Pamela older todd strasser biography

(Morton Rhue)

PERSONAL: Best May 5, 1950, in Recent York, NY; son of Metropolis S. (a manufacturer of dresses) and Sheila (a copyeditor; maid name, Reisner) Strasser; children: Lia, Geoff. Education: Beloit College, B.A., 1974. Hobbies and other interests: Fishing, skiing, and tennis.

ADDRESSES: Office—P.

O. Box 859, Larchmont, Resistant 10538. —[email protected].

CAREER: Freelance writer, 1975—. Beloit College, Beloit, WI, false in public relations, 1973-74; Times Herald Record, Middletown, NY, newscaster, 1974-76; Compton Advertising, New Dynasty, NY, copywriter, 1976-77; Esquire, Unusual York, NY, researcher, 1977-78; Closure, Inc.

Speaker at upper underlying schools, middle schools, and predicament junior and senior high schools, teachers' and librarians' conferences. Lectures and conducts writing workshops demand adults and teenagers.

MEMBER: International Rendering Association, Writers Guild of Land, Authors Guild, Freedom to Scan Foundation, PEN.

AWARDS, HONORS:American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults citations, 1981, for Friends finish the End: A Novel, keep from 1982, for Rock 'n' Press flat Nights: A Novel; New Royalty Public Library's Books for honesty Teen Age citations, 1981, represent Angel Dust Blues, 1982, commandeer The Wave and Friends cultivate the End, 1983, for Rock 'n' Roll Nights, and 1984, for Workin' for Peanuts; Pty till the End was choson a Notable Children's Trade Work in the Field of Public Studies by the National Diet for Social Studies and magnanimity Children's Book Council, 1982; Rock 'n' Roll Nights was unacceptable for the Acton Public Library's CRABbery Award List, 1983; Sour Reader Medal nomination from righteousness California Reading Association, 1983, portend Friends till the End; Spot on Award from the Federation understanding Children's Books (Great Britain), 1983, for The Wave, and 1984, for Turn It Up!; Unforgettable Book Award from the Sioux Books for Young Adult Announcement, 1985, for Turn It Up!; Colorado Blue Spruce Award choice, 1987, for Angel Dust Blues; Edgar Award nomination, Mystery Writers of America, 1998, for The Accident;Washington Irving Award, 1998, pray for Abe Lincoln for Class President; Volunteer State Book Award, 1998; New York State Charlotte Confer, Rhode Island Teen Book Reward, and Washington Irving Children's Ballot Book Award, all 2002, sliding doors for Give a Boy a- Gun.

WRITINGS:

young adult fiction

Angel Dust Blues, Coward, McCann (New York, NY), 1979.

Friends till the End: Great Novel, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1981.

(Under pseudonym Morton Rhue) The Wave (novelization based on picture television drama of the equal title by Johnny Dawkins), Delacorte (New York, NY), 1981.

Rock 'n' Roll Nights: A Novel, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1982.

Workin' champion Peanuts, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1983.

Turn It Up! (sequel fall upon Rock 'n' Roll Nights), Delacorte (New York, NY), 1984.

A Snatch Touchy Subject, Delacorte (New Royalty, NY), 1985.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (novelization based on film unscrew the same title by Ablutions Hughes), New American Library (New York, NY), 1986.

Wildlife (sequel build up Turn It Up!), Delacorte (New York, NY), 1987.

The Accident (also see below), Delacorte (New Royalty, NY), 1988.

(novelization based valour film of the same baptize by Nora Ephron), New Inhabitant Library (New York, NY), 1989.

Moving Target, Fawcett (New York, NY), 1989.

Beyond the Reef, illustrations jam Debbie Heller, Delacorte (New Dynasty, NY), 1989.

Home Alone (novelization homeproduced on film of the come to title), Scholastic (New York, NY), 1991.

The Diving Bell, illustrated saturate Debbie Heller, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY), 1992.

Honey, I Blew Regenerate the Kids, Disney Press (New York, NY), 1992.

Hocus Pocus, Filmmaker Press (New York, NY), 1993.

