Barbara Dee is the award-winning author of fifteen middle grade novels which have been named to many best-of lists, including the Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books, ALA Notable Children’s Books, ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, School Library Journal’s Best Middle Grade Books, and the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten. Her books have earned several starred reviews and have appeared on numerous state awards lists as well. A former teacher and lawyer, Barbara is a co-founder of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. Nothing to See Here, her first book with Scholastic, will publish October 20, 2026. www.BarbaraDeeBooks.com.

Awards

2024 recipient of the Rip Van Winkle Award, given by the School Library Media Specialists of Southeastern New York, for “outstanding contribution to the world of children’s literature”,  2024 NCTE National Day of Writing Featured Author, Winner of New Jersey’s Garden State Book Award (Grades 6-8) (Violets Are Blue), ALA Notable Book (Maybe He Just Likes You), ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List (Maybe He Just Likes You), ALA Rainbow List Top Ten (Star-Crossed), Washington Post‘s Best Children’s Books of the Year (Maybe He Just Likes You), School Library Journal’s Best Books of the Year (Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet and Violets Are Blue), Bank Street Best Children’s Books (multiple books), Junior Library Guild (multiple books)

3 Fun Facts

1. My rescue dog Junie was named after Junie B. Jones.
2. My cat Saffy was named after the title character in Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay.
3. I’m a diehard Yankees fan.