Jack Gantos.
His appearance on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.
Titles I've written about:
The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs (2006):
I do very much hope that this book will inspire teen fans (and grown-up fans) to give the gothic genre a try. Ivy’s story involves the mystery of her paternity, taxidermy, nature vs. nurture, the history of the eugenics movement and a love for her mother that is so desperately passionate that it could be described as a curse
Dead End in Norvelt (2011):
It's funny and quirky—without trying too hard—and filled with oddball characters who aren't defined by their oddball qualities. The historical tidbits are entertaining (though they occasionally feel more like lectures than part of the story), Jack himself is immediately likable, and the family interactions feel real.