Jacqueline West is the author of the award-winning middle grade series The Books of Elsewhere. The Books of Elsewhere, Volume One: The Shadows (2010) garnered starred reviews, state award nominations, and a spot on the New York Times Bestsellers List.
Her first YA novel, Dreamers Often Lie (2016), is a dark and twisty romance that braids Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream into a modern-day teen's life.
Jacqueline's poetry has appeared in a variety of print and online publications and has garnered several awards, including a Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg prize and two Pushcart nominations. Cherma, her series of poems about Wisconsin’s Bohemian immigrants, is published by the University of Wisconsin’s Parallel Press chapbook series.
Learn more and read interviews in Jacqueline’s bio or read her answers to frequently asked questions.
Available now from Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins
Order now at IndieBound or Amazon, or wherever books are sold!
Van has always been an outsider. Most people don’t notice him. But he notices them. And he notices the small trinkets they drop, or lose, or throw away—that’s why his collection is full of treasures. Then one day, Van notices a girl stealing pennies from a fountain, and everything changes. He follows the girl, Pebble, and uncovers an underground world full of wishes and the people who collect them. Apparently not all wishes are good and even good wishes often have unintended consequences—and the Collectors have made it their duty to protect us. But they aren't the only ones who have their eyes on the world’s wishes—and they may not be the good guys, after all.
"A brilliant fantasy adventure exploring the consequences of getting what you wish for."
-Booklist
Available Now - buy a copy of Candle and Pins from Alban Lake Publishing, in both paperback and digital formats
The poems of “Candle and Pins” are inspired by familiar—and some unfamiliar—superstitions, ranging from love charms to burial practices, parsley seeds to the evil eye. Like superstitions themselves, these poems explore the terrain where magic and everyday life intertwine, and where beauty, horror, fear, and belief combine in ways both new and ageless.
"...Eerie and beautifully shivery, like the unexpected caress of a gentle finger on the nape of your neck when you’re alone in the room. I caught myself going “ooh” in out-loud admiration several times during the course of the read, occasionally needing to pause and just sit and reflect and let things sink in. Artful, evocative, clever, gorgeous. Highly recommended!"
Jacqueline's poetry collection, "Candle and Pins: Poems on Superstitions" is now available for purchase from Alban Lake Publishing!
Jacqueline's next middle grade novel, THE COLLECTORS, is available from Greenwillow/HarperCollins! Read the Publishers Weekly announcement.
A middle grade mystery DIGGING UP DANGER written by Jacqueline in collaboration with The Story Pirates (storypirates.org) and published by Rodale Kids, will be released in January 2018!
After a head injury, a high school actress is haunted by visions of William Shakespeare and his characters. But when one of those visions turns out to be real, she has to choose between lying to everyone else and lying to herself.
"Both moving and humorous... Shakespeare's characters really shine as they come to life in the twenty-first century."
- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Danger and mystery are around every corner as Olive encounters evil magic, talking cats, and a small boy trapped inside a painted world.
☆ "A suspenseful plot and insight into childhood loneliness - handily amplified by b&w illustrations - will have readers anxiously awaiting the next book."
-Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Jacqueline loves to meet with readers and writers of all ages. Her background in teaching makes her an approachable and enthusiastic speaker and writing workshop leader. See her current schedule of speaking events.
If you are interested in having Jacqueline visit your school, library, bookstore, or other organization, contact her at jacqueline@jacquelinewest.com for rates and availability.
