Sachar, Louis, 1954-....

Louis Sachar (pronounced Sack'-er) was born March 20, 1954 in East Meadow, New York. He obtained a law degree, but after writing a children's book just for fun, he sent it off to a publisher, and it was accepted. For the next several years he combined law and writing, until her was well enough established to make it on writing alone. His first book, inspired by his experiences during college as a teachers' aide, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, consists of a series of short stories of an elementary school thirty stories high, with classrooms stacked on top of each other. Eventually he wrote several more books about the Wayside School. He has also written a series of chapter books for younger readers, the 'Marvin Redpost' series. One of his best known books is There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, which treats of the reformation of a school bully. His books are known for their zany humor and their realistic portrayal of feelings and relationships. His work has won many honors and awards, including the 1999 Newbery Medal for Holes. Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vols. 50, 63, 104 Children's Literature Review, vol. 79.