Born on February 17, 1948, in New York City, Susan Beth Pfeffer is the daughter of Leo Pfeffer, a lawyer and professor, and Freda Plotkin Pfeffer, a secretary. She received a B.A. from New York University in 1969 where she majored in television, motion pictures, and radio studies. She makes her home in Middletown, New York.

Pfeffer's output of books published for young adults is extensive. While many of her books deal with controverSybil at Sixteen 4063 sial subjects, these are handled nonthreateningly and nonsensationally.

Topics of lighter concern are also treated in Pfeffer's books. For example, What Do You Do When Your Mouth Won't Open explores the terrors of public speaking experienced by a twelveyear-old girl. This book is another story of a situation with which many youths will identify.

While her writing for young adults is prolific, Pfeffer still finds time to pursue her long-held...