Jasmine Warga author page

Jasmine Warga biography

Jasmine Warga is an American author recognized for her contributions to children’s and young adult literature. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1988, she earned a bachelor’s degree in history and art history from Northwestern University and later completed an MFA in creative writing at Lesley University. Early in her career, Warga taught sixth-grade science in Texas, an experience that influenced her decision to write for young readers.

Warga’s debut novel, My Heart and Other Black Holes (2015), explores themes of mental health among teenagers. This young adult novel has been translated into over twenty languages. She followed with Here We Are Now (2017), further establishing her presence in the YA genre.

In 2019, Warga published Other Words for Home, her first middle-grade novel written in free verse. The book tells the story of a Syrian girl adjusting to life in the United States and received a Newbery Honor in 2020. It also earned a Walter Honor and a Charlotte Huck Honor.

Her subsequent middle-grade novels include The Shape of Thunder (2021), which addresses the aftermath of a school tragedy, and A Rover’s Story (2022), a narrative about a Mars rover named Resilience. A Rover’s Story became a #1 New York Times bestseller. In 2024, she released A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall, her first mystery novel for middle-grade readers.

Warga has received multiple accolades, including recognition from the Newbery committee and various literary honors. She has also been involved in teaching, serving on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults.