1. Author Study of Louis Sachar By Katy Gladden

2. Biography
Mr. Sachar was born on March 20, 1954 in New York. At the age of nine, he moved to Tustin, California with his family.
He attended the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1976.
While in college he worked as a classroom aide and yard teacher at Hillside Elementary School.

3. Biography
Later on, he attended Hastings Law School in San Francisco and graduated in 1980.
After graduation, he passed the bar and worked part-time as a law practitioner.

4. Biography
In 1989, Mr. Sachar was able to discontinue practicing law in order to pursue his interest as a children’s writer on a full-time basis.
Mr. Sachar currently lives with his wife and daughter in Austin, Texas.

5. Inspiration
Mr. Sachar often wrote as a result of his own personal observation of children.
His first novel, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, is based on his experiences at Hillside Elementary School.
Some of the characters reflect the personalities of several of his previous Hillside Elementary students.
Cited

6. Writing Style
The author utilizes a humorous and simplistic writing style as exemplified in the story called There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom.

7. Themes
Often he writes about the underdog who rises to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles as in the novel, Holes.
Author Quote: "I'm not saying it's going to be easy. Nothing in life is easy. But that's no reason to give up.”
Author Quote: “You'll be surprised what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it. After all, you only have one life, so you should try to make the most of it."

8. Sideways Series Sideways Stories From Wayside School Series

9. Books 1989: Wayside School is Falling Down
1989: Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School
1994 More Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School
1995: Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger

10. Marvin Redpost Series 1992: Kidnapped at Birth 1993: Why Pick On Me?
1993: Is He a Girl?
1994: Alone in His Teacher’s House

11. Marvin Redpost Series 1999: Class President
2000: Super Fast Out of Control!
2000: A Magic Crystal?

12. Holes Series
Mr. Sachar’s most successful work is Holes which was written in 1998.

13. Holes Book Awards 1998: Holes The National Book Award
New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book
of the Year
New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award

14. Holes Book Awards Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
Newbery Medal (1999)
Became a major motion picture by Disney

15. Other Books in Holes Series
2003: Stanley Yelnats’ Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake
2006: Small Steps

16. Other Books 1981: Johnny’s in the Basement 1983: Someday Angeline
1987: Sixth Grade Secrets
1988 There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom

17. Other Books 1989: The Boy Who Lost His Face
1991: Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes
1992: Monkey Soup
2010: The Cardturner

18. What I Think That Students Should Know About the Author
Mr. Sachar frequently bases his characters on real people that he has met throughout his life. Often, his characters face adversity and learn how to deal with these issues effectively.

19. What I Think Students Should Know About the Author
Mr. Sachar writes realistic fiction about situations that students might face on a daily basis such as: peer group acceptance, racism, and bullying.

20. What I Think That Students Should Know About the Author
Mr. Sachar’s simplistic writing style incorporates humorous themes and creative plot structure to formulate a children’s story that connects with a reader.

21. What I Think Students Should Know About the Author
I would recommend this author, who has the gift of universal writing appeal, to anyone of any age.

22. Which Louis Sachar Book Would You Like To Read?

23. Works Cited
Lodge, Sally. "Louis Sachar." Publishers Weekly (2007): 26. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 2 July Sachar, Sherre, and Carla Sachar. "Louis Sachar." Horn Book Magazine July 1999: Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 2 July Wroble, Lisa A. "Louis Sachar." Guide to Literary Masters & Their Works (2007): 1. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 2 July 2011.