1. JERRY SPINELLI Jerry Spinelli has written over 20 books for kids of all ages, including Everybody, Fiction, and Non-fiction books. He enjoys writing books that are funny and true to life; he says he gets his best ideas for stories from kids. His first four novels were written for adults, and ALL of them were rejected. His fifth novel, also intended for adults, actually became his first book for kids. It’s called Space Station Seven Grade. Spinelli says that of all of his characters, he relates most to Jason Herkimer, who narrates the events of his seventh grade year, including school, zits, family, and a girl.

2. JERRY SPINELLI Spinelli won a Newbery Award for Maniac Magee. Jeffrey Lionel Magee is an orphan who runs away from his aunt and uncle’s house. Two hundred miles later, he finds himself in a segregated town in Pennsylvania. His athleticism and talents earn him fame and a few friends, but soon he is on the run again. This novel explores themes of racism and homelessness as Magee tries to figure out who he is, who his friends are, and how he fits into the world. Can you say “peer pressure?” Wringer, a Newbery Honor book, follows 10-year old Palmer, who has to decide if he wants to follow town tradition and wring a pigeon’s neck in the annual Family Fest Pigeon Shooting Day.

3. JERRY SPINELLI In Loser, Spinelli introduces Donald Zinkoff, a kid who doesn’t quite fit in. Zinkoff makes his way through elementary and middle school blissfully unaware of what others think of him. He has a heart of gold and finds fun in the simplest things. This book may inspire readers to have more sympathy for the Zinkoffsin their lives. Eggs follows David and Primrose, two kids who don’t seem to have anything in common except loneliness. Together they form an unusual friendship. Though much of it is spent arguing, they learn to share secrets and – eventually – to laugh again. People of all ages will enjoy this special story.

4. JERRY SPINELLI In Crash, John “Crash” Coogan is a typical middle school jock: cool, popular, and a bit of a bully. But when life deals Crash an unanticipated hand, his world is changed…and soon, so is he. Spinelli uses humor and tragedy to teach all of us a lesson in the importance of family, friendship, and what it means to be human. The Library Card is actually four short stories, all surrounding one “magical” library card. Each of the characters in the four stories is troubled in some way, but each one of their lives is changed when they find a mysterious library card.

5. JERRY SPINELLI Jerry Spinelli wrote his “autobiography of a kid” to share his memories of growing up with his readers. He said that in order to write Knots in My Yo-yo String, he needed LOTS of help, from family members, friends, and teachers. In addition to hearing about many of Spinelli’s memories – his first punch, his first kiss, the loss of his dog – readers will learn how these memories helped Spinelli become a writer of kids’ fiction.