Author Spotlight: Shannon Hale

About the Author:

Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of over twenty-five children’s and young adult novels, including a popular Ever After High series, graphic novel memoir Real Friends, and multiple award winners The Goose Girl, Book of a Thousand Days, and Newbery Honor recipient Princess Academy. She also penned three books for adults, beginning with Austenland, which is now a major motion picture starring Keri Russell. With her husband Dean Hale she co-wrote Eisner-nominated graphic novel Rapunzel’s Revenge, illustrated chapter book series The Princess in Black, and two novels about Marvel’s unbeatable superhero, Squirrel Girl. They live with their four children near Salt Lake City, Utah.

My Story:

I distinctly remember finding The Goose Girl in my school library years ago. They don’t use those covers anymore. I don’t own those covers. But, man, I would buy them just for nostalgia. They were so unique. So…compelling. The cover just radiated “folk tale” or “fable” vibes. And, of course, I love the original story of The Goose Girl.

I powered through the three books in that series, the Books of Bayern, and then at some point stumbled upon Princess Academy. The rest was history at that point. I looked for her books at every bookstore right alongside Gail Carson Levine and Margaret Peterson Haddix. I’d scour the stores for any new books out. (This was before the time of Goodreads or even email newsletters!) She wrote such compelling stories in such a distinct tone. I gobbled them up. I still remember when the fourth, and final, Book of Bayern came out. I was so incredibly excited. And boy did it ever pack a punch! Forest Born did not disappoint!

After years of devouring her MG and YA, I found she’d written a few adult novels. So I gave those a shot, too! Austenland was quirky and right up my alley as an Austen fan, and The Actor and the Housewife was one of the first books that led me to start reading outside of my normal genres.

My Favorites:

Hale has been writing children’s books over the last several years and, though I have read some of those and will likely read them all eventually, I’m in less of a hurry to do so. The ones I’ve read are cute, don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the Ever After High books that she wrote, but never read any spin off series by other authors, and the Princess in Black series is cute, too. Those I would like to buy to add to my children’s books collection at some point.

But the real Hale magic for me was her YA. I absolutely love it. I go back to her books to reread over and over again. She has an incredibly unique voice as a writer and I love the style with which she tells her stories. It makes me feel like I’m sitting by the fire as the village storyteller winds her spell around the crowd. 

Clearly, The Goose Girl is one of my favorite Shannon Hale books, but I actually really enjoyed the entire four-book series very much. I also really, really enjoyed Princess Academy and consider it a childhood favorite read, too. The sequels were great reads, too. I’d probably also put Austenland up there pretty high, too; though it isn’t up to Goose Girl standards, I appreciated it as something in a new (to me) genre. Book of a Thousand Days was different, but I do really remember enjoying it. It was one of the first more obscure fairy tales I’d ever been exposed to, which led me down a path of incredible stories!

Links and More:

Hale’s Official Website

Her website is a little out of date, so instead of there, you can find a full list of Hale’s works here.

Find Hale on Goodreads.

Find Hale’s books on Amazon or in any bookstore near you, including Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, and more.

I’ve rated many of Hale’s books on Goodreads, but not all have reviews because I read them before Goodreads was a thing. I am a re-reader, so as I reread any of her books, I will be sure to post detailed reviews on them.

Disclaimer: The pictures are all from Goodreads and the author’s biography is from her website.

About the Author: Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of over twenty-five children's and young adult novels, including a popular Ever After High series, graphic novel memoir Real Friends, and multiple award winners The Goose Girl, Book of a Thousand Days, and Newbery Honor recipient Princess Academy. She also penned three books for adults, beginning with Austenland, which is…

Author Spotlight: Brittany Fichter

About the Author:

An Air Force wife, mommy of a little fairy, and Las Vegas native, my life is far from boring. I’ve written stories since I could hold a pen, so writing for a living is a dream come true, one that I carry out while staying at home with my baby girl. When I’m not writing or blogging, I can be found having fun with my family (husband, daughter, and spoiled black Labrador), doing chores (would much prefer writing), reading, going to church, belting Disney princess songs, exercising, or decorating cakes

I’m in love with stories. I’ve been narrating life in my head since I was little. It helps me to better understand life if I can hear it as if it were a story. Because if it is a story, it means, thanks the grace of God, there will be a happy ending. Living with Tourette Syndrome, chronic anxiety, and OCD tendencies (which I write about extensively on my other website, BrittanyFichterWrites.com), gives me the need to put life in perspective again on days when I struggle with my disorders. Writing fantasy helps me to do just that.

