Stephanie Kuehn facts for kids

Stephanie Kuehn is an American writer. She is famous for her books for young adults, often called YA fiction. Her most well-known books include Charm & Strange, Delicate Monsters, and Complicit. Charm & Strange even won the William C. Morris Award! Stephanie Kuehn's stories often look into topics like mental health and how our minds work.

About Stephanie Kuehn

Stephanie Kuehn grew up in Berkeley, California. When she was a teenager, she dreamed of becoming a filmmaker. She enjoyed reading books by authors like V.C. Andrews and Peter Straub.

She went to John F. Kennedy University and the University of California, Santa Cruz. She studied many interesting subjects. She earned a bachelor's degree in linguistics, which is about language. She also got a master's degree in sports psychology, which looks at how the mind affects sports. Later, she earned a doctorate in clinical psychology. This degree focuses on understanding and helping people with mental health challenges.

Her background as a psychologist is very important to her writing. It helps her create characters who are dealing with mental health issues. This makes her stories feel real and deep.

Today, Stephanie Kuehn lives in Northern California. She lives there with her husband and their three children.

Stephanie Kuehn's Books

Stephanie Kuehn has written several popular young adult novels. Each book tells a unique story with interesting characters.

Charm & Strange

Her first young adult novel was Charm & Strange. It came out in 2014. The story is about a teenage athlete who thinks he might be a werewolf. This book won the William C. Morris Award in 2014. It was also nominated for a Carnegie Medal that same year.

Delicate Monsters

Her second book, Delicate Monsters, was published in 2015. This novel connects the lives of three teenagers who are facing difficulties. Delicate Monsters won the Northern California Book Award in 2016. It was recognized in the Children's Fiction for Older Readers category.

Complicit

Complicit is Stephanie Kuehn's third novel, released in 2016. It tells the story of a teen dealing with big changes after his sister burns down a barn. She is then sent to a juvenile detention center. Complicit was listed on several important book lists. These include Booklist's Top 10 Crime Fiction for Youth and YALSA's Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults list. It was also nominated for the Kentucky Bluegrass Award and the Rhode Island Teen Book Award in 2016.

The Smaller Evil

Her fourth novel, The Smaller Evil, came out in 2016. This book is about a teen who goes to a self-help center to manage his anxiety and a long-term illness. However, he finds himself in strange situations when the retreat leader seems to be hiding something. The Smaller Evil received a special review from School Library Journal. Stephanie Kuehn also received the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship for this book in 2015.

When I Am Through With You

Stephanie Kuehn's fifth novel is When I Am Through With You. It was published in 2017. This book also received a special review from Kirkus magazine, which is a well-known book review publication.

Awards and Recognition

Stephanie Kuehn's books have won several awards and nominations. These honors show how much her stories are appreciated.