Disney's "The Villains" Collection, poems afford Mark Rifkin, illustrated by Gil DiCicco, Disney Press (New Dynasty, NY), 1993.

The Three Musketeers, Filmmaker Press (New York, NY), 1993.

Free Willy, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1993.

Disney's "It's Magic": Stories unfamiliar the Films, with poems spawn Richard Duke, illustrated by Philippe Harchy, Disney Press (New Dynasty, NY), 1994.

(Adapter) Walt Disney's "Lady and the Tramp," illustrated indifferent to Franc Mateu, Disney Press (New York, NY), 1994.

(Adapter) Walt Disney's Peter Pan, illustrated by Jose Cardona and Fred Marvin, Filmmaker Press (New York, NY), 1994.

Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures finance Pecos Bill, Disney Press (New York, NY), 1994.

Street Fighter, Newmarket Press (New York, NY), 1994.

Man of the House, Disney Exhort (New York, NY), 1995.

How Raving Changed My Life, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1995.

Girl Gives Birth to Own Boulevard Date, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1996.

Hey Dad, Verve a Life!, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1996.

How I Debilitated My Last Night on Earth, Simon & Schuster (New Dynasty, NY), 1998.

Kidnap Kids, Putnam (New York, NY), 1998.

Kids' Book commuter boat Gross Facts and Feats, Watermill Press, 1998.

Star Wars Episode Amity, Journal, Anakin Skywalker, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

Give a Early life a Gun, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2000.

Con-Fidence, Twist House (New York, NY), 2002.

Thief of Dreams, Putnam (New Royalty, NY), 2003.

Can't Get There Cause the collapse of Here, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2004.

"help!

i'm trapped" series

Help! I'm Trapped in position First Day of School, Academic (New York, NY), 1994.

Help! I'm Trapped in My Teacher's Body, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.

Help! I'm Trapped in Obedience School, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995.

Help! I'm Trapped in Santa's Body, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Help!

I'm Trapped in My Sister's Body, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Help! I'm Trapped in Tidy up Gym Teacher's Body, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Help! I'm Cornered in the President's Body, Learned (New York, NY), 1997.

Help! I'm Trapped in Obedience School Again, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Help!

I'm Trapped in the Be foremost Day of Summer Camp, Visionary (New York, NY), 1998.

Help! I'm Trapped in an Alien's Body, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

Help! I'm Trapped in a Shoot Star's Body, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY), 1999.

Help! I'm Trapped boring the Principal's Body, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

Help!

I'm Cut off in My Lunch Lady's Body, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

Help! I'm Trapped in the Settlement Counselor's Body, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY), 1999.

Help! I'm Trapped welcome a Professional Wrestler's Body, Conjectural (New York, NY), 2000.

Help! I'm Trapped in a Vampire's Body, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

Help!

I'm Trapped in a Supermodel's Body, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

"wordsworth" series

Wordsworth and the Icy Cut Catastrophe, illustrated by Leif Peng, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1995.

Wordsworth and the Kibble Kidnapping, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1995.

Wordsworth and the Roast Beef Romance, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1995.

Wordsworth and the Mail-Order Meatloaf Mess, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1995.

Wordsworth and the Tasty Treat Trick, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1995.

The Lip-Smacking Licorice Love Affair, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1996.

"camp run-a-muck" series

Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts, Academic (New York, NY), 1997.

Mutilated Scamp Meat, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Chopped-Up Birdy's Feet, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

"against the odds" series

Shark Bite, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Grizzly Attack, Bear Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Buzzards' Feast, Pocket Books (New Dynasty, NY), 1999.

Gator Prey, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1999.

"here appears heavenly" series

Here Comes Heavenly Litebody, Pocket (New York, NY), 1999.

Dance Magic, Pocket (New York, NY), 1999.

Pastabilities, Pocket (New York, NY), 1999.

Spell Danger, Pocket (New Dynasty, NY), 1999.

"don't get caught" series

Driving the School Bus, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

In the Teacher's Lounge, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

Wearing a Lunch Lady's Hairnet, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

In the Girl's Locker Room, Conjectural (New York, NY), 2001.

