Francisco X. Stork
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1953 (age 72–73)
Francisco X. Stork | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Francisco Xavier Arguelles 1953 (age 72–73) |
| Occupation | Writer, novelist, attorney (retired) |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | Mexican-American |
| Education | Spring Hill College (BA) Harvard University (graduate studies) Columbia Law School (JD) |
| Genre | Young adult fiction |
| Notable works | Marcelo in the Real World, Disappeared, The Memory of Light |
| Notable awards | Schneider Family Book Award (2010) Walter Dean Myers Award Honor Book (2018) Walden Award - ALA |
| Spouse | Jill Syverson-Stork |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | |
| franciscostork.com | |
Francisco Xavier Stork (né Francisco Xavier Arguelles, born 1953)[1] is a Mexican-American writer. He is best known for his award-winning 2009 book, Marcelo in the Real World. He is the author of eleven novels, including Disappeared, a Walter Dean Myers Award Honor Book, and One Last Chance to Live, published in September 2024.
Francisco Xavier Arguelles was born in Monterrey, Mexico in 1953 to single mother Ruth Arguelles.[2] Because he was born outside of wedlock, his mother was sent to a convent to birth the child.[1] Although he was supposed to be adopted, his mother decided to keep him.[1] Eventually, his grandfather let both him and his mother to move back to their home city, Tampico.[2]
When he was six years old, Charles Stork, a retired American citizen, married Ruth Arguelles, adopted Francisco, and moved the three-member family to El Paso, Texas. Francisco emigrated from Mexico at the age of nine with his mother and his adoptive father. Charles "Charlie" Stork, a Dutch man 20 years Arguelles's elder, gave Francisco a typewriter for his seventh birthday, beginning Francisco's love of storytelling.[2]
Francisco attended a grammar school, where he learned English.[1][2]
Charlie Stork died in a car crash when Francisco was 13.[1]
Stork is a Christian.[3] He is married to Jill Syverson-Stork and has two children (Nicholas and Anna) and four grandchildren.[1] He lives with his wife outside of Boston.[1]
Education
At thirteen years old, Stork received a scholarship to the local Jesuit High School.[2] He rose to the top of his class, and eventually received a full-ride scholarship to Spring Hill College, a Jesuit college in Mobile, Alabama, where he studied English Literature and Philosophy.[2] There, he won his first prize in creative writing.[2]
After graduating from Spring Hill College, Stork received a Danforth Fellowship, which allowed him to attend Harvard University, where he studied Latin American Literature.[2]
Deciding academia was too distant from the problems people were facing in the world, Stork attended Columbia Law School.[2]
