Bechard was born in 1953 in Chico, California. She received her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Reed College in 1976. She is married to Lee Boekelheide and they have three sons. She lives in Tigard, Oregon.

Bechard served as the Young People’s Literature Chair of the 2006 National Book Award Committee. Her books are published in English, French, Swedish and Korean. She teaches in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Hanging Onto Max, a story about a teenage father, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and School Library Journal Best Book of the Year in 2003.

Star Hatchling, a middle grade novel, received the Eleanor Cameron award, a Golden Duck Award for Excellence in Children's Science Fiction in 1996.

• My Sister, My Science Report (1990)
• Tory and Me and the Spirit of True Love (1992)
• Really No Big Deal (1994)
• Star Hatchling (1995)
• My Mom Married the Principal (1998)
• If It Doesn't Kill You (1999)
• Hanging on to Max (2002)
• Spacer and Rat (2005)

interviews

• Leitich Smith, Cynthia. "Author Interview: Margaret Bechard on Spacer and Rat. Cynsations. February 10, 2006.
• Brief Biographies: Famous Authors Vol 17.