Avi

From Omnictionary

Avi (the Author)

Edward Irving Wortis (born December 23, 1937), better known by the pen name Avi, is an American author of young adult and children's literature. He is a winner of both the Newbery Honor and Newbery Medal.

Avi and his twin sister Emily Wortis Leider (also a writer) were born in New York City to Joseph Wortis, a psychiatrist, and Helen Wortis, a social worker. In the year after Avi's birth, his family moved to Brooklyn. When he was young his sister gave him the nickname "Avi." Two of Avi's grandfathers were writers, and one grandmother was a playwright. In interviews, he recalled his mother reading to him and his sister every night, and going to the public library on Fridays. He is also the first cousin of the Academy Award-winning actor Alan Arkin.

Avi has written more than 60 fantastic books. He's written for different genres including historical fiction, fantasies, comedies, mysteries, ghost stories, adventure tales, realistic fiction, and picture books. Many of his books have gotten awards such as the Newbery Honor for The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle in 1991 and another for Nothing But the Truth in 1992. His fiftieth book, Crispin: The Cross of Lead, was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2003.

After living in Providence, Rhode Island in the 1980s and 1990s, Avi now lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Linda Cruise Wright. He has adult children.

A list of some of his books:

Finding Providence

Midnight Magic

Abigail Takes the Wheel

Ragweed

What Do Fish Have To Do With Anything?

Tom, Babbette & Simon

Blue Heron

Nothing but the Truth

A Place Called Ugly

Sometimes I Think I Hear My Name

Wolf Rider

Devils Race

Something Upstairs

Poppy

Poppy & Rye

Tom, Babbette & Simon

Keep Your Eyes on Amanda

Amanda Joins the Circus

Perloo the Bold

Bright Shadow

City of Light/City of Dark

Tom, Babbette & Simon

Emily Upham's Revenge

The Barn

History of Helpless Harry

Punch With Judy

Who Was that Masked Man Anyway?

The Man Who Was Poe

Beyond the Western Sea

Captain Grey

The Fighting Ground

Night Journeys

Encounter At Easton

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Man From The Sky

Smuggler's Island

Windcatcher

No More Magic

Who Stole The Wizard Of Oz

Romeo * Juliet, Together and Alive at Last

S.O.R. Losers

--TheoriginalKEA 11:08, 25 September 2010 (EDT)