Wendelin Van Draanen

Wendelin Van Draanen was born on January 6, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois, to Dutch immigrant parents who were chemists. Famous Birthdays. Before becoming a full-time author, she taught high school math and computer science and began writing during college amid family financial hardship following a business fire. She is best known for the 18-book Sammy Keyes mystery series, which won an Edgar Award, as well as standalone young adult novels like Flipped (adapted into a film) and The Running Dream. Goodreads.