1986, set in the ninth grade. When spinelli was six years old, his family bought a house and moved to the other side of town. Jerry spinelli s perceptions are engaging and thoughtprovoking. Jerry is known for his entertaining and funny books for children and young adults. Stargirl by jerry spinelli, maniac magee by jerry spinelli, love, stargirl by jerry spinelli, loser by jerry spinelli, a. Jerry spinelli has 82 books on goodreads with 839923 ratings. 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. Growing up, jerry spinelli was really serious about baseball.
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. 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. It was the fifth book he had written, but the first one that was considered a childrens book. Jake and lily by jerry spinelli and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Spinelli worked full time as a magazine editor, writing novels during his lunch hour. Spinelli was born in norristown, pennsylvania, and currently resides in phoenixville, pennsylvania. Yes, in the sense that the first fifteen years of my life turned out to be one big research project. Jerry spinelli born february 1, 1941 is an american writer of childrens novels that feature adolescence and early adulthood. Jerry spinelli books biography and list of works author. Spinelli made his picture book debut with my daddy and me, a loving tribute to fathers and sons. Homer on george street, he admitted that he and maniac magee are one and the same. 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. Spinelli first decided he wanted to become a writer at the age of 16, when his high school football team won a big game.
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. The book is about a boy in warsaw, poland in the years of world war ii during the holocaust. How have you changed from your first published book to now. How old was jerry spinelli when his first childrens book. Jerry spinelli is the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including maniac magee, winner of the newbery medal. When did jerry spinelli get his first book published answers. 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. 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. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Jerry spinelli books biography and list of works author of. 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. Jerry spinelli s memoir, knots in my yoyo string, makes it clear that he has always had a knack for drawing attention to himself. He wrote his first four books for adults and all were rejected by publishers.
Jerry spinellis maniac magee is 25 years old, and its. 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. His novel, maniac magee, had just won the 1991 newbery medal. Dont miss the sequel, love, stargirl, and jerry spinellis latest novel, the wardens daughter, about another girl who cant help but stand out. This classic collection includes four of newbery awardwinning author jerry spinelli s most popular books. I guess that would be my first published book, space station seventh grade. Jerry spinelli is currently considered a single author. The first book captured high school students more organically. The novel takes the form of the worlds longest letter, in diary form, going from date to date through a. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. Designed and developed by temean consulting 2017 no part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from this sites webmaster. Milkweed is a 2003 young adult historical fiction novel by american author jerry spinelli. 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.
A modern classic from newbery medalist jerry spinelli. 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. 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. 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 was born on february 1st, 1941 in norristown, pennsylvania.
I thought i was simply growing up in norristown, pennsylvania. This classic collection includes four of newbery awardwinning author jerry spinellis most popular books. He published his first book for kids, space station seventh grade, in 1982. I loved reading, do the funky pickle by jerry spinelli. He is known for such works as maniac magee 1990, wringer 1997 and. Jerry spinelli was born on february 1, 1941 in norristown, pennsylvania. It is a story about love, bullying, and friendship. Spinelli described this event, and the description eventually turned in to the story line for his first published novel entitled space station seventh grade. Hes written over 25 books, won a newbery award maniac magee, and a newbery honor wringer. Their six children have given jerry spinelli a plethora of clever material for his writing. Jerry spinelli says most of his inspiration for writing childrens books came from his childhood. John seemingly writes his destiny from an early age when he.
American author of childrens and youngadult novels, jerry spinelli was born on february 1, 1941, in norristown, pennsylvania, united states of america. The son of a typesetter, spinellis family lived in an apartment in front of a brewery for the first years of his life. 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. There are entries that i can believe were written by a teenage girl and others that feel like im reading a ya novel. As a kid he wanted to be a cowboy, then as a teenager he wanted to be a baseball player.
Jerry spinelli 1941 jerry spinelli born february 1, 1941 in norristown, pennsylvania is a noted childrens author, specializing on novels written for and about early adolescence. Teens were being pressured more and more to fit into a certain standard. This week, on the 25th anniversary of jerry spinelli s maniac magee, its almost unreal how much. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Jerry spinelli primary author only author division.
He lives in pennsylvania with his wife, eileen, also a childrens author. May 15, 2015 what was the best thing about getting your first book published. Discover what makes being a kid so glorious and what sparked spinelli s storytelling career. Born in norristown, pennsylvania, on february 1, 1941, jerry spinellis first taste of celebrity made him eager to continue writing.
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. 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. 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. Smiles to go, like so many of spinelli s stories, is essentially a character study. Will is who decides where this story goes and it responds to him. Spinelli, jerry students britannica kids homework help. Originally published in 2000, stargirl was instantly embraced and has sold nearly two million copies. When he was in high school, he wrote a poem about a football game that was published in a newspaper. More acclaimed works soon followed, including wringer. In spinelli s acceptance speech for the 1990 boston globehorn book award for fiction, maniac magee. Jerry spinelli began writing when he was 16 not much older than the hero of his book maniac magee. Awardwinning author of young adult novels whose best known works include wringer, stargirl, and maniac magee. Eddie is in love with sunny and is trying to win her over with the help of salem and pickles.
Jerry spinelli s many jobs acclaimed childrens novelist jerry spinelli discusses the inspiration for his new childrens book i can be anything. 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. Jerry spinelli s first book was space station seventh grade, published in 1982. 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. When i was growing up, the first thing i wanted to be was a cowboy. He is best known for maniac magee, stargirl and wringer. The first book that jerry spinelli first published was space station seventh grade in 1982.
May 12, 2015 it seems fitting to look back after 25 years at a childrens novel that is so much about memory. Jerry spinelli has a website called jerry spinelli intro. This work, space station seventh grade, was published in 1982. His first few novels were written for adults and were all rejected.
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