Annie Barrows

Epistolary historical fiction and spirited chapter books for young readers represent two distinct literary worlds connected by humor, meticulous detail, and an enduring appreciation for eccentric human connections. Through co-authoring the international bestseller The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and creating the popular Ivy and Bean series, Annie Barrows has established a versatile bibliography spanning adult historical novels, non-fiction guides, middle-grade fiction, and picture books. Her work consistently highlights how unexpected friendships, community resilience, and stubborn individuality shape human experience across every stage of life.

Career & Background

Born in 1962 in San Diego, California, Barrows moved early in her childhood to the small town of San Anselmo in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her fascination with literature developed inside her local public library, where she spent so many hours that the staff eventually hired her to shelve books at age twelve. She later attended the University of California, Berkeley, earning a B.A. in medieval history and acquiring specialized knowledge regarding 3rd century saints. Under the impression that a career in publishing meant she would spend her days reading, she entered the industry as a proofreader for an art magazine before working as an editor at a textbook publishing company. In 1988, Chronicle Books hired her as an editorial assistant. Over her tenure at Chronicle, she advanced through successive roles as assistant editor, managing editor, editor, and senior editor, during which she acquired Nick Bantock's Griffin & Sabine, the publisher's first New York Times best-seller.

In 1996, Barrows earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Mills College. The simultaneous arrival of her degree and the birth of her first child persuaded her to leave editorial work to pursue full-time writing. She initially published non-fiction titles on diverse subjects ranging from fortune-telling to opera before shifting her creative focus toward children's literature. In 2006, she published the first book in her children's series Ivy and Bean, an ALA Notable Book that expanded into twelve volumes, appeared regularly on national best-seller lists, was translated into fourteen languages, and inspired film adaptations scheduled to begin production in 2021. Barrows expanded her adult audience in 2008 by co-authoring The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society with her aunt Mary Ann Shaffer, followed by her solo adult novel The Truth According to Us in 2015, and her middle-grade series debut The Best of Iggy in 2020. She lives in Northern California with her family and whatever creature resides under her backyard shed.

Writing Style & Themes

Across both her adult historical novels and her children's fiction, Barrows employs a warm, observant narrative voice marked by sharp comedic timing and emotional honesty. Her children's books, which include middle-grade novels, young adult fiction, and picture books (writing the text rather than illustrating), feature headstrong protagonists who operate on sudden impulses, capturing authentic childhood perspectives without condescension. In her adult fiction, Barrows frequently utilizes epistolary frameworks, multi-perspective narration, and evocative historical settings—such as post-World War II Channel Islands or Depression-era small-town West Virginia—to explore how hidden personal histories and communal bonds influence individual identity.

Major Works

• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society — Co-authored with her aunt Mary Ann Shaffer and published by The Dial Press in 2008, this New York Times best-selling epistolary novel details the German occupation of Guernsey through letters exchanged between London writer Juliet Ashton and the island's eccentric inhabitants. The book was published in thirty-two countries and twenty-six languages and was adapted into a feature film.
• The Truth According to Us — Published in the summer of 2015, Barrows's first solo adult novel became a national best-seller. Set in 1938 in Macedonia, West Virginia, the narrative follows a Federal Writers' Project researcher living with a prominent local family, unspooling complex town secrets and historical perspectives through alternating viewpoints.
• Ivy and Bean — Launched in 2006 as an ALA Notable Book, this twelve-volume chapter book series chronicles the unlikely friendship between two distinct neighborhood girls. Appearing regularly on national best-seller lists, the series has been translated into fourteen languages and adapted into films with production beginning in 2021.
• The Best of Iggy — Published in 2020, this middle-grade series opener introduces a nine-year-old protagonist who never met an impulse he didn't like, showcasing Barrows's humorous take on childhood decision-making and accountability.
• The Magic Half — A middle-grade fantasy novel following a young girl who discovers a time-travel portal in her family's old house, demonstrating Barrows's skill in combining domestic realism with speculative story elements.