Annie Barrows facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Annie Barrows
Barrows at the 2018 Texas Book Festival
Born	1962 (age 62–63) San Diego, California, U.S.

Annie Barrows is an American author and editor. She was born in 1962 in San Diego, California. She is most famous for writing the fun Ivy and Bean series of children's books. She has also written several books for adult readers. Annie Barrows co-wrote The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society with her aunt, Mary Ann Shaffer. This book was later made into a movie.

About Annie's Life

Annie Barrows was born in San Diego, California. She is the second of two girls. When she was just three weeks old, her family moved to a small town called San Anselmo in Northern California.

As a child, Annie spent a lot of time at the town's children's library. She loved reading there. When she was in junior high school, she even got a part-time job at the library. Her job was to help organize and put books back on the shelves.

Annie went to UC Berkeley for college. She first studied English Literature. Later, she changed her major and graduated with a degree in Medieval History. After college, she worked as an editor. Then, she decided she wanted to write her own books. She went to a writing school and started writing books for adults.

Annie Barrows is married and has two daughters. Her aunt was the well-known author Mary Ann Shaffer.

Annie's Writing Journey

Annie Barrows first wrote non-fiction books for adults. In 2003, she started writing Children's literature. This is what she is most known for today. She has won many awards for her children's books.

Annie once shared why she loves writing for kids:

I sometimes think I've spent my entire life trying to recreate one particular afternoon of my tenth year. That was the day I lay on the couch reading a wonderful book called Time at the Top until I lost all sense of my real life and joined the life of the book instead. It was glorious, like walking into a dream. I want every kid to have that experience, but most of all, being horribly selfish, I want to have it again, too. And finally, I've discovered a way: I write books.

She wants every child to have that amazing feeling of getting lost in a book.

Books by Annie Barrows

Here are some of the books Annie Barrows has written:

• The Magic Half (2009)
• The Ivy & Bean series (2003-2018; 12 books)
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2008; Annie finished this book for her aunt, Mary Ann Shaffer, who became ill)
• Magic in the Mix (2014) (This is a follow-up to The Magic Half)
• The Truth According to Us (2015)
• Nothing (2017)
• What John Marco Saw (2019)
• The Iggy series (2020-2022; 4 books, with a 5th expected in 2023)
• Like (2022)

Awards and Honors

Annie Barrows' books have been recognized with several awards and nominations:

• Kentucky Bluegrass Award nominee (2011)
• Mark Twain Readers Award nominee (2010–11) for The Magic Half
• Virginia Readers' Choice nominee (2010–11) for The Magic Half
• Rhode Island Children's Book Award nominee (2010) for The Magic Half
• Massachusetts Children's Book Award nominee (2010) for The Magic Half
• Sasquatch Reading Award nominee (2011) for The Magic Half
• Maud Hart Lovelace Award nominee (2011–12)
• Sunshine State Young Readers Award nominee (2011–12)