Kelly Barnhill

Kelly Barnhill is a highly acclaimed American author, best known for her young adult fantasy novels and non-fiction books. She was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in December 1973 and has a reputation for being an eccentric individual with a love for storytelling. Prior to becoming a novelist, Barnhill held a variety of jobs, including teaching, bartending, waiting tables, working as a park ranger, secretary, and janitor. She believes that these diverse experiences have helped her develop her unique voice and perspective as a writer.

Barnhill has received numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the Newbery Medal in 2017, fellowships from the Jerome Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and the McKnight Foundation. She has also won the World Fantasy Award, the Parents Choice Gold Award, the Texas Library Association Bluebonnet, and a Charlotte Huck Honor. Her writing combines elements of fantasy, magic, and realism to create immersive worlds and memorable characters that resonate with readers of all ages.

In addition to her work as a novelist, Barnhill is also an experienced teacher and has been recognized for her contributions to children's literature. She has been a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award, the Andre Norton award, and the PEN/USA literary prize, and was a McKnight Artist's Fellowship recipient in Children's Literature. Barnhill is married and has three children, with whom she resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She enjoys running, hiking, and blogging, and maintains an active online presence where she engages with her readers and fans. Despite her many accomplishments, Barnhill remains humble and dedicated to her craft, continually pushing herself to create stories that inspire and delight.
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 The Mostly True Story of Jack 2011
2 Iron Hearted Violet 2012
3 The Witch's Boy 2014
4 The Girl Who Drank the Moon 2016
5 The Ogress and the Orphans 2022
6 When Women Were Dragons 2022
Short Stories/Novellas
# Title Year
1 Mrs. Sorenson and the Sasquatch 2014
2 The Unlicensed Magician 2015
3 Elegy to Gabrielle 2018
4 The Crane Husband 2023
Short Story Collections
# Title Year
1 Dreadful Young Ladies and Other Stories 2018
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 Animals with No Eyes 2008
2 Monsters of the Deep 2008
3 Do You Know Where Your Water Has Been? 2008
4 Sewers and the Rats That Love Them 2008
5 Bizarre, Creepy Hoaxes 2009
6 Blood-Sucking, Man-Eating Monsters 2009
7 Sick, Nasty Medical Practices 2009
8 Terrifying, Bone-Chilling Rituals and Sacrifices 2009
9 The Bloody Book of Blood 2009
10 The Sweaty Book of Sweat 2009
11 The Wee Book of Pee 2009
12 Guess What's Growing 2010
13 Mystery Animal Tracks 2010
Kelly Barnhill Anthologies
# Title Year
1 Fast Ships, Black Sails 2008
2 Clockwork Phoenix 2 2009
3 Sybil's Garage No. 7 2010
4 Lightspeed Magazine, November 2013 2013
5 Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2014 edition 2015
6 Sisters of the Revolution 2015
7 Terrifying Tales 2015
8 Lightspeed Magazine, February 2017 2017
9 Worlds Seen in Passing: Ten Years of Tor.com Short Fiction 2018