Kate

O’Shaughnessy

Award-Winning Author

Middle Grade & Young Adult Writer

Travels from: San Francisco, CA

“Kate O’Shaughnessy is an extraordinarily talented author whose gift is an innate understanding of the inner life of twelve-year-olds.” — Gennifer Choldenko, Newbery Honor Winner for Al Capone Does My Shirts

Kate O’Shaughnessy is an award-winning middle grade and young adult author. Her books have won numerous distinctions and awards, including a Newbery Honor, the Northern California Book Award, and the Vermont State Book Award. Her work has been nominated for over thirty state award reading lists and recognized on best-of lists by places and publications such as the New York Public Library, Bank Street College of Education, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews.

When she’s not writing, Kate can be found attempting to grow vegetables in her container garden, hiking in the woods with her dog, and chronically mispronouncing words. She lives in California with her family.

Kate's Featured Titles

Brittle Magic

Knopf Books for Young Readers |

October 20, 2026

Children’s/Middle Grade

Everyone in the Brittle family has a magical talent — except Shiloh. But she’s determined to unlock her own greatness in this charmingly quirky novel about family and forgiveness from Newbery Honor winner Kate O’Shaughnessy.

Nearly every member of the Brittle family has an extraordinary talent—except Shiloh.

Her aunt makes pickles that tell your fortune. Her great-aunt brews tea that gives you good dreams. Her sister can grow pumpkins the size of a small house. And her older brother—who died before Shiloh was born—had a gift no one will talk about. Her mom says Shiloh doesn’t need a talent to be special. But Shiloh knows she’s destined for greatness. And with the Brittle family reunion coming up, she’s determined to prove it to all her relatives.

When Auntie Dee’s fortune-telling pickles reveal that Shiloh does have a talent—and that it’s somehow connected to her late brother—Shiloh feels more confused than vindicated. Why would her mom have kept this from her?

The pickles’ prophesy offers cryptic clues for finding her talent—something involving an oven? and a new friend?—and Shiloh throws herself into the search. But discovering the truth about herself means digging up secrets her mom would rather keep buried.

This year’s family reunion may well be the most dramatic one yet…

Newbery Honor winner Kate O’Shaughnessy gives us a moving, magic-tinged story about family, friendship, forgiveness . . . and fortune-telling pickles!

Family Narratives, Fantasy, Fiction, Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Middle Grade, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

A Season for Falling

Storytide |

September 22, 2026

Teen & Young Adult

A swoony, heartfelt, and evocative standalone paperback original romance about first love, second chances, and finding yourself in the season of change—perfect for fans of Misty Wilson’s FALLING LIKE LEAVES and anyone looking for their next Gilmore Girls-esque fall read.

Some seasons change everything….

Five years ago, Claire was a child star, the goofy punchline of one of America’s favorite sitcoms. Until a series of devastating betrayals by her manager-father left her broke, humiliated, and desperate to disappear.

Now she’s just another high school senior in postcard-perfect Glenridge, Connecticut, determined to leave her past behind. Not even her best friend knows who she used to be—or that she’s scraping together every spare dollar to hopefully attend NYU.

When a movie shoot lands in Glenridge—and with it, her former co-star and ex–best friend, Luke Cordova—it threatens to stir up not only Claire’s past, but also the dizzying crush she once had on Luke. He offers Claire a deal: let him shadow her to research his role, and he’ll pay enough to make her college dreams possible.

As the woodsmoke-tinged October air grows colder, and she falls for Luke (again), Claire must confront what really drove her to hide—and whether she can step back into herself without being consumed by everything she’s tried to forget.

Family Narratives, Fiction, Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Young Adult, Performing Arts

The Wrong Way Home: (Newbery Honor Award Winner)

Knopf Books for Young Readers |

April 2, 2024

Children’s/Middle Grade

Twelve-year-old Fern believes she’s living a noble life–but what if everything she’s been told is a lie? This is a huge-hearted story about a girl learning to question everything—and to trust in herself.

