Michael Spradlin
American novelist (died 2026)
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Michael P. Spradlin (died 2026) was an American author. He wrote standalone books and series for children, middle grade, young adult, and adult readers, including fiction and non-fiction.
Born
Homer, Michigan, USA
DiedApril 12, 2026
Lapeer, Michigan, USA
LanguageEnglish
NotableawardsWestern Heritage Award for Best Juvenile Book
2011 Off Like the Wind
2011 Off Like the Wind
Michael Spradlin | |
|---|---|
Michael Spradlin - 2016 | |
| Born | Homer, Michigan, USA |
| Died | April 12, 2026 Lapeer, Michigan, USA |
| Writing career | |
| Language | English |
| Notable awards | Western Heritage Award for Best Juvenile Book 2011 Off Like the Wind |
| Website | www |
Two of Spradlin's books are Junior Library Guild selections: Into the Killing Seas (2015)[1] and Leo Thorsness: Vietnam: Valor in the Sky (2019).[2] In 2006, Live & Let Shop was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel.[3][independent source needed] In 2011, Off Like the Wind won the Western Heritage Award for Best Juvenile Book.[4][independent source needed]
In addition to writing, Spradlin worked as a bookseller and sales executive, including working for Avon Books and William Morrow and Company from 1989 to 1999, then for HarperCollins from 1999 to 2011.[5]
Spradlin grew up in Homer, Michigan, then studied history at Central Michigan University.[6] He died in Lapeer, Michigan on April 12, 2026.[5]
Publications
Children's books
Young readers
- The Legend of Blue Jacket. Illustrated by Ronald Himler. HarperCollins. 2002. ISBN 978-0688158354.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[7] - Daniel Boone's Great Escape. Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Walker & Co. 2008. ISBN 978-0-8027-9581-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[8] - Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen. Illustrated by Roxie Munro. Walker & Co. 2008. ISBN 978-0-8027-8096-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[9] - Baseball from A to Z. Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. HarperCollinsPublishers. 2010. ISBN 978-0-06-124081-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[10][11] - Off Like the Wind!: The First Ride of the Pony Express. Illustrated by Layne Johnson. Walker. 2010. ISBN 978-0-8027-9652-3.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[12] - The Monster Alphabet. Illustrated by Jeff Weigel. Price Stern Sloan. 2012. ISBN 978-0-8431-6984-3.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Middle grade
Killer Species series
- Menace From the Deep. Scholastic. 2013. ISBN 978-0545580700.
- Feeding Frenzy. Scholastic. 2013. ISBN 978-0545576680.
- Out for Blood. Scholastic. 2014. ISBN 978-0545633826.
- Ultimate Attack. Scholastic. 2014. ISBN 978-0545662871.[13]
Medal of Honor series
- Jack Montgomery: World War II: Gallantry at Anzio. Farrar, Straus Giroux. 2019. ISBN 978-1-250-15706-5.[14]
- Ryan Pitts: Afghanistan: A Firefight in the Mountains of Wanat. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. 2019. ISBN 978-1-250-15711-9.
- Leo Thorsness: Vietnam: Valor in the Sky. Farrar, Straus Giroux. 2019. ISBN 978-1250157133.
Web of the Spider series
- Rise of the Spider. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2024. ISBN 978-1-6659-4720-6.[15]
- Threat of the Spider. Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2025. ISBN 978-1-665-94723-7.[16]
- The Spider Strikes. Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2026. ISBN 978-1665947268.[17]
World War II Adventure series
- Prisoner of War. HarperCollins. 2017. ISBN 978-0-545-85783-3.[18]
- Into the Killing Seas. HarperCollins. 2015. ISBN 978-0-545-72602-3.[19]
- The Enemy Above. HarperCollins. 2016. ISBN 978-0545857826.[20]
Youngest Templar series
- Keeper of the Grail. Narrated by Paul Boehmer. Puffin Books. 2008. ISBN 978-1101158647.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[21][22] - Trail of Fate. Puffin Books. 2009. ISBN 978-1101494875.[23]
- Orphan of Destiny. Puffin Books. 2010. ISBN 978-1101198353.
Standalone books
- Pandora Gets Vain. Bloomsbury. 2008. ISBN 978-1-59990-197-8.[24]
- Pararescue Corps. Capstone Press. 2019. ISBN 978-1-4965-8105-1.[25]
- Close Calls: How Eleven U.S. Presidents Escaped from the Brink of Death. Bloomsbury Children's Books. 2020. ISBN 978-1-5476-0023-6. [26][27]
- The Raven's Shadow. Crossroad Press. 2025. ISBN 978-1637893296.
Young adult books
I, Q series
- The Alamo. Co-written with Roland Smith. Sleeping Bear Press. 2014. ISBN 978-1627537216.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - Windy City. Co-written with Roland Smith. Sleeping Bear Press. 2014. ISBN 978-1627539180.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - Alcatraz. Co-written with Roland Smith. Sleeping Bear Press. 2014. ISBN 978-1627539098.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Spy Goddess series
- Live and Let Shop. HarperCollins. 2005. ISBN 0-06-059407-1.[28]
- To Hawaii, with Love. HarperCollins. 2006. ISBN 978-1480457942.[29]
- The Spy Who Totally Had a Crush on Me. Open Road Media. 2014. ISBN 978-1480457959.
Spy Goddess Manga series
- Chase for the Chalice. Illustrated by Rainbow Buddy. Tokyopop. 2008. ISBN 978-0061362996.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[30] - The Quest for the Lance. Illustrated by Rainbow Buddy. HarperCollins. 2009. ISBN 978-0061363009.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - The Search for the Scepter. Illustrated by Rainbow Buddy. HarperCollins. 2009. ISBN 978-0061363016.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Adult books
- It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies: A Book of Zombie Christmas Carols. Introduction by Christopher Moore and illustrated by Jeff Weigel. William Morrow. 2009. ISBN 978-0061986024.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - Jack and Jill Went Up to Kill: A Book of Zombie Love Songs. Illustrated by Jeff Weigel. William Morrow. 2010. ISBN 978-0062063281.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - Pirate Haiku: Bilge-Sucking Poems of Booty, Grog, and Wenches for Scurvy Sea Dogs. Adams Media. 2010. ISBN 978-1440509834.
- Jack and Jill Went Up to Kill: A Book of Zombie Nursery Rhymes. Illustrated by Jeff Weigel. William Morrow. 2011. ISBN 978-0062083609.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - Blood Riders. Crossroad Press. 2012. ISBN 978-0-06-202309-4.[31]
