Avi is the pseudonym of Edward Irving Wortis, who was born in New York City on December 23rd, 1937. He was raised in Brooklyn with his twin sister Emily Wortis Leider (who bestowed upon him the nickname 'Avi') by their father, a psychiatrist, and mother, a social worker. Avi, the name he always went by, grew up in a family of writers and storytellers. In his senior year of high school, he finally decided that he wanted to be a writer, despite being an indifferent student. Since then Avi has written around 70 works for children and young adults, many of which are extremely popular and prestigiously awarded. He has received the Newbery Honor twice (The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and Nothing But the Truth), one Newbery Medal (Crispin: The Cross of Lead), and the Beacon of Freedom award (Iron Thunder). Avi's storytelling skill is evidenced by the many genres in which his stories are written, be it fantasy, historical fiction, or ghost stories.
Avi is married, with adult children. He and his wife Linda live in Denver, Colorado, after many years on the East Coast.
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