She was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After attending Temple University, she worked for newspapers and magazines around the country, such as the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and San Jose Mercury News. Her award-winning novels for young people include What I Call Life; Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies; and Cold Hands, Warm Heart, all published by Henry Holt and Company Publishers. In 2007, Jill Wolfson contributed to the national radio show This American Life with a story about organ donation .

Jill has taught writing at several universities and is a long-time volunteer in a writing program for incarcerated youth. She lives in Santa Cruz, California, and has two college-aged children .