Jerry Spinelli
By: Savannah Swanson
About Jerry Spinelli
1) Won a Newberry Medal for his book Maniac Magee.
2) Growing up Spinelli wanted to be a shortstop in the majors.
3) The first thing Jerri Spinelli wanted to be was a cowboy.
4) In his years after college he wrote four books.
5) Spinelli was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania and currently resides in Phoenixville, PA.
6) His first four novels were written for adults and were all rejected.
Milkweed Summary
He’s a boy called Jew. Gypsy. Stop thief. Runt. Happy. Fast. 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 all of other orphans. He’s a boy who believes in bread, and mothers, and angels. He’s a boy who wants to be a Nazi someday, with tall shiny jackboots and a gleaming Eagle hat of his own. Until one day he suddenly he changes his mind. 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.
Maniac Magee Summary
After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee's (AKA Maniac’s) life becomes legendary, as he accomplishes athletic and other feats that make him stand out whether he is on the East end or the West end.
Eggs Summary
Nine-year-old David is sad and angry - his mother recently died in a freak accident and now he has to live with his grandmother, because his father is too busy to care for him. Then David meets thirteen-year-old Primrose, who has no dad, and a neglectful and eccentric mother. Together these two damaged children help each other to find what is missing in their lives.
Milkweed By Jerry Spinelli (Book Trailer)