Most Popular Books by Jerry Spinelli

ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 BEST YA BOOKS OF ALL TIME • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME A modern-day classic from Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli, this beloved celebration of individuality is now an original movie on Disney+! Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’ s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first. Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. 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. Don’t miss the sequel, Love, Stargirl, as well as The Warden’s Daughter, a novel about another girl who can''t help but stand out. “Spinelli is a poet of the prepubescent. . . . No writer guides his young characters, and his readers, past these pitfalls and challenges and toward their futures with more compassion.” —The New York Times

After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee''s life becomes legendary, as he accomplishes athletic and other feats which awe his contemporaries. A Newbery Medal Book. Read by S. Epatha Merkerson. Book available.

The New York Times bestselling sequel to Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli’s modern-day classic Stargirl, now an original film on Disney+! And don''t miss the author''s highly anticipated new novel, Dead Wednesday! 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 novel takes the form of "the world''s longest letter," in diary form, going from date to date through a little more than a year''s time. In her writing, Stargirl mixes memories of her bittersweet time in Mica, Arizona, with involvements with new people in her life. In Love, Stargirl, we hear the voice of Stargirl herself as she reflects on time, life, Leo, and - of course - love. “Spinelli is a poet of the prepubescent. . . . No writer guides his young characters, and his readers, past these pitfalls and challenges and toward their futures with more compassion.” —The New York Times

Newbery medalist Jerry Spinelli has penned his early autobiography with all the warmth, humor, and drama of his best-selling fiction. And don''t miss the author''s highly anticipated new novel, Dead Wednesday! "A master of those embarrassing, gloppy, painful, and suddenly wonderful things that happen on the razor''s edge between childhood and full-fledged adolescence" --The Washington Post From first memories through high school, including first kiss, first punch, first trip to the principal''s office, and first humiliating sports experience, this is not merely an account of a highly unusual childhood. Rather, like Spinelli''s fiction, its appeal lies in the accessibility and universality of his life. Entertaining and fast-paced, this is a highly readable memoir-- a must-have for Spinelli fans of all ages.

Palmer LaRue is running out of birthdays. For as long as he can remember, he''s dreaded the day he turns ten -- the day he''ll take his place beside all the other ten-year-old boys in town, the day he''ll be a wringer. But Palmer doesn''t want to be a wringer. It''s one of the first things he learned about himself and it''s one of the biggest things he has to hide. In Palmer''s town being a wringer is an honor, a tradition passed down from father to son. Palmer can''t stop himself from being a wringer just like he can''t stop himself from growing one year older, just like he can''t stand up to a whole town -- right? Newbery Medal winner Jerry Spinelli''s most powerful novel yet is a gripping tale of how one boy learns how not to be afraid.

The Newbery Medalist and New York Times -bestselling author of Stargirl delivers a "snappy account of the woes and joys of junior high" ( Publishers Weekly ). Sibling rivalry at its finest! Whether it''s on the hockey ice, at school, or at home, Greg and Megin just can''t seem to get along. She calls him Grosso, he calls her Megamouth. They battle with donuts, cockroaches, and hair. Will it take a tragedy for them to realize how much they actually care for each other? "Spinelli keeps things very light most of the way through, shading into more serious feelings—with considerable finesse—only at the end . . . bright, personable, and reasonably lifelike—with nice average kids, unusually low-key/amusing parents, and a sure balance between farce and sentiment." — Kirkus Reviews "With a sure ear for adolescent dialogue . . . the author has again succeeded in creating a lively, absorbing novel." — The Horn Book "In smooth narrative style peppered with crisp and witty dialogue, Spinelli captures with amazing accuracy the . . . intense rivalry that often occurs between siblings." — School Library Journal

This Father''s Day show dad how much you care with this gift-book celebrating the moments you share! I can''t wait for my daddy to come home from work. There are so many things to do! In a loving tribute to fathers and sons, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli and New Yorker artist Seymour Chwast join talents to celebrate the very best moment of the day: when daddy comes home.

A Newbery Medal winning modern classic about a racially divided small town and a boy who runs. Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee might have lived a normal life if a freak accident hadn''t made him an orphan. After living with his unhappy and uptight aunt and uncle for eight years, he decides to run--and not just run away, but run. This is where the myth of Maniac Magee begins, as he changes the lives of a racially divided small town with his amazing and legendary feats.

Ever since her family moved to Aunt Sally''s farm, Tooter''s known that farm life is definitely not for her. There''s no pizzeria for miles, her nearest neighbor is a dumb boy, and even her own pet chicken hates her! So Tooter decides to show everyone what she''s made of by winning the blue ribbon at the County Fair''s goat show. Now all she has to do is keep her little brother--and his paint brush--away from her prize goat!

From renowned Newbery-winning author Jerry Spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. This classic book is perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Carl Hiaasen. Just like other kids, Zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. But Zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips over his own feet, and falls down with laughter over a word like "Jabip." Other kids have their own word to describe him, but Zinkoff is too busy to hear it. He doesn''t know he''s not like everyone else. And one winter night, Zinkoff''s differences show that any name can someday become "hero." With some of his finest writing to date and great wit and humor, Jerry Spinelli creates a story about a boy''s individuality surpassing the need to fit in and the genuine importance of failure. As readers follow Zinkoff from first through sixth grade, it becomes impossible not to identify with and root for him through failures and triumphs. The perfect classroom read.

Thirteen-year-old Maisie joins her school''s formerly all-male wrestling team and tries to last through the season, despite opposition from other students, her best friend, and her own teammates.

Jason and Marceline have been friends since the end of seventh grade. Now in ninth grade, Jason''s starting to think that they could be more than friends, and Marceline''s starting to think so, too. But does the beginning of romance mean the end of their friendship?

Mourning the loss of his mother, nine-year-old David forms an unlikely friendship with independent, quirky thirteen-year-old Primrose, as the two help each other deal with what is missing in their lives

A stunning novel of the Holocaust from Newbery Medalist, Jerry Spinelli. And don''t miss the author''s highly anticipated new novel, Dead Wednesday! He''s a boy called Jew. Gypsy. Stopthief. Filthy son of Abraham. He''s a boy who lives in the streets of Warsaw. He''s a boy who steals food for himself, and the other orphans. He''s a boy who believes in bread, and mothers, and angels. He''s a boy who wants to be a Nazi, with tall, shiny jackboots of his own-until the day that suddenly makes him change his mind. And when the trains come to empty the Jews from the ghetto of the damned, he''s a boy who realizes it''s safest of all to be nobody. Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli takes us to one of the most devastating settings imaginable-Nazi-occupied Warsaw during World War II-and tells a tale of heartbreak, hope, and survival through the bright eyes of a young Holocaust orphan.

The lives of four young people in different circumstances are changed by their encounters with books. Four humorous, poignant stories about how books changed the lives of several youngsters.

In this story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love, an eccentric student named Stargirl changes Mica High School forever.

Trade Sized Edition; Great middle greats fiction.