John Corey Whaley is an acclaimed American author known for his contemporary fiction novels aimed at young adults. Born on January 19, 1984, he garnered significant attention with his debut novel Where Things Come Back, which won the prestigious Printz Award from the American Library Association in 2012. This accolade recognized it as the year's "best book written for teens."

Whaley’s second novel, Noggin, was a finalist for the 2014 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and was listed by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Best YA Books of All Time.

Growing up in the small town of Springhill, Louisiana, Whaley developed his storytelling skills early, crafting tales about aliens and underwater civilizations. He holds a B.A. in English from Louisiana Tech University and an M.A. in Secondary English Education. Before achieving success as a writer, Whaley taught public school for five years, all the while nurturing dreams of becoming a full-time author.

Beyond writing, Whaley has a keen interest in movies, music, and travel. Despite being an occasional kayaker and bongo player, he admits to being terrible at most sports. He is also known for his selective eating habits.