Annie Barrows author page

Annie Barrows biography

Annie Barrows is an American author and editor, widely recognized for her contributions to both children’s and adult literature. She is the creator of the Ivy and Bean series and co-author of the bestselling novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Born in 1962 in San Diego, California, Barrows moved shortly thereafter to San Anselmo in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her early affinity for books led her to work at the local library during her youth. She pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Medieval History at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1984. Following her undergraduate studies, she worked in various editorial roles, including positions at an art magazine and a textbook publishing company. In 1988, she joined Chronicle Books, eventually becoming a senior editor. Barrows later earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Mills College in 1996.

Barrows’s foray into children’s literature began with the publication of Ivy and Bean in 2006. The series, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, follows the adventures of two contrasting second-grade girls who form an unexpected friendship. Spanning twelve books, the series has been translated into multiple languages and adapted into a musical and a Netflix film series. Barrows has also authored other children’s books, including The Magic Half (2008) and its sequel Magic in the Mix (2014), as well as the Iggy series, which debuted in 2020.

In the realm of adult fiction, Barrows collaborated with her aunt, Mary Ann Shaffer, on The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, published in 2008. The novel, set in post-World War II England, achieved international acclaim and was adapted into a feature film in 2018. Barrows continued her adult fiction work with The Truth According to Us (2015), a novel set in 1930s West Virginia.

Barrows’s work has garnered numerous accolades and nominations, including recognition from the American Library Association and various state reading awards.