A NEWBERY HONOR BOOK • A CALIBA GOLDEN POPPY AWARD FINALIST • A KIRKUS REVIEWS AND BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Fern’s lived at the Ranch, an off-the-grid, sustainable community in upstate New York, since she was six. The work is hard, but Fern admires the Ranch’s leader, Dr. Ben. So when Fern’s mother sneaks them away in the middle of the night and says Dr. Ben is dangerous, Fern doesn’t believe it. She wants desperately to go back, but her mom just keeps driving.

Suddenly thrust into the treacherous, toxic, outside world, Fern can think only of how to get home. She has a plan, but it will take time. As that time goes by, though, Fern realizes there are things she will miss from this place—the library, a friend from school, the ocean—and there are things she learned at the Ranch that are just…not true.

Now Fern will have to decide. How much is she willing to give up to return to the Ranch? Should she trust Dr. Ben’s vision for her life? Or listen to the growing feeling that she can live by her own rules?

Family Narratives, Fiction, Friendship & Community, Grief & Loss, Kid-Lit: Middle Grade, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Social & Emotional Development

The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane

Knopf Books for Young Readers |

March 3, 2020

Children’s/Middle Grade

Maybelle Lane is looking for her father, but on the road to Nashville she finds so much more: courage, brains, heart–and true friends.

Eleven-year-old Maybelle Lane collects sounds. She records the Louisiana crickets chirping, Momma strumming her guitar, their broken trailer door squeaking. But the crown jewel of her collection is a sound she didn’t collect herself: an old recording of her daddy’s warm-sunshine laugh, saved on an old phone’s voicemail. It’s the only thing she has of his, and the only thing she knows about him.

Until the day she hears that laugh–his laugh–pouring out of the car radio. Going against Momma’s wishes, Maybelle starts listening to her radio DJ daddy’s new show, drinking in every word like a plant leaning toward the sun. When he announces he’ll be the judge of a singing contest in Nashville, she signs up. What better way to meet than to stand before him and sing with all her heart?

But the road to Nashville is bumpy. Her starch-stiff neighbor Mrs. Boggs offers to drive her in her RV. And a bully of a boy from the trailer park hitches a ride, too. These are not the people May would have chosen to help her, but it turns out they’re searching for things as well. And the journey will mold them into the best kind of family–the kind you choose for yourself.

Family Narratives, Fiction, Grief & Loss, Kid-Lit: Middle Grade, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Social & Emotional Development

How I Became an Author

In this talk, I speak about my professional journey as an author, going all the way back to my struggles with reading as a kid to the many detours I took along the way to becoming a professional writer. Beyond my own story, I also walk the audience through the process of what ideating, writing, editing, and revising a novel looks like. There is a “Bingo” style Q&A portion at the end with suggested questions and surprise accompanying pictures. This can be tailored to cover my whole body of work or one book in particular, and can be virtual or in-person.

Best for ages 9 and up, and can be tailored to be anywhere from 35-60 minutes.

Keynote: How Stories Change Us

I talk to the audience both as a reader and a writer about how stories change how we see the world, ourselves, and each other. In this growing age of speed and summary, I argue that the empathy one gains as a reader essentially gives you a superpower. This keynote speech can be for an audience of adults, children, or a mix thereof.

This speech is approximately 25 minutes long with accompanying pictures.

Writing Workshop: Building a Character from the Group Up

In this fun, silly, and engaging writing workshop, the students and I collaboratively build a dynamic character together—from the ground up. By leaning into specificity, young writers will see just how much details can breathe life into a character. We also choose a goal and an obstacle for our character, and students will get time to free write and get my feedback at the end.

Best for 10-25 students and can be between 45-60 minutes.

Tools for Growth: How Professional Research Can Elevate Your Writing at Any Stage of Your Career

Since I was a beginning writer, I’ve used the concept of “professional research” to better my craft, critical reading skills, and overall ability to tell a good story. Over the years, I’ve built quite a “professional research” toolkit for myself: concrete activities and processes that I do weekly, if not daily, to continue to grow as a writer. In this talk, I share my toolkit, and show how you—regardless of where you are in your writing journey—can use them, too. This class/workshop is intended for adult writers at any stage of their career, from pre-publication to established.

