Kara West author page

Kara West biography

Kara West is the author of the early chapter book series Mia Mayhem, published by Little Simon, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The series follows Mia Macarooney, a girl who discovers she is a superhero-in-training, and is illustrated by Leeza Hernandez. The debut title, Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero!, appeared in 2018 and established the blend of short chapters, high-illustration pages, and school-friendly themes aimed at emerging readers.

Subsequent volumes include Mia Mayhem Learns to Fly!, Mia Mayhem vs. the Super Bully, Mia Mayhem Breaks Down Walls, Mia Mayhem Stops Time!, Mia Mayhem vs. the Mighty Robot, Mia Mayhem Gets X-Ray Specs, Mia Mayhem Steals the Show!, Mia Mayhem and the Super Family Field Day, Mia Mayhem and the Super Switcheroo, Mia Mayhem Rides the Waves, Mia Mayhem and the Cat Burglar, and Mia Mayhem and the Wild Garden. Publisher listings also include multi-book boxed sets and bind-ups, such as The Mia Mayhem Collection and Mia Mayhem 4 Books in 1!, which collect early titles in a single volume.

Mia Mayhem is positioned for classroom and independent reading, with titles commonly offered in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and library editions. Series pages provide guided reading details, including Lexile measures within the early chapter book range. Library and digital lending platforms carry the books as part of their children’s collections.

West’s work focuses on accessible plots, recurring characters, and vocabulary support that encourage confidence in new readers. Her ongoing collaboration with Leeza Hernandez provides consistent visual cues across the line, helping young audiences track character emotions, action, and setting from book to book.