(As a side note, I know this bio is a little out of date, she also now has a little prince, as she calls him 😀 and, yes, they are both precious littles!! <3)

My Story:

Oooh! I have been soo super duper excited to post this Author Spotlight for forever! I’m just now getting around to it. (I figure since I just posted several reviews for her books this would be the perfect time!) If you have spent any time around me, or here on GraceBought, you should have figured out by now that Brittany Fichter is basically my hero. ❤ I adore her, oh, and her books, too. 😉 And this is the story of how I found my new favorite author.

So, I graduated from college in May of 2017 and then moved in with my grandparents for a year to transition out of college life and into my own, so to speak. Well, after working full time and banking most of my checks thanks to my gracious grandparents, I finally decided to splurge and purchase my first Kindle. I’d heard about them and had loved my Nook for years, but I wanted a device that was fresh and new and all my own. (I’d previously shared my Nook account with my grandpa and so had both of our books on the same device. Fun fact: I still have it, though I don’t use it very often anymore.)

Lemme tell ya, it was amazing! I loved it. I’m very much a physical copy bookworm, and to this day I will claim them superior–uh, cause they are! I’ll add to my dragon hoard of a library all my life, but it is really nice to travel without the weight of fifteen books stuffed into my suitcase and carry-on bag. Just sayin’! On top of that, there are just some extras and shorts you can only get in the e-book form, which was my primary motivation for purchasing the kindle in the first place.

Well, wouldn’t you know it, Amazon is a really good marketer…and Kindle Unlimited kept popping up on my radar. Eh, I don’t really need it. I kept pushing it off until I stumbled across an add for A Dance of Silver and Shadow by Melanie Cellier in December of that same year. On KU. One free month? Then I can delete it? Sure. I’ll give it a go. I can at least read this book for free and then be done with it. Hah. Some of y’all are laughing at me cause you know how this ends.

Yup. I’ve still not cancelled the subscription two years later. And I don’t intend to anytime soon! Ten bucks and change a month, tons of great new authors, all-access library? Sign me up, baby! 

Anywho, back to the story here. I fell hard for Cellier’s 12 Dancing Princesses retelling cause it’s one of my favorite fairy tales and she did a magnificent job on it and that cover was gorgeous, guys! Needless to say, I immediately read the sequel and was quite put out to learn that there were only two books in the series. Then I realized it was a spin-off series from her Four Kingdoms books! So, chugged through all of those (four and two novellas at the time) and finished reading every Cellier book in print in like three weeks. Yes, I was on a bit of a rampage.

Naturally, I found Cellier’s website, signed up for her newsletter, and eagerly awaited any news whatsoever concerning her work. Lo and behold, not too long after that, she informed her beloved readers that she was releasing a new book, An Inconvenient Princess. But! Ah, yes, there was a catch. This book was the sixth in a series called the Entwined Tales in which each book would be penned by a different author. An interesting idea, and thanks to my OCD, I definitely wasn’t going to read them out of order. 

That series introduced me to five new authors, four of whom I marked down to read new books from and one of whom turned out to be the magical Brittany Fichter (Book 2 in case you were wondering).

Whew! That was a long backstory! But since I’ve found Fichter, it’s all been downhill from there, as evidenced by my gushing reviews (seriously, go read her stuff if you haven’t!!) I started with her original book The Autumn Fairy, and followed those as they released (excellent, by the way!). I’ve become a faithful member of her Facebook page, Britt’s Fellow Fairy Tale Fanatics, and a most grateful member of her ARC team. In 2019, one of my reading goals was to power through her Classical Kingdoms series, which I succeeded in doing. And I’ve been putty in her skillful hands ever since.

My Favorites:

Um, all of them? XD No, I seriously don’t think I could choose a favorite. It would be blasphemous. Fichter is a masterful storyteller and she works so incredibly hard on each and every project. She truly puts her heart and soul into these stories, and that’s why I love her. 

Fichter isn’t afraid of broaching hard topics and she doesn’t shy away from portraying the brokenness and heartbreak in our world. She meets the darkness head on and shines such incredible light in her stories. She is an incredible inspiration to be as a reader, a writer, and a person. I admire her work ethic, her integrity, and her heart. Fichter is amazing, really, really amazing. I am so blessed to have stumbled across such a beautiful soul.

