Todd Strasser was born May 5, 1950, in New York City. He says that he grew up rebelling against the "Establishment;" however, during high school, he tried most competitive sports and he attended Beloit College and graduated in 1974. Since then, he has had several jobs, including newspaper reporter (1974-1978), advertising copywriter (1976-1977), and researcher for Esquire magazine (1977-1978). In 1978, he founded a fortune-cookie company, and like Jeff Mead, the main character in Workin' for Peanuts, Strasser has also worked as a street vendor.

Strasser's first novel, Angel Dust Blues, was published in 1979 to mostly rave reviews. Since then, his books have won a variety of awards, including American Library Association Best Book selections for Friends Till the End and Rock n' Roll Nights, and a Notable Children's Trade Book in Social Studies selection for Friends Till the End. In 1981, Strasser married Pamela Older.