Karen Hesse, a native of the lively city of Baltimore, Maryland, embarked on her academic voyage at Towson State University. She soon transitioned, through a work-study program, to the University of Maryland at College Park. Here, she immersed herself in the world of books at the McKelden library, where she meticulously arranged and cataloged volumes, offering guidance to those seeking knowledge. Upon earning her degree, Karen's career unfolded through a tapestry of roles, from a benefits coordinator at the University of Maryland to a librarian, teacher, and advertising secretary at Country Journal magazine. She also honed her skills as a typesetter and proofreader. Her personal journey intertwined with her college sweetheart, Randy Hesse, as they set roots in the quaint town of Brattleboro, Vermont, raising their two daughters, Kate and Rachal.

In the pivotal year of 1980, while working as a typesetter, Karen had an epiphany about her latent gift for crafting children's literature. Yet, it wasn’t until 1991 that she unveiled her first book for young minds, Wish on a Unicorn. From that moment on, she penned at least one book annually, capturing the imaginations of both young adults and children. Her storytelling prowess quickly earned her a distinguished place among young adult authors. Her celebrated works have garnered numerous accolades, with Letters from Rifka (1992) receiving the Christopher Medal and the Horn Book Fanfare, while The Music of Dolphins (1996) was lauded as a Best Book by both Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal. The crowning achievement came with Out of The Dust, which triumphed with the Newbery Award in 1998. Her most recent creations, Just Juice (1998) and Come On, Rain (1999), are delightful illustrated stories for younger audiences.

A Writer's Reflection

Hesse has candidly depicted herself as slender and pale, embodying a friendly demeanor yet often feeling solitary amidst a crowd. Her voracious reading habit led her, at the tender age of eleven or twelve, to discover John Hersey's poignant work, Hiroshima. This piece profoundly impacted her, revealing the horror juxtaposed with the dignity of the Japanese people who faced the catastrophic aftermath of the first atomic bomb. "If more books had existed back then addressing real issues," she reflects, "if I had encountered characters who braved the engulfing tide of reality, perhaps I would have felt less alone, less isolated." Through her writing, she reaches out to children who are like the young girl she once was, aiming to assure them that they are never truly alone. Her aspiration is to guide them through challenging times, presenting characters who endure hardships and emerge stronger and wiser.