Kelly Barnhill (author) facts for kids

Kelly Barnhill, born on December 7, 1973, is an American author. She writes books for children and young adults, often in the fantasy and science fiction genres. Her book The Girl Who Drank the Moon won the prestigious Newbery Medal in 2017. Another of her books, When Women Were Dragons, was named one of the best science fiction and fantasy books of 2022 by Kirkus Reviews.

Kelly Barnhill's Writing Journey

Many of Kelly Barnhill's stories come from her own feelings and experiences. She has shared that she was inspired by the famous author Ray Bradbury, who wrote Fahrenheit 451, and by classic fairytales.

Early Life and Inspiration

Barnhill has described feeling "lonely" and "socially awkward" when she was younger, especially during middle school. She felt uncomfortable and faced difficult situations. With her mother's help, she moved to an all-girls Catholic school. There, she was taught by inspiring nuns. These early experiences, like feeling insecure, have influenced her stories. For example, in When Women Were Dragons, the main character, Alex Green, feels different from her classmates at her Catholic school because she is very smart and mature.

At her new school, Barnhill also learned about powerful ways to stand up for what is right. She saw how the school principal had worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr.. This showed her that activism could be a part of everyone's story. This idea of people working together for change also appears in When Women Were Dragons. In this novel, women transform into dragons and actively fight for equal rights in society. This transformation affects everyone and encourages changes in traditional gender roles.

A scene in her novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon was inspired by her time working at a shelter for families in need. She saw a mother trying to get help for her sick child after being turned away from medical care. This shows how much personal experiences can influence writing, helping authors share important messages and emotions.

Awards and Recognition

Kelly Barnhill has received many honors for her writing. She has won 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'.

Her novella The Unlicensed Magician won the World Fantasy Award for Long Fiction in 2016. In 2017, her novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon received the prestigious Newbery Medal from the American Library Association.

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, she was the main speaker at the 'Life, the Universe, & Everything' science fiction and fantasy arts symposium.

About Kelly Barnhill's Life

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

Before becoming a successful author, Barnhill 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 later grew into the full-length novels we read today.

She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2021, she had a brain injury from a fall, which made it harder for her 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.