A conversation with Norton Juster, author of ‘The Phantom Tollbooth,’ revisited In the wake of Juster’s death, we turn back to our talk with him from 2011. Norton Juster, author of the children's classic "The Phantom Tollbooth," has died at 91.(Penguin Random House) The Phantom Tollbooth and remained true to his wide-eyed self in such favorites as The Dot and the Line and Stark Naked, has died at 91. Juster’s death was confirmed Tuesday by a spokesperson for Random House Children’s Books, who did not immediately provide details. Juster’s friend and fellow author Mo Willems tweeted Tuesday that Juster “ran out of stories” and died “peacefully” the night before.