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

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.

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.

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.

Take a look behind the bully in this modern classic from Newbery medalist Jerry Spinelli that packs a punch. And don''t miss the highly anticipated new novel, Dead Wednesday. Cocky seventh-grade super-jock Crash Coogan got his nickname the day he used his first football helmet to knock his cousin Bridget flat on her backside. And he has been running over people ever since, especially Penn Webb, the dweeby, vegetarian Quaker kid who lives down the block. Through the eyes of Crash, readers get a rare glimpse into the life of a bully in this unforgettable and beloved story about stereotypes and the surprises life can bring. "Readers will devour this humorous glimpse of what jocks are made of." --School Library Journal, starred review

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

Spinelli, Winner of the Newbery Medal a Newbery Honor book.

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 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

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.

When I grow up, what shall I be? This exuberant book offers up everything from a paper plane folder to a puppy dog holder, from a silly joke teller to a snowball smoother. Newbery-Award winning author Jerry Spinelli''s simple and charming rhymes are accompanied by internationally-renowned illustrator Jimmy Liao''s vibrant and fantastical illustrations. This book is an imaginative joyride about hopes and dreams, and a reminder of all the possibilities life has to offer. So, what do you want to be? Remember--you can be anything!

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.

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.

Ever since they were Snotsippers, Jack and the girl have fought, until one day she steals his bike and as he and the Amigos try to recover it, Jack realizes that he is growing up and must eventually leave the "goodlands and badlands of Hokey Pokey."

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!

A fast, fun, friendship read from the Newbery-award winning author of , Maniac Magee. Fourth graders are tough. They aren''t afraid of spiders. They say no to their moms. They push first graders off the swings. And they never, ever cry.Suds knows that now that he''s in fourth grade, he''s supposed to be a rat. But whenever he tries to act like one, something goes wrong. Can Suds''s friend Joey teach him to toughen up...or will Suds remain a fourth grade wimp?

The long-awaited prequel to the bestseller FOURTH GRADE RATSGeorge, aka "Suds," has just entered third grade, and he''s heard the rhyme about "first grade babies/second grade cats/third grade angels/fourth grade rats," but what does this mean for his school year? It means that his teacher, Mrs. Simms, will hold a competition every month to see which student deserves to be awarded "the halo" - which student is best-behaved, kindest to others, and, in short, perfect. Suds is determined to be the first to earn the halo, but he''s finding the challenge of always being good to be more stressful than he had anticipated. Does he have to be good even outside of school? (Does he have to be nice to his annoying little sister?) And if Mrs. Simms doesn''t actually see him doing a good deed, does it even count?A warm, funny return to elementary school from master storyteller Spinelli.

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