And even more than who she is, Fichter writes a story, y’all! She writes with passion and depth. Her characters are to die for and her worlds are complex and compelling. Her retellings are unique and full of fire that just keep drawing me back for more. 

Her Autumn Fairy trilogy is excellent, as I mentioned above. She’s recently branched out and released two (of three planned) contemporary military romances (with subtle fairy tale themes in each). I’m not a contemporary romance reader, but these won me over, so I’d highly recommend them.

But when all is said and done, her Classical Kingdoms are absolutely stellar. She’s currently working on a Peter Pan retelling and I am SO EXCITED! But the latest book, Curse of Gems, really struck a chord with me and I must admit it’s one of my favorites of the series. And, of course her Little Mermaid retelling was phenomenal, Silent Mermaid. Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers is one of the best Cinderella retellings out there (and it’s cover is squeeeeee-worthy!). Her Beauty and the Beast trilogy is a staple. 

Mercy, let me just throw them all in here, since they’re all sooooo good! But, no, on a serious note, I honestly haven’t read a single book by her I wouldn’t recommend. They’re all amazing and beautiful and unique in their own right. I trust Fichter implicitly and cannot praise nor recommend her more highly. I will read every word this woman writes til the day I die and then look over her shoulder from heaven as she scripts more. Please, please, go give her a shot!

Okay, I’ll stop gushing now, but, looookkk! I got the unbelievable opportunity to meet her and her little darlings for an unforgettable afternoon at B&N last summer ❤ 

Links and More:

Fichter’s Official Website

Britt’s Fellow Fairy Tale Fanatics (We have a ton of fun here. It is a private page, but send in a request to join!) Also, here is her official author page on Facebook.

Find a full list of Fichter’s works here. 

Find Fichter on Goodreads and Instagram

Find Fichter’s books on Amazon or request them from your library or bookstore!

Also, her awesome sister-in-law does super pretty jewelry, and has even made pieces specific for Fichter’s stories! Check out Designed In Stone Jewelry!

I’ve rated and reviewed all of Fichter’s books on Goodreads (and here on GraceBought–yes, I am an ultra-Fichter nerd!!) you can find my thoughts on her books here!

Disclaimer: The pictures are all from Goodreads and the author’s biography is from Goodreads as well.

About the Author: An Air Force wife, mommy of a little fairy, and Las Vegas native, my life is far from boring. I've written stories since I could hold a pen, so writing for a living is a dream come true, one that I carry out while staying at home with my baby girl. When…

Author Spotlight: Terri Blackstock

About the Author:

Terri Blackstock is a New York Times and USA Today best-seller, with over

seven million books sold worldwide. She is the winner of two Carol Awards, a Christian Retailers Choice Award, and a Romantic Times Book Reviews Career Achievement Award, among others. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in an Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.

In 1994 Terri was writing romance novels under two pseudonyms for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin, Dell and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening prompted her to switch gears. At the time, she was reading more suspense than romance, and felt drawn to write thrillers about ordinary people in grave danger. Her newly awakened faith wove its way into the tapestry of her suspense novels, offering hope instead of despair. Her goal is to entertain with page-turning plots while challenging her readers. She hopes to remind them that they’re not alone, and that their trials have a purpose.

My Story:

My uncle is the one who first mentioned the name Terri Blackstock to me. I’m a lot like him: I keep to myself, I read a lot, and I enjoy writing. We both like playing games of chess and growing in our faith. But, because he likes to keep to himself and because he lives in a different state, I don’t get to see a lot of him. He’s also roughly a decade older than my mom, so they were never particularly close, which in turn means he was never particularly close with us kids while growing up. That said, I love him with all of my heart and he is very special to me. He always knows just how to encourage me.

He’d mentioned Terri Blackstock to my mom years ago and once or twice I’d heard him mention her name to me. I thought, oh, cool, a new author to check out. But y’all know how that goes. Another book to add to the to-read list, another author to add to the check-into list, etc. Somehow those titles and names often get lost in the shuffle and aren’t exactly top-priority when you head to the book store. Usually, you go either to bask in the glory of so many books in one place or you rush in like a missile on target, looking for one very specific book. And then you book it (pun totally intended) outta there before you lose your wallet!

