Quicknation    Avi

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, is a prominent American author of children's books and a winner of the Newbery Honor and Newbery Medal.

Avi and his twin sister Emily Wortis Ledier were born in New York City to Joseph Wortis, a psychiatrist, and Helen Zunser 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," which he adopted as his name (he prefers not to use or reveal his given name). Two of Avi's great-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. Avi's brother Henry was considered a genius and went to college at age 15 (and later became a scientist).

Despite an interest in reading, Avi was a poor writer and wanted to become a writer. This was to prove that he could write. Avi's sister, was good at every subject as it seemed. Since Avi was always in his twin sister's class, he demanded, in eigth grade not to be in his class.

At Stuyvesant High School, Avi flunked out. After, Avi's parents transferred him to Elisabeth Irwin High School, a smaller private school. There he studied with a tutor, Ella Ratner (whom he credits for his writing success) and found that he had dysgraphia, a condition causing one to reverse or misspell words.

Avi is an extremely prolific author. He has written books for many different age groups. Perhaps his most famous books fall under the category of historical fiction but he has also written fantasies, comedies, mysteries, ghost stories, adventure tales and picture books. After writing more than 20 books he was awarded a Newbery Medal for i ADDITIONS IN THE FINAL PARAGRAPH: Avi is an extremely prolific author. He has written books for many different age groups and in many different genres. Perhaps his most famous books fall under the category of historical fiction, but he has also written fantasies, comedies, mysteries, ghost stories, adventure tales, realistic fiction, and picture books. Avi has won many prestigious awards for his books, including a 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. As of the end of 2005, Avi has had 57 books published, all written for children young adults. After living in Providence, Rhode Island, in the 1980s and 1990s, Avi now resides in Denver, Colorado.