Robin McKinley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robin McKinley
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Robin McKinley
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| Born | Jennifer Carolyn Robin McKinley November 16, 1952 Warren, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Period | 1978–present |
| Genre | Children's fantasy novels, Bildungsroman, fairy tales |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Newbery Medal 1985 World Fantasy Award 1986 |
| Spouse | |
Robin McKinley (born November 16, 1952) is an American author. She is famous for her fantasy novels and for retelling classic fairy tales.
Her book The Hero and the Crown, published in 1984, won the Newbery Medal. This award is given to the best new American children's book each year. In 2022, she was honored as a "Grand Master" by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. This award recognized her important contributions to fantasy and science fiction writing.
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About Robin McKinley
Robin McKinley was born Jennifer Carolyn Robin McKinley on November 16, 1952, in Warren, Ohio. Her father, William McKinley, was in the United States Navy. Her mother, Jeanne Turrell McKinley, was a teacher.
Because her father was in the Navy, Robin moved a lot as a child. She lived in places like California, New York, Japan, and Maine. She went to high school at Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine. Later, she attended Dickinson College and then Bowdoin College, where she graduated in 1975.
Robin McKinley now lives in the United Kingdom. She was married to author Peter Dickinson from 1991 until he passed away in 2015.
How She Started Writing
After college, Robin McKinley stayed in Maine for several years. She worked as a research assistant and later in a bookstore. During this time, she finished her first book. It was called Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast.
This book was accepted by the very first publisher she sent it to. When it came out, it quickly made her famous. The book was recognized as a "Notable Children's Book" and a "Best Book for Young Adults" by the American Library Association.
Her Writing Style
Robin McKinley writes many novels, mostly in the fantasy style. Several of her books are her own versions of classic fairy tales. She often gives them a new spin, focusing on strong female characters.
These main characters don't just wait for someone to save them. Instead, they actively decide what happens in their own lives. For example, Beauty and Rose Daughter are both her versions of Beauty and the Beast. Spindle's End retells the story of Sleeping Beauty. Deerskin and some stories in The Door in the Hedge are also based on old folktales.
Besides adapting fairy tales, McKinley also wrote her own version of the Robin Hood story. This book is called The Outlaws of Sherwood.
She has also written two novels set in a made-up land called Damar. These are The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown.
Some of her other well-known books include Sunshine (2003), Dragonhaven (2007), and Shadows (2013).
Robin McKinley says she writes about strong heroines because she believes girls can "do things." She felt there weren't enough fantasy books with active girl characters. Her books show that love and adventure are built on being loyal, doing your duty, and having honor.
Awards and Honors
Robin McKinley has received many awards for her books:
- 1983 Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword.
- 1985 Newbery Medal for The Hero and the Crown.
- 1986 World Fantasy Award for Imaginary Lands (as editor).
- 1998 Phoenix Award Honor Book for Beauty.
- 2004 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature for Sunshine.
- 2022 Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.
Her Books
Children's Picture Books
- Rowan (1992)
- My Father Is in the Navy (1992)
- The Stone Fey (1998)
Retold Stories
- Black Beauty Storybook Edition (1986), based on the book by Anna Sewell.
- The Light Princess (1988), a chapter book based on the story by George MacDonald.
- Tales from the Jungle Book (1985), based on stories by Rudyard Kipling.
Standalone Novels
- Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast (1978)
- The Outlaws of Sherwood (1988)
- Deerskin (1993)
- Rose Daughter (1997)
- Spindle's End (2000)
- Sunshine (2003)
- Dragonhaven (2007)
- Chalice (2008)
- Pegasus (2010)
- Shadows (2013)
Novels in Series
Damar Series
- The Blue Sword (1982)
- The Hero and the Crown (1984)
Some short stories also take place in Damar, like "The Healer" (1982) and "The Stone Fey" (1998).
Collections of Stories
- The Door in the Hedge (1981)
- Imaginary Lands (1986), which she edited and contributed to.
- A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories (1994)
- Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits (2004), written with Peter Dickinson.
- Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits (2009), also written with Peter Dickinson.