“Brittle Magic is exactly the kind of story I like best—one that expertly, imaginatively, and beautifully gets at both the hopes and the hurts of childhood. Marvelous.” — Corey Ann Haydu, author of The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene

“Best of all is the sizzling chemistry between Luke and Claire, which supports the depth of their love story. An emotionally resonant second-chance romance enriched by authentic relationships and profound emotional journeys.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The suspenseful story is immediately intriguing, skillfully conveying the high-stakes situation and effortlessly drawing the audience in. A tremendous testament to the power in plotting your own course.“
— Booklist, starred review

“Readers will laugh, cry, and embrace Mo completely…. Deeply moving and tender.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“There is healing in this book, and laughter, and grace, and surprising love. Don’t read it with a box of tissues—just cry, then smile and grow.” — Gary D. Schmidt, author of The Wednesday Wars, a Newbery Honor Winner

Kate’s Blog

Kate’s Press Kit

Honors, Awards & Recognition

BRITTLE MAGIC
– A Junior Library Gold Standard Selection
– Pubishers Weekly, starred review
– School Library Journal, starred review

A SEASON FOR FALLING
– A Junior Library Gold Standard Selection
– Kirkus Reviews, starred review

THE WRONG WAY HOME
– A Junior Library Gold Standard Selection
– Newbery Honor Book
– 3 starred reviews: Kirkus, Booklist, CCBC
– Winner of the Northern California Book Award
– ALSC Notable Book
– ALSC Notable Recording
– Alabama Yellowhammer Middle Grade Honor Book
– Michigan YouPer Award Top Ten Title
– Read With Jenna Jr. Summer Reading List Selection
– Bank Street Best Book of the Year
– Evanston Public Library’s 101 Great Books for Kids
– Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade of the Year
– New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
– Booklist Best Book of the Year
– CALIBA Golden Poppy Award Nominee
– CCBC Choices Selection
– Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens
– Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Award Nominee
– Utah Beehive Award Nominee
– Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Nominee
– Maine Student Book Award Nominee
– Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award Nominee
– Nebraska Golden Sower Book Award Nominee
– Lone Star Reading List Selection
– South Carolina Book Award Nominee
– Nevada Young Readers’ Award Nominee

LASAGNA MEANS I LOVE YOU
– A Junior Library Gold Standard Selection
– 2 starred reviews: Kirkus and PW
– Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Winner
– ALSC Notable Book
– CALIBA Golden Poppy Award Finalist
– New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
– OWL Awards Middle School Winner
– Earphones Award Winner
– Pennsylvania “Best of” List
– Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens
– Nebraska Golden Sower Award Nominee
– Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award Nominee
– Iowa Children’s Choice Award Nominee
– Maine Student Book Award Nominee
– North Dakota Flicker Tale Book Award Finalist
– South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee
– Missouri Mark Twain Readers Award Nominee
– Kansas William Allen White Award Nominee
– Arkansas Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award Nominee
– Land of Enchantment Book Award Nominee
– Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Award Nominee

THE LONELY HEART OF MAYBELLE LANE
– Indie Next Selection
– 2 starred reviews: Kirkus and PW
– Bank Street College Best Children’s Books
– Northern California Book Award Nominee
– All Iowa Reads Kids Selection
– Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominee
– New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award Nominee
– Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award Nominee
– Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Nominee
– South Dakota Book Award Nominee
– Missouri Mark Twain Book Award Preliminary Nominee

Media clips

Kid Lit Craft | Kate O’Shaughnessy: Patience with the Process

Middle Grade Matters | Ep. 85: Kate O’Shaughnessy (The Wrong Way Home) on Community and Belonging

Reading Middle Grade | Interview with Kate O’Shaughnessy About The Wrong Way Home

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

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Honors, Awards & Recognition

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