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Jerry Spinelli

ジェリー・スピネリ

Jerī Supineri

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1941-02-01 （Norristown, Pennsylvania）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Norristown, Pennsylvania → Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Career

Occupations
Writer, Children's novelist
Active Years
1964-

Education

Gettysburg College
Degree: BA
Period: 1959–1963
Year of Graduation: 1963
Country: United States
Edited the college literary magazine The Mercury while a student
Johns Hopkins University
Degree: MA
Period: 1963–1964
Year of Graduation: 1964
Country: United States

Awards

Newbery Medal
1991
Work: Maniac Magee
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (American Library Association)
Result: 受賞
Newbery Honor
1998
Work: Wringer
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (American Library Association)
Result: オナー（選出）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Space Station Seventh Grade

1982 Children's literature

One of Spinelli's early children's novels focusing on a boy in early adolescence, depicting school life and friendships.

adolescencefriendshipschool life

Maniac Magee

1990 Children's / Young adult

A coming-of-age story addressing race, family, and belonging, following an orphaned boy, Maniac, who becomes a legendary figure in his town.

coming of agerace relationsloneliness and belonging

Wringer

1997 Children's literature

A book about bullying, courage, and moral conflict. The protagonist is a boy drawn into a traditional annual event and must confront his conscience.

moral conflicttradition and peer pressurefriendship

Stargirl

2000 Young-adult

Tells the story of an unconventional girl, Stargirl, whose arrival at a new school causes upheaval and transforms the narrator's feelings.

individuality vs conformityteen romanceidentity
Adaptations
  • [Film] Stargirl / Julia Hart (2020)

Eggs

2007 Children's literature

A warm story about an intergenerational friendship between an elderly man and a boy.

friendshipintergenerational connectionloneliness

Bibliography

  • Space Station Seventh Grade (1982)
  • Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush? (1984)
  • Maniac Magee (1990)
  • Wringer (1997)
  • Stargirl (2000)
  • Eggs (2007)
  • Numerous other picture books, children's and young-adult novels

Adaptations

  • Film adaptation of 'Stargirl' (2020)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
accessible narrative voicehumorous and emotionally empathetic tonerealistic depiction from youth perspectives
Recurring Motifs
coming of age and self-discoveryfriendship and peer groupssearch for identity

Legacy

Jerry Spinelli is a prominent author of children's and young-adult fiction focusing on adolescence; he is widely recognized for works such as the Newbery-winning 'Maniac Magee' and is frequently taught in schools.

Archives

  • The Papers of Jerry Spinelli (Gettysburg College Special Collections & Archives)

In Popular Culture

  • Anecdotes about interactions with writers such as George Plimpton are part of his cultural lore

Trivia

  • Graduated from Gettysburg College in 1963 and earned an MA from Johns Hopkins University in 1964.
  • Married to fellow children's writer Eileen Spinelli; the couple have six children and many grandchildren.
  • Initially wrote adult novels that were rejected before finding success in children's literature; first children's novel published in 1982.
  • Notable works include 'Maniac Magee', 'Stargirl', and 'Wringer'.