Jerry Spinelli is an American writer born on February 1, 1941, known for his children's novels that explore themes of adolescence and early adulthood. His notable works include Maniac Magee, Stargirl, and Wringer.

As a child, Jerry wanted to be either a cowboy or a baseball player but eventually pursued a career in writing. He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and furthered his education at Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He has published over 25 books and is a father of six and a grandfather to 16.

Jerry's journey into writing began at the age of 16. After witnessing his high school football team's victory, he chose to write a poem instead of celebrating with his classmates. That poem was published in a local newspaper, igniting his passion for writing and steering him away from dreams of becoming a major-league shortstop.