Notable for his works of fiction and nonfiction for young adults, Smith is particularly well known for his I,Q and Marty & Grace series. His 2007 children's novel, Peak, won a National Outdoor Book Award. After graduating from Portland State University, he worked for two decades as as a zookeeper in Oregon and Washington. He published his first non-fiction work, Sea Otter Rescue, in 1990, and his debut novel, Thunder Cave, in 1997.