Well, one year in high school, for Christmas I received a small package in the mail. It was from my uncle. Now, I’ve been pen pals with him for years, but it was kind of a big deal to get this package from him. He didn’t really send things for Christmas every year like one of our grandparents might, for

instance. Even Mom was a little surprised by it. I remember her face when she handed it to me and seeing her shake her head a little when she walked back down the hallway, musing over it. I tell you, I’ll be forever thankful for that small package from my uncle. Inside, I found two books: the first Hunger Games and…my first Terri Blackstock book, Last Light.

I now have an entire shelf full of her works. I can think of at least twenty titles of hers I’ve read and I am determined to read every one of the 80+ novels she’s published. Needless to say, I was hooked from the first book.

Blackstock was the first author I ever read that made me stop and think. She made me wonder if I could write stories that matter, stories that were…more than just stories, more than simple entertainment. Blackstock opened my eyes to a whole new world of reading and writing.

My Favorites:

Blackstock writes primarily suspense, but she’s done a few dramas and romances, too. I’ve not read a single one of her books and come out disappointed for it. I have finished in tears before. I have finished conflicted before. And I have finished stronger before, both as a person and in my faith. Blackstock doesn’t shy away from difficult questions. She challenges her readers to grow as she has grown. She writes a thrilling story that keeps readers engaged and on the edges of their seats, but she also presents them with deeper, more meaningful material woven into the exciting entertainment.

To this day, Last Light and the entire Restoration Novels series remain among my favorites. Last Light is a thrilling story that begins with a complete meltdown of society among what appears to be an EMP attack of some kind. In the middle of this crisis, our MCs have to learn to navigate a world devoid of electronics and modern conveniences, such as grocery stores and fresh, clean, running water. Of course, amid the chaos, a murderer seems to be wreaking havoc, too.

I also thoroughly enjoyed Emerald Windows. This one was one of Blackstock’s first books, published as a secular romance. She got back the rights to it, rewrote it as a Christian romance–with some thrilling moments, of course–and re-released it. I loved the MCs who were artists working on stained glass windows for a church. The idea itself was simply beautiful, but the characters were scorned and broken and it was heart-warming to see their journey of healing and love.

I’m currently working through her Newpointe 911 series, which begins

with Private Justice. I’m a total dork for veterans and emergency personnel. They sacrifice so much for us and we owe them our respect and our gratitude. This series follows emergency personnel through some thrilling mysteries as well as their own personal journeys of spiritual growth.

Her newest trilogy, If I Run, was a thrilling chase definitely worth checking out! Additionally, Blackstock’s allegorical retelling of the prodigal son parable, Covenant Child, was beautiful and touching.

Links and More:

Blackstock’s Official Website

Find a full list of Blackstock’s works here. Click on Quick Links to filter the books by category, such as books by series, stand alone books, youth, coming soon, etc.

Find Blackstock on Goodreads.

Find Blackstock’s books on Amazon or in any bookstore near you, including Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, LifeWay, and more.

I’ve rated many of Blackstock’s books on Goodreads, but not all have reviews because I read them before Goodreads was a thing. I am a re-reader, so as I reread any of her books, I will be sure to post detailed reviews on them.

Disclaimer: The pictures are all from Goodreads and the author’s biography is from her website.

About the Author: Terri Blackstock is a New York Times and USA Today best-seller, with over seven million books sold worldwide. She is the winner of two Carol Awards, a Christian Retailers Choice Award, and a Romantic Times Book Reviews Career Achievement Award, among others. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a…

Author Spotlight: Gail Carson Levine

About the Author:

Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine’s other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a 1790 farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley of New York State.

My Story:

Sadly, I wasted a little bit of time before diving into Gail Carson Levine’s books. I don’t remember how I ended up with a copy of The Two Princesses of Bamarre, but somehow I did. Perhaps I bought it in a book fair catalog from school. I bought a lot of books that way. Anywho, I know I’ve had it since at least my early middle school days. I remember that because I found another copy of the book in the gifted writing classroom I used to visit once a week. (Don’t ask me how I ended up there, I don’t remember! I’ve always been good with grammar and English though, so I think they just wanted to give me somthing a little more challenging.)