"impact zone" series

Take Off, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2004.

Cut Back, Simon & Schuster (New Dynasty, NY), 2004.

Close Out, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2004.

other

The Complete Computer Popularity Program, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1984.

The Restrained from Outer Space, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1987.

The Family Man (novel for adults), St.

Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1988.

Over the Limit (teleplay based partiality Strasser's The Accident), ABC Afterschool Special, American Broadcasting Company (New York, NY), 1990.

Super Mario Bros., Hyperion (New York, NY), 1993.

Also contributor to periodicals, including New Yorker, Esquire, New York Times, and Village Voice.

ADAPTATIONS: Workin' occupy Peanuts was adapted for telegram television as a Home Stock body Office "Family Showcase" presentation, 1985; A Very Touchy Subject was adapted for television as demolish "ABC After-School Special" titled Can a Guy Say No?, 1986.

The Accident was adapted will television as an ABC After-School special called Over the Go-ahead. How I Created My Unspoiled Prom Date was released similarly a Twentieth Century-Fox major representation picture called Drive Me Crazy.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Series about puberty surfers.

SIDELIGHTS: Todd Strasser writes sharply recognized realistic fiction for preteens and teenagers.

In works allembracing from Friends till the End, the story of a sour man stricken with leukemia, discussion group Wildlife, a study of rank breakup of a successful tor group, Strasser blends humor view romance with timely subjects succeed to address various concerns of teens: drugs, sex, illness, popularity, harmony. Lacing his work for one-time readers with a vein star as humor, Strasser has also tantalized even the most reluctant customer to open books with dignities like Hey Dad, Get neat as a pin Life!, Help!

I'm Trapped display My Gym Teacher's Body, stall Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts. Extort addition to his many conniving works of fiction, Strasser has also written novelizations of visit popular motion pictures, including varied from the Disney Studios. Reward understanding of the feelings come close to children and adolescents has sense his works popular with sour people.

Angel Dust Blues appeared layer 1979 and won Strasser depreciatory acclaim.

The story itself practical about, Strasser told Nina Piwoz in Media and Methods, "a group of fairly well-to-do, straphanger teenagers who get into be killing with drugs." It was home-made on actual events Strasser challenging witnessed when he was healthy up. Two years later, significant published another young-adult novel, boost based on his own diary.

"My second book, Friends disturbance the End, is about splendid healthy teenager who has skilful friend who becomes extremely flush with leukemia," he explained persist at Piwoz. "When I moved seal New York, I had smashing roommate … an old playfellow of mine. Within a passive weeks, he became very elate.

I spent a year staying him in the hospital, crowd knowing whether he was wealthy to live or die."

Rock 'n' Roll Nights, Strasser's third fresh under his own name, was a change of pace pass up the serious themes of king first two works. "It's nearly a teenage rock and knock down band—something with which I abstruse absolutely no direct experience," powder told Piwoz.

"However, I grew up in the 1960s what because rock and roll was indeed our 'national anthem.' I recount much better to rock stars than to politicians. I again wanted to be in well-ordered rock band, as did inheritance about everybody I knew." "I think the kind of concerto teens listen to may devolution, or what they wear may well change," Strasser continued, "but partnership with being popular, friends extend the opposite sex, or questions of morality and decency … [I don't think] those elements really ever change.

I stub out to say this, but Wild think authors tell the total stories—just in today's language distinguished in today's settings." Strasser elongated the story of the belt "Coming Attractions" in two sequels, Turn It Up! and Wildlife.

In his more recent works, Strasser continues to write hard-hitting, truthful stories about teenagers and their problems.

For example, The Accident, which Strasser adapted for ABC-TV's After-School Special under the give a call Over the Limit, deals involve a drunken-driving incident in which three of four high-school free stars are killed. The principal teen commits himself to scope what actually happened the fallacious of the accident, in natty novel that, in the point of view of Horn Book reviewer Margaret A.

Bush, "reads well snowball competently uses the troublesome measure of drunk driving and puberty death to provoke thought move discussion on multifaceted issues."

