Avi was born in 1937 and raised in New York City in a family of writers. His twin sister gave him the name Avi when they were about a year old, and his official biography emphasizes that it is the only name he uses. School writing was difficult, but focused tutoring and a reading-centered education helped turn an early desire to prove he could write into a professional vocation.
He first pursued playwriting and worked for many years as a librarian. After becoming a parent, he began shaping stories for young readers, publishing Things That Sometimes Happen in 1970. His official 2024 biography records more than 80 books, and the current catalog spans twelve genres as well as several long-running series.
Historical fiction is central to Avi's work. For Crispin--The Cross of Lead, he began with lectures on medieval history, read or consulted more than 200 books, and built the novel around the social upheaval preceding the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. The story's research, sensory detail, and forward movement helped it win the 2003 John Newbery Medal.
Avi describes writing as an iterative practice directed toward readers. He rewrites repeatedly, treats ideas as material that must be shaped into narrative, and has discussed dyslexia, writer's block, historical reconstruction, teaching, and the Newbery experience in recorded interviews. His Word Craft blog continues that conversation with readers and classrooms.