Well, when I saw the book, I was incensed and I took it! For some reason, it never occurred to me that the teacher could have a copy of the same book I had a copy of. I’d never read it before, but I knew it was mine! And, of course, I was mad as a hornet that someone had written in the front cover! I kept that book with me for I don’t know how long–still not reading it–until I found my copy without the writing in it and then sheepishly put it back. (Turns out it was a stack of books we could borrow from the classroom anyway. So much for my criminal streak!) After returning the book, which I still hadn’t read, I moved cities and schools, halfway across the state. Several months into the move, we found a new house and I found a crate of books.

Most of the books were ruined and didn’t look interesting at all. One, however, drew my attention. Ella Enchanted. My mom almost didn’t let me read it because it said something in the synopsis about magic and whatnot, but I begged and said, “It’s Cinderella!” So, thank the Lord above, she said yes! I devoured it, adored it, and cherished it. 

A few years later, I was at my grandparents house for a visit in the summer. Every summer, I took a duffel bag full of books to read and my yearly savings of cash for my Barns & Noble dates with my grandpa. This summer, however, opened a whole new door for me. My grandpa’s just as much a bookworm as I am. Unfortunately, he ran out of books, so what did he do? He scoured through mine. 

Sorting through the books I’d brought, one day, I groaned and pulled out The Two Princesses of Bamarre. It was a wonder I’d packed it at all and I’d many times set it out to contemplate reading only to wrinkle my nose and put it back unread. This time I may have done the same thing except that my grandpa looked over while we were in the truck and said, “Hey, I read that. It was pretty good.” Course I gave him the stink-eye and asked, “Huh? You read this?” I mean, it was princessy and stuff. Why would he read this? That’s when he told me he’d pilfered through my things in desperation, but it had turned out to be a good read. Not only that, but I noticed that the author’s name seemed somewhat familiar. So, I gave it a shot.

I laughed. I cried. I sneezed and snotted. To this day, The Two Princess of Bamarre remains one of my very favorite books of all time. I was a fool for putting it off so long. Ever since then, I’ve searched Levine’s books out and done my best to keep up with them as she’s written them. She’s a masterful writer and I wouldn’t be the same today without her, either as a reader or a writer.

My Favorites:

Levine writes exceptional fairy tales. Ella Enchanted is the first fairy tale retelling I ever read and, along with Shannon Hale’s The Goose Girl, is what started me down the path of reading and writing fairy tales and retellings. She’s also written two picture books and some books of poetry. She’s super creative and writes the most magical stories. 

I loved Ella Enchanted, and The Two Princesses of Bamarre. They are easily my top two Levine books, and even favorites outside of just her works. I also thoroughly enjoyed Fairest, the companion novel to Ella Enchanted. Her Princess Tales were clever and cute and her fairy books spawned a love of Disney Fairies in me; Fairy Tale and the Quest for the Egg was the first. 

I am crazy excited for Ogre Enchanted, which comes out in October and is a standalone prequel to Ella Enchated. I also just purchased The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre, which is a prequel to The Two Princesses of Bamarre. I can’t wait to read it!! It has Drault, y’all!!!

As for non-fiction, she’s written two books on writing, in addition to the blog she keeps just for writers and writerly problems. It’s an amazing resource for writers of all stages. She’s a fantastic teacher and the community is really tight-knit. I loved Writer to Writer: From Ink to Think and plan to read Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly next. 

Links and More:

Levine’s Official Website

Levine’s Blog

Find a full list of Levine’s works here. Click between the tabs to see each category, such as standalone novels, princess tales, fairies, etc.

Find Levine on Goodreads.

Find Levine’s books on Amazon, on her website, or in any bookstore near you.

I’ve rated many of Levine’s books on Goodreads, but few have reviews because I read them before Goodreads was a thing. I am a re-reader, so as I reread any of her books, I will be sure to post detailed reviews on them. 

Disclaimer: The pictures are all from Goodreads and the author’s biography is from Goodreads as well. (I would have used the one on her website, but it was super long.)  

About the Author: Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of…

Author Spotlight: Margaret Peterson Haddix

About the Author:

Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois.

She has since written more than 40 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Double Identity; Uprising; The Always War; the Shadow Children series; the Missing series; the Children of Exile series; the Under Their Skin duology; and The Palace Chronicles. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series.  Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and numerous state reader’s choice awards. They have also been translated into more than twenty different languages.

Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio. They are the parents of two grown kids.

