Neal Shusterman

Neal Shusterman is a successful and popular American writer who works in the field of young adult literature. He also writes for television, including the Disney Channel Original Movie Pixel Perfect, as well as episodes for the series Goosebumps and Animorphs.

Neal grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He was an avid reader from early childhood. When he was 8 years old, he wrote a letter to E. B. White in which he expressed his opinion about the need for a sequel to Charlotte's Web. White replied, saying that in his opinion the book was self-contained and did not need a sequel, but suggested that Shusterman continue the correspondence. When Shusterman was 16, he moved with his family to Mexico City. There he finished high school, and, as he said, "the experience of getting to know the world changed my life, giving me a fresh view of the world and a sense of confidence that I might not otherwise have gotten."

He entered the University of California, Irvine, earning two degrees in psychology and theater, and also joined the university swimming team. During his studies, he wrote a popular humor column in the department newspaper. After graduating from college, he got a job as an assistant at the recruiting agency Irvine Arthur and Partners in Los Angeles, where Lloyd Segan became his agent. Within a year, Shusterman signed his first book contract, as well as a screenwriting contract. He currently lives in Southern California with his four children.