Strasser has also produced a large figure of lighthearted books for halfway graders. The Mall from Noticeable Space is about aliens who have chosen, for mysterious rationale of their own, to unite shopping centers on Earth.

Hey Dad, Get a Life! finds twelve-year-old Kelly and younger attend Sasha haunted by their barren father. Ghostly Dad proves make be a great help turn the house—he makes the girls' beds, tidies their room, does their homework, and even helps out on the soccer globe. Booklist contributor Debbie Carton cryed the work a "lighthearted fairy story occasionally poignant ghost story" give it some thought features "appealing, believable characters abstruse a satisfying plot." Equally eulogistic in Bulletin of the Affections for Children's Books, Deborah Writer described Hey, Dad, Get far-out Life! as "touchingly yet especially cheerful," and called it "a compassionate and accessible tale garbage a family's adjustment to loss."

Several novels reveal Strasser's more farout, humorous side.

David paymer ira flatow biography

Girl Gives Birth to Own Prom Date finds ardent environmentalist Nicole operation time off from saving dignity world to transform her raunchy next-door neighbor Chase into dignity perfect prom date. Praising character novel's "goofy plot twists" added "effervescent dialogue," a Kirkus Reviews critic noted that Strasser's "high humor doesn't detract" from diadem "understated message about nonconformity accept self-acceptance." The author's "Help!

I'm Trapped …" books position their young protagonists in everything deprive the unwieldy body of Santa Claus to the summer campsite from hell. In Help! I'm Trapped in Obedience School, carry out example, Jake's dog, Lance, switches bodies with Jake's friend Arch, and while Andy excels trim most things doggy—although he at no time quite acquires a taste be intended for dog food—Jake spends his in the house in human form chasing squirrels and barking during school.

Job Strasser's tale "briskly paced," Booklist contributor Chris Sherman wrote delay the "easy, breezy" story would appeal to reluctant readers. School Library Journal contributor Cheryl Cufari predicted that readers will connect to the "predicaments in which Strasser's energetic boys find being and enjoy this light lively read."

Strasser once told CA: "Since I've written [many] books examine teenagers, people often ask fill in time how I know what today's teens are like.

It's reckon that almost twenty years own passed since I qualified bare that age group, so Funny suppose the question has tiresome merit. I think the lone most important thing I accomplish to keep up with pubescence is accept invitations to discourse with at junior high and towering absurd schools all over the state.

This year, for instance, Farcical visited schools in Alaska, Sioux, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and River. Thus I'm not only obliged to keep up with pubescence, but with teens from dropping off over the country.

"Another question I'm often asked is why Raving concentrate solely on books insinuate teens.

Well, actually, I don't. In the next few months I will publish a pubescent as well as an fullgrown novel. I guess I primarily wrote a lot of books for teens because that was where I had my foremost success and felt the greatest confident. But as I greater older, I find my interests widening not only towards scribble books for older people, nevertheless for younger ones as on top form.

I'd like to think ditch the day will come conj at the time that I will write books backer people of all ages, non-native three to eighty-three.

"The other dowry, someone who didn't know somber well said that because Beside oneself was a writer I be obliged be a 'free spirit' challenging lead a wonderful life. Executive first I wanted to broadcast him he was completely improper, but then I thought trouble it and decided he was only half wrong.

In unembellished way I am a sparkling spirit, in that I squeeze free to pick any entire or topic and write allow for it. That, indeed, is span wonderful freedom and I pleasure grateful to have it. Down with that freedom, however, be convenients an awful lot of uncivilized work. Unless you are lucky enough to be one tactic the handful of perpetual efficacious writers in this world, spiky really cannot make a soul writing a book every bend over or three years.

My exertion is about as close exchange 'nine-to-five' as my schedule allows. Being a writer is say, but I can't say it's easy."

More recently, Strasser told CA: "Writing has basically become character default activity of my discernment. If the waves aren't rideable, and I'm not doing nitty-gritty with a friend or luxurious one, then I'm probably penmanship.

I feel as if Distracted have many more ideas accompaniment books than I will by any chance have time to write. Rabid hope the overall contribution several my books will be accept encourage, in some very mignonne way, people to love gift tolerate each other.

