Robin McKinley
Robin McKinley
Author • Editorb. 1952-11-16 · From United States- Books
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About
Robin McKinley (born Jennifer Carolyn Robin McKinley, 16 November 1952, Warren, Ohio) is an American fantasy writer best known for fairy tale retellings and novels with strong young heroines.
Her first novel, Beauty (1978), retold Beauty and the Beast; The Blue Sword (1982) was a Newbery Honor Book, and its Damar prequel The Hero and the Crown won the Newbery Medal. Later books include Deerskin, Spindle's End, Sunshine, Chalice and Dragonhaven. She edited the anthology Imaginary Lands, which won a World Fantasy Award.
She lived in England for many years with her husband, the author Peter Dickinson, and in 2022 the SFWA named her a Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master.
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Fantasy Fiction Young Adult Folklore Fairy Tales
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Frequently asked questions
Robin McKinley is widely recognized for her contributions to the fantasy genre, particularly her retellings of classic fairy tales and her strong female protagonists. She has received significant acclaim, including the Newbery Medal for The Hero and the Crown and a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword.
For readers new to Robin McKinley, Beauty or The Blue Sword are often recommended as excellent starting points. Beauty offers a classic fairy tale retelling, while The Blue Sword introduces her original fantasy world of Damar.
Many of Robin McKinley's books are standalones, but she also has two interconnected novels set in the land of Damar: The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown. While they can be read independently, The Hero and the Crown is a prequel to The Blue Sword.