Reading lists and articles featuring Louis Sachar

Louis Sachar Biography

Introduction

• Louis Sachar (pronounced SAK-ər), born on March 20, 1954, is a distinguished American young-adult mystery-comedy author.
• He has gained widespread acclaim for his notable contributions to children’s literature, particularly through the Wayside School series and the critically acclaimed novel Holes.

Early Life

• Louis Sachar was born into a religious Jewish family in East Meadow, New York.
• During his childhood, he attended Hebrew school and Sunday school, shaping his early educational experiences.
• After graduating from Tustin High School, he embarked on his academic journey at Antioch College, later transferring to the University of California, Berkeley.

Early Career and Education

• Sachar, during his time at UC Berkeley, found a unique connection to education by assisting at an elementary school, a decision that proved to be life-changing.
• Graduating with a degree in Economics in 1976, Sachar ventured into the world of children’s literature, inspired by his experiences in elementary school.
• His debut children’s book, Sideways Stories From Wayside School, set the stage for his illustrious career and marked the beginning of a fan base among young readers.

Writing Career

• Despite the initial challenges, Sachar continued to pursue writing while juggling part-time legal work after completing his law degree at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1980.
• By 1989, his growing success in children’s literature allowed him to transition into full-time writing.
• Married to Carla Askew, an elementary school counselor, in 1985, Sachar integrated aspects of his family into his literary works, reflecting his wife and daughter in characters and narratives.

Film and Television

• In 2003, Disney’s film adaptation of Holes, with Sachar as the screenwriter, garnered global acclaim, earning $71.4 million worldwide.
• Sachar’s Wayside School series further expanded its reach with an animated direct-to-video special in 2005 and a subsequent television series with two seasons.

Notable Works

• Wayside School Series:
  • Sideways Stories from Wayside School (1978)
  • Wayside School is Falling Down (1989)
  • Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School (1989)
  • More Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School (1994)
  • Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger (1995)
  • Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom (2020)
• Marvin Redpost Series:
  • • Kidnapped at Birth? (1992)
    • Why Pick on Me? (1993)
    • Is He a Girl? (1993)

• Holes Series:
  • Holes (1998)
  • Stanley Yelnats’ Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake (2003)
  • Small Steps (2006)
• Other Notable Works:
  • There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom (1987)
  • The Cardturner (2010)
  • Fuzzy Mud (2015)

Louis Sachar’s impact on children’s literature is indelible, and his ability to blend mystery and comedy has made him a beloved figure in the world of young-adult fiction.