Kate O’Shaughnessy

Kate O’Shaughnessy is the author of Newbery Honor Book The Wrong Way Home, The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane, and Lasagna Means I Love You, all three of which have received numerous starred reviews and been named to multiple child-voted state award lists. Tender, big-hearted, and emotionally resonant, O’Shaughnessy’s middle grade novels expertly tackle the timeless themes of loss, forgiveness, complicated families, coming of age, friendship, courage, and more.

NEW FROM KATE O’SHAUGHNESSY

AVAILABLE OCTOBER 20, 2026

A CALIBA GOLDEN POPPY AWARD WINNER

★ “Shiloh proves a winning protagonist whose bravery, impulsivity, and persistence inject good humor and sparkling wit into an intimate telling.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “Shiloh’s honesty and quirkiness will engage readers in this poignant family-secrets novel with magical elements.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“A tender and moving tale of loss and hope.”—Kirkus Reviews

“What starts as a lighthearted magical mystery quickly gains depth through thoughtful explorations of grief and self-discovery….Readers will delight in the casual magic and cozy households, along with deep discussions about family and forgiveness.”—Booklist

“With warmth, whimsy, and emotional insight, Kate O’Shaughnessy offers a moving adventure about finding and forgiving—and about how love binds us and frees us in equal measure.”—Karla Valenti, Pura Belpré Award winner for Lola

“Big-hearted, fresh, and beautiful, Brittle Magic is a story of grief, love, family, and the magic we make from forgiveness.”—Rebecca Mix, New York Times bestselling author of the The Mossheart’s Promise

“Brittle Magic is exactly the kind of story I like best—one that expertly, imaginatively, and beautifully gets at both the hopes and the hurts of childhood. Marvelous.”—Corey Ann Haydu, author of The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene.

A NEWBERY HONOR BOOK
A CALIBA GOLDEN POPPY AWARD FINALIST
A KIRKUS REVIEWS AND BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

★ “Gripping. A strong, emotionally intelligent story.”
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “The suspenseful story is immediately intriguing, skillfully conveying the high-stakes situation and effortlessly drawing the audience in. A tremendous testament to the power in plotting your own course.”
—Booklist, starred review

★ “Lovingly crafted with depth and compassion. Nuance suffuses this story of discovery, as Fern’s blind faith grows tenuous.”—The Bulletin, starred review

“Driven by a growing self-awareness that she can choose who and what she believes, this is a moving portrait of a girl undergoing drastic change.”—Publishers Weekly

“This coming-of-age story centers a girl trying to decide what is right as she struggles to change from one culture to another. The first-person narrative is believable and thought-provoking as Fern reconsiders everything she’s thought to be true.”—School Library Journal

“A cleverly written and supremely literary story, while also remaining pretty gripping in its telling.”—SLJ’s Fuse 8

“O’Shaughnessy presents a high stakes situation and zeroes in on a child narrator’s believable emotions. That tight focus on the narrator even when she is misguided or doesn’t have all the facts allows readers to draw their own conclusions.“—The Horn Book Magazine

★ “Readers will laugh, cry, and embrace Mo completely…. Deeply moving and tender.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “[An] 11-year-old in mourning navigates foster care and seeks connection by collecting families’ recipes and stories in this tenderly rendered, character-driven novel…. Extremely satisfying.“—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Mo, imperfections and all, is a winning heroine. To be read with snacks at hand, and perhaps also some tissues.”—The Horn Book

“Will pull at the heart strings of all readers.”—School Library Journal

★ “Maybelle Lane finds courage she didn’t know she had—and it’s contagious. A rich and rewarding debut.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “Lyrical and full of heart, this road trip story gets to the core of what it means to create family, to be brave, and to accept the flaws of being human.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“O’Shaughnessy’s debut is illuminated by characters each brimming with charm and grit. This novel layers themes of resilience and finding love in unexpected places [and] will be welcomed into the hearts of many readers.”—School Library Journal

“O’Shaughnessy creates a whimsical world where words and sounds carry everyday magic. Hand to fans of Kate DiCamillo.“—Booklist

“Packed with the triumphs, mishaps and self-discovery essential to a great road trip story, Maybelle’s mission to Nashville takes readers on a quest that emphasizes the importance of found family and hope. Lonely or not, Maybelle Lane’s heart beats with grace and courage.”—Shelf Awareness