Jeanne Betancourt

Jeanne Betancourt (born October 2, 1941, in Burlington, Vermont) is an American author and television scriptwriter best known for her children’s and young adult fiction, including the popular “Pony Pals” series and the novel My Name Is Brain Brian. She grew up in rural Vermont across from a dairy farm, later drawing on both her country upbringing and life in New York City in her work for young readers. Betancourt earned a B.S. from the College of St. Joseph the Provider in 1964 and an M.A. in film from New York University in 1974, and has also written “Afterschool Special” teleplays that address issues such as drug abuse, prejudice, and homelessness.

Over her career, Betancourt has authored dozens of novels for children and teens, along with scripts for film and television, and an adult nonfiction book. Her novel My Name Is Brain Brian (1993) is a contemporary middle-grade story about a boy whose dyslexia is finally recognized and addressed, and reviewers note that she draws on her own experience with dyslexia in the book. Betancourt’s work has received several honors, including the American Psychological Association’s National Psychological Award for Excellence in the Media, multiple Children’s Choice Awards, and six Emmy Award nominations for her television writing