My Story: 

I distinctly remember the first book I ever read by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I was a wallflower student in a middle school in western Tennessee and an avid reader even then. Perusing the shelves one day, I stumbled across Double Identity. The cover looked cool and the synopsis was interesting enough to merit adding the book to my stack.

Let me tell you, that was one humdinger of a story! I’d never read anything that suspenseful before. Double Identity was the first true page-turner I remember reading. It was a thrill! But, when I turned it back in, the ride was over. Now, I don’t know if I was just not smart enough to look for other books by the author at that age, or if I was just preoccupied with a different book, series, or author at the time, but I didn’t pick up another book by Haddix for at least several months. 

My school used to have this TN State shelf. I don’t remember exactly what was on the shelf, the awards or recommendations, etc. But I remember going to that shelf often and finding great books like Lois Lowry’s Messenger. It was a small shelf, but it was typically stocked with books worth my time.

One day, I found The House on the Gulf. The orange colors on the cover are what drew my attention initially. Again, the synopsis kind of made me tilt my head to the side. Just as I moved to slip the book back into its spot on the shelf, the name across the top gave me pause. Haddix.

Hadn’t I seen that name somewhere before? My eyes rounded in excitement the moment I realized I’d found another book by the author who’d written Double Identity. As you can imagine, I took that book home that day, practically swallowed it whole, and returned to my library eager for more. Unfortunately, those were the only two books by Haddix they had. I kind of shrugged it off and went about my merry middle school way. 

A year or two later, I moved across the state to a new middle school in middle Tennessee. I hated it there. It was a small town. I had no friends. At least in the old school, I’d had a few quirky oddballs to hang out with. And, to make matters worse, the new school had the same colors as my old one. Like, how’d that happen?! Needless to say, I dug even deeper into my books, desperate for escape.

The time came for this new school to host a book fair. Now, that’s my kind of social event! I treasured every precious moment of those book fairs and I poured over the booklets they sent home. Guess what I found in the catalog? Yup. Haddix.

This time, I knew I had to get the book. I knew her name and I knew I’d love it. So, I think I begged my parents for the money or did some extra chores or something. Either way, I ordered Among the Free. And with that third book, Haddix sealed her fate.

Too late, I learned that Among the Free was the conclusion to Haddix’s seven book Shadow Children Series. Looking back, I didn’t really mind. I found the other books in the series, scoured book stores for anything with Haddix’s name, and faithfully kept up with each new release from her.

That first summer after I moved, my grandpa and I started what would turn into a tradition: our Barns & Noble’s dates. (This year will be our 11th year!) I scrimped and saved all year for this one afternoon. Grandpa took me out to a fancy dinner at the Macaroni Grill in a town in North Carolina. After dinner–or sometimes before–we walked next door to the bookstore and I spent my loot!

It was in that bookstore, along with many second hand and used book stores, that I built my Haddix collection. Today, I have read and own nearly every one of her books. There are very few I don’t own, and even fewer I haven’t read.

My Favorites:  

Haddix writes a lot of page-turning, science fiction stories. She comes up with crazy plots that feed the wild imaginations of young kids and teens. To this day, I still buy and read her books. Haddix has an incredible talent and I’ve never been disappointed with her work. (Takeoffs and Landings wasn’t written in her typical vein, so it did take me by surprise. It wasn’t by any means inappropriate, but I may have been too young to properly appreciate it when I first read it.) Some of my happiest memories are the moments I got my hands on her newest book. She’s got some thought-provoking reads, suspenseful stories, and mind-spinning plots!

Double Identity, Just Ella, and Turnabout are three of my favorites. I also very highly recommend her Shadow Children Series (which starts with Among the Hidden) and her Missing Series (which starts with Found). Truth be told, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend anything by Haddix. Her books have won numerous awards, which you can see here. 

Links and More: 

Haddix’s Official Website

Find a full list of Haddix’s works here. 

Find Haddix on Goodreads.

Find Haddix’s books on Amazon, on her website, or in any bookstore near you.

I’ve rated many of Haddix’s books on Goodreads, but few have reviews because I read them before Goodreads was a thing. I am a re-reader, so as I reread any of her books, I will be sure to post detailed reviews on them. 

Fun fact: If you ever see MPH on anything I’ve written, I’m not talking about “miles per hour.” 😉 I’m talking about Haddix.

Disclaimer: The pictures are all from Goodreads and the author’s biography is from her website. 

 

About the Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a…