Kelly Barnhill Popular Books

Kelly Barnhill Biography & Facts

Kelly Barnhill is an American author of children's literature, fantasy, and science fiction. Her novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon was awarded the 2017 Newbery Medal. Kirkus Reviews named When Women Were Dragons one of the best science fiction and fantasy books of 2022. Writing career Many of Barnhill’s stories sprout from what she has felt herself or seen. Barnhill was inspired by author Ray Bradbury, famous for his novel Fahrenheit 451, and fairytales.Barnhill describes her younger self as “lonely” and “socially awkward” at the middle school she attended up until seventh grade. She never felt comfortable in her own skin and found herself in multiple bullying situations unable to stand up for herself in her self-conscious state. With the help of her mother, Barnhill was transferred to an all-girls Catholic school where she was taught by “go-getter” nuns. The feeling of insecurity led to her being bullied and to her transfer of schools which can be seen in her stories, like in When Women Were Dragons. In this particular novel, main character Alexandra “Alex” Green feels isolated from her classmates in her Catholic school because of her maturity and intelligence. At the new school, Alex finds herself exploring the idea of other sexualities, specifically with her interactions with her childhood friend, Sonja, who was torn away from her and later reconnected with her during a protest. Likewise, Barnhill learned about a powerful form of activism at her new school where the principal had walked hand-in-hand with Martin Luther King Jr., saying that ‘It was the first time I had seen that kind of activism that was part of everybody's story.’ Witnessing such a moment is also seen in When Women Were Dragons when women are said to turn into dragons and actively fight for an equal place in society among men. This process of women “dragoning” affects everyone in the novel, sparking an effort for a change in gender roles. A specific scene featured in her novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon where a baby is being pried away from its mother was replicated after Barnhill herself worked in a battered women’s shelter. At this shelter, Barnhill witnessed a mother beg for help to cure her sick child after being denied medical treatment, going to show just how influential personal experiences are in the art of writing to convey messages and emotion. Barnhill has received writing fellowships from the Jerome Foundation and the 'Minnesota State Arts Board' and was a 2015 'McKnight Writing Fellow in Children’s Literature.' She is the winner of the 'Parents Choice Gold Award,' the 'Texas Library Association Bluebonnet' award, and a 'Charlotte Huck Honor.' She also was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award, the Andre Norton Award, and the PEN/USA literary prize. In 2016, her novella The Unlicensed Magician received the World Fantasy Award for Long Fiction.In 2017, her novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon was awarded the John Newbery Medal by the American Library Association.Barnhill's books include The Unlicensed Magician, The Witch's Boy, Iron-Hearted Violet, The Mostly True Story of Jack, as well as several non-fiction titles for children.In February 2019 Kelly was the Literary Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker at the 37th annual Life, the Universe, & Everything professional science fiction and fantasy arts symposium. Personal life Barnhill is a graduate of South High School in Minneapolis and St. Catherine University in St. Paul. Her husband, Ted Barnhill, is an architect. They have three children. Before finding success as an author, Barnhill studied creative writing as an undergraduate, worked for the National Park Service, and was trained as a volunteer firefighter. She began writing short stories after the birth of her second child, and these stories were eventually expanded into full-length novels.She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2021 she experienced a traumatic brain injury as a result of falling down stairs, which significantly affected her ability to write. Awards and honors Kirkus Reviews named When Women Were Dragons one of the best science fiction and fantasy books of 2022. Publications The Mostly True Story of Jack (2011) Iron Hearted Violet, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno (2012) Mrs. Sorensen and the Sasquatch (2014) The Witch's Boy (2014) The Unlicensed Magician (2015) The Girl Who Drank the Moon (2016) Dreadful Young Ladies and Other Stories (2018) The Ogress and the Orphans (2022) When Women Were Dragons (2022) The Crane Husband (2023)References External links Kelly Regan Barnhill at Library of Congress, with 24 library catalog records Kelly Barnhill at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Discover the Kelly Barnhill popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Kelly Barnhill books.

Best Seller Kelly Barnhill Books of 2024

  • Madsi the True synopsis, comments

    Madsi the True

    S. J Taylor

    In this fantasy adventure set in 1700s Norway perfect for fans of Netflix’s Hilda and Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase series, a girl and her unlikely companions brave the wilds and enc...

  • The House with a Dragon in It synopsis, comments

    The House with a Dragon in It

    Nick Lake

    From the creators of Lily and the Night Creatures comes another illustrated middle grade adventure of magic and granted wishes perfect for fans of The Beast and the Bethany and Kel...

  • The Secret of the Bloodred Key synopsis, comments

    The Secret of the Bloodred Key

    David Farr

    This dazzling sequel to the phenomenal The Book of Stolen Dreams that Publishers Weekly compared to the work of Kelly Barnhill and Lemony Snicket sees Rachel shouldering her new re...

  • When Women Were Dragons synopsis, comments

    When Women Were Dragons

    Kelly Barnhill

    A GOODREADS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A fiery feminist fantasy tale set in 1950s America where thousands of women have spontaneously transformed into dragons, exploding notions of a w...

  • Along the Saltwise Sea synopsis, comments

    Along the Saltwise Sea

    A. Deborah Baker

    For readers of Kelly Barnhill and Cat Valente's Fairyland books, adventure and danger lurk Along the Saltwise Sea in this new book by Seanan McGuire's latest open pseudonym, A. Deb...

  • Sky Song synopsis, comments

    Sky Song

    Abi Elphinstone

    A cursed girl and a young inventor join forces to search for an ancient, forgotten song with the power to bring down a wicked Queen in this epic fantasy adventure perfect for fans ...