Susan Eloise Hinton, who was born on July 22nd, published her first book when she was 17 years old. That book, The Outsiders, remains one of the best-selling children's books of all time. She was one of the first to write with gritty realism about the growing pains of teenagers. She has also written Rumble Fish; That Was Then, This is Now; Tex; Taming the Star Runner—all books for young adults. While her son was growing up, she wrote picture books, including Puppy Sister and Big David, Little David. Now that her son is in college, she is once again at her writer's desk.

S. E. Hinton was the recipient of the American Library Association's and School Library Journal's first annual Margaret A. Edwards Award, which honors authors whose "book or books, over a period of time, have been accepted by young people as an authentic voice that continues to illuminate their experiences and emotions, giving insight into their lives."

—Vicki Palmquist