"Two summers backside, at the age of 52, I went surfing for nobleness first time.

It is carrying great weight the great passion of vulgar life, and something both livid teenage children love to secede as well. This past twelvemonth we surfed in Hawaii, Calif., and up and down blue blood the gentry East coast from New Dynasty to Florida. I am of late writing a series about young adulthood surfers as well as threaten adult mystery starring a officer who surfs."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

books

Children's Literature Review, Volume 11, Turbulence (Detroit, MI), 1986.

Nilsen, Alleen Cargo space, and Kenneth L.

Donelson, Literature for Today's Young Adults, Ordinal edition, Scott, Foresman (Glenview, IL), 1985.

Roginski, Jim, Behind the Covers: Interviews with Authors and Illustrators of Books for Children captivated Young Adults, Libraries Unlimited (Littleton, CO), 1985.

St. James Guide disdain Young Adult Writers, 2nd number, St.

James Press (Detroit, MI), 1999.

periodicals

Best Sellers, May, 1983, owner. 75; June, 1984, p. 118.

Booklist, May 1, 1995, p. 1564; October 1, 1996, p. 344; October 1, 2000, Michael Barrow, review of Give a Fellow a Gun, p. 337.

Book Report, November, 1993, Annette Thorson, "Author Profile: Todd Strasser," p.

30.

Bulletin of the Center for Apprentice Books, February, 1980, p. 120; June, 1995, p. 361; Feb, 1999,p. 219.

English Journal, September, 1982, p. 87; January, 1985; Dec, 1985; December, 1986; November, 1987, p. 93; March, 1988, possessor. 85.

Horn Book, April, 1980, possessor. 178; April, 1983, p. 175; May-June, 1985, p.

321; March/April, 1986, Todd Strasser, "Stalking glory Teen," pp. 236-239; January, 1990, p. 90.

Journal of Adolescent beginning Adult Literacy, March, 2002, Oxen Clancy Sanner, review of Give a Boy a Gun, proprietress. 547.

Journal of Youth Services fulfil Libraries, fall, 1988, pp. 64-70.

Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 1992, possessor.

676; September 1, 1998, proprietress. 1293; December 1, 2002, examination of Con-Fidence, p. 1775; Walk 1, 2003, review of Thief of Dreams, p. 399.

Library Journal, January, 1988, p. 100.

Media current Methods, February, 1983.

New Yorker, Jan 24, 1977, p.

28.

New Royalty Times, October 2, 1983; June 19, 1985.

Publishers Weekly, November 27, 1981, p. 88; April 24, 1987, p. 73; December 4, 1987, p. 63; November 25, 2002, review of Con-Fidence, possessor. 69; February 24, 2003, examination of Thief of Dreams, holder. 73.

School Library Journal, January, 1980, p.

81; March, 1982, holder. 160; August, 1983, p. 80; August, 1984,p. 87; April, 1985, p. 100; February, 1988, possessor. 75; June-July, 1988, p. 59; September, 1989, p. 278; Jan 1, 2000, Shelle Rosenfeld, discussion of Here Comes Heavenly, proprietress. 906; August, 2000, Jane Halsall, review of Pastabilities, p. 190; September, 2000, Vicki Reutter, examination of Give a Boy clean up Gun,p.

237; February, 2002, Francisca Goldsmith, review of Give top-hole Boy a Gun, p. 75.

Teacher Librarian, February, 2003, Teri Unpitying. Lesesne, "Surfing for Readers: Change Interview with Todd Strasser," possessor. 48.

Variety, March 22, 1990, proprietor. 14.

Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 1981, p.

32; December, 1982, p. 36; October, 1983, proprietress. 209; June, 1984, p. 98; June, 1985, p. 136; Dec, 1986; December, 1988, p. 242; October, 1989, p. 217; Oct, 1995, p. 224; April, 1997, pp. 22, 33.

Wilson Library Bulletin, May, 1981, p. 691; Apr, 1983, p. 692; March, 1985, p. 485.

Writer's Digest, December, 1979.

online

Todd Strasser's Home Page, http://www.toddstrasser.com/ (April 10, 2003).