美國著名童書作傢，作品有《瘋狂麥基》《太空站七年級》《誰把頭發放在我的牙刷裏？》以及《墜毀》等，幽默和辛辣是其小說的特色。他筆下的人物和情節常常取材於自身為六個小孩父親的真實生活經驗。他的小說既有趣又耐人尋味，深受讀者喜愛，本本都被美國教育界和文學評論界推薦。

Palmer LaRue is running out of birthdays. For as long as he can remember, he's dreaded the day he turns ten -- the day he'll take his place beside all the other ten-year-old boys in town, the day he'll be a wringer. But Palmer doesn't want to be a wringer. It's one of the first things he learned about himself and it's one of the biggest things he has to hide. In Palmer's town being a wringer is an honor, a tradition passed down from father to son. Palmer can't stop himself from being a wringer just like he can't stop himself from growing one year older, just like he can't stand up to a whole town -- right? Newbery Medal winner Jerry Spinelli's most powerful novel yet is a gripping tale of how one boy learns how not to be afraid. </P>