Young adult fiction Writer whose numerous novels include The Sara Summer, Stepping On The Cracks, Wait Till Helen Comes and The Doll in the Garden. She has published over twenty novels throughout her career
She grew up disliking writing; however, she enjoyed telling stories through drawing pictures. She wrote her first novel in 1979, while she was working as a librarian.
She was the recipient of both Scott O'Dell and Edgar awards.
She grew up in College Park, Maryland. Later, she had two daughters with her husband, Norman. She suffered a major stroke at the age of 44.
Her book Wait Till Helen Comes was adapted into a movie starring Sophie Nelisse.
