Kelly Barnhill (author) facts for kids

Kelly Barnhill (born December 7, 1973) is an American author who writes exciting stories for young readers. She writes children's literature, fantasy, and science fiction books. Her famous novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon won the 2017 Newbery Medal, which is a big award for children's books. Her book When Women Were Dragons was also named one of the best science fiction and fantasy books of 2022 by Kirkus Reviews.

How Kelly Barnhill Writes Her Stories

Kelly Barnhill often gets ideas for her stories from things she has experienced or seen. She has shared that she was inspired by the famous author Ray Bradbury, who wrote Fahrenheit 451, and by classic fairytales.

From Personal Experiences to Books

When Kelly was younger, she felt "lonely" and "socially awkward" in middle school. She didn't always feel comfortable and faced bullying. With help from her mom, she moved to an all-girls Catholic school. There, she was taught by "go-getter" nuns. This feeling of insecurity and changing schools can be seen in her books. For example, in When Women Were Dragons, the main character, Alexandra "Alex" Green, feels different from her classmates at her Catholic school because she is very smart and mature.

Kelly also learned about powerful ways to make a difference at her new school. The principal had even marched hand-in-hand with Martin Luther King Jr.. Kelly said this showed her how activism could be a part of everyone's story. This idea of people fighting for change also appears in When Women Were Dragons. In the book, women turn into dragons to actively fight for equal rights in society. This event, called "dragoning," affects everyone and sparks a big effort to change traditional gender roles.

A scene in her novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon where a baby is taken from its mother was inspired by Kelly's own experience working at a shelter that helped families in need. She saw a mother begging for help for her sick child after being denied medical care. This shows how much personal experiences can influence writing and help authors share important messages and emotions.

Awards and Recognitions for Her Writing

Kelly Barnhill has received many special awards and honors for her writing. She has won writing fellowships from the Jerome Foundation and the 'Minnesota State Arts Board'. In 2015, she was a 'McKnight Writing Fellow in Children’s Literature'.

She has also won the 'Parents Choice Gold Award', the 'Texas Library Association Bluebonnet' award, and a 'Charlotte Huck Honor'. She was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award, the Andre Norton Award, and the PEN/USA literary prize. In 2016, her short novel The Unlicensed Magician won the World Fantasy Award for Long Fiction.

In 2017, her novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon was given the prestigious John Newbery Medal by the American Library Association. This is one of the highest honors for children's literature in the United States.

Kelly Barnhill's books include The Unlicensed Magician, The Witch's Boy, Iron-Hearted Violet, and The Mostly True Story of Jack. She has also written several non-fiction books for children.

In February 2019, Kelly was the main speaker at the 37th annual Life, the Universe, & Everything symposium, which is a professional event for science fiction and fantasy artists and writers.

Kelly Barnhill's Life

Kelly Barnhill went to South High School in Minneapolis and then to St. Catherine University in St. Paul. Her husband, Ted Barnhill, is an architect. They have three children.

Before she became a successful author, Kelly studied creative writing in college. She also worked for the National Park Service and trained as a volunteer firefighter. She started writing short stories after her second child was born. These short stories eventually grew into the full-length novels we read today.

She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2021, she had a serious injury from falling down stairs, which affected her ability to write for a time.

Awards and Honors

Kirkus Reviews named When Women Were Dragons one of the best science fiction and fantasy books of 2022.