SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: A Dragon for Hanukkah
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.sarahm.com/
CITY: Los Angeles
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: Canadian
LAST VOLUME: SATA 396
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born January 4, 1977, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; married Todd Swidler, 2004; children: two daughters.
EDUCATION:McGill University, B.A. (English).
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Formerly worked in marketing for Harlequin Publishers, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Cofounder of OMG BookFest.
AVOCATIONS:Travel, SCUBA diving.
AWARDS:Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults designation, American Library Association (ALA), 2008, for Bras and Broomsticks; ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young-Adult Readers, 2012, and British Columbia Teen Readers’ Choice Stellar Award, 2015-16, both for Don’t Even Think about It.
WRITINGS
Author of digital short fiction, including “The Perfect Kiss” and “Your Big Night.” Short fiction represented in anthologies, including 21 Proms, Sixteen: Stories about That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, American Girls about Town, and Hope Wins: A Collection of Inspiring Stories for Younger Readers. Author’s works have been translated into twenty-nine languages.
Bras and Broomsticks was adapted for audiobook, read by Aradne Meyers, Listening Library, 2005, and was optioned as a feature film, Fox 2000. Don’t Even Think about It was adapted for audiobook, read by Erin Spencer, Listening Library, 2014. Upside-Down Magic was adapted for audiobook, read by Rebecca Soler, Scholastic, 2015; Upside-Down Magic was also adapted as a movie for Disney Channel in 2020.
SIDELIGHTS
Bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski has earned praise for her briskly plotted and humorous fantasies, among them the middle-grade “Whatever After” fractured fairy tales and the “Magic in Manhattan” novel series for younger teens. Mlynowski also entertains young-adult readers in standalone novels such as Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have), Don’t Even Think about It, and Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe.
Mlynowski was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where she attended a Jewish high school. While earning her degree in English at McGill University, she served as fiction editor for the school’s literary journal and contributed a biweekly column to the newspaper. She then got a job in Toronto, Ontario, in Harlequin’s marketing department. The success of her debut novel, Milkrun, allowed Mlynowski to relocate to New York City, where she now writes full time. She followed Milkrun with several other chick-lit novels before shifting her attention to ‘tween and teen readers.
Bras and Broomsticks inaugurated Mlynowski’s “Magic in Manhattan” series. Fourteen-year-old New Yorker Rachel Weinstein has an advantage over her peers: both her divorced single mother and her younger sister, Miri, are witches. Although Miri is a novice, Rachel concocts a plan to use her sibling’s powers to build her popularity at school and also derail their father’s impending marriage to a woman both siblings dislike. Bras and Broomsticks “offers plenty of laughs and some deliciously complicated predicaments,” noted a Publishers Weekly contributor, and the sisters are realistic enough “to draw sympathy from readers and keep events interesting.” “Rachel is sassy, self-absorbed, shy and insecure,” wrote Booklist contributor Chris Sherman, and “her concerns will be comfortably familiar to readers.”
A high-school freshman when readers reconnect with her in Frogs and French Kisses, Rachel hopes to win the love of über-gorgeous classmate Raf Kosravi with help from the inexperienced and malleable Miri. Spells and Sleeping Bags finds the sisters summering at Camp Wood Lake when Rachel uncovers bewitching powers of her own. In Parties and Potions, Miri and Rachel prepare for their Samsorta, a special ceremony for young witches, while keeping their magical powers a secret from both their father and Rachel’s boyfriend. Booklist contributor Jennifer Hubert praised Frogs and French Kisses as “wonderfully fast-paced and clever,” while in School Library Journal, Angela M. Boccuzzi-Reichert predicted of Spells and Sleeping Bags that “entertaining characters, a light tone, and a fast-moving plot [will] keep the pages turning quickly.”
Mlynowski toys with time-travel in her standalone young-adult novel Gimme a Call, dubbed a “blend of chick-lit, light fantasy, and comedic mishaps” by School Library Journal critic Adrienne L. Strock. After high-school senior Devi’s cell phone is dunked in a fountain, the only person she is able to connect to via the device is her fourteen-year-old self. Seizing this unusual opportunity, the teen dispenses advice to her younger self, hoping that the preteen Devi can avoid her mistakes and ignore the influence of a former boyfriend. As the younger Devi makes different choices, it alters the older Devi’s past and leads to unexpected changes in her present. In reviewing Gimme a Call, Booklist critic Frances Bradburn noted that Mlynowski “taps into a universal fantasy: Who hasn’t coveted a do-over in at least some aspect of life?”
In Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have) a sixteen-year-old learns some sobering lessons about independence. When April discovers that her father is moving out of state with his new wife, she asks to stay at friend Viv’s house and complete the school year. She omits telling her dad one important fact, however: Vi’s mom will be absent and the teens will be unsupervised for months. Ill-prepared for the responsibilities of running a household and all-too-willing to indulge her love of parties, April makes poor choices that result in sometimes-messy consequences. A Kirkus Reviews critic wrote of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have) that Mlynowski’s “pitch-perfect rendering of the utter self-centeredness of the teen experience … makes April’s gradual awakening feel genuine.”
Don’t Even Think about It treats teens to “a solid, comical sci-fi romp,” in the words of a Kirkus Reviews writer. A group of sophomores at a New York City high school develop telepathic powers after receiving contaminated flu shots, and their new talents transform their lives in myriad ways. For some, like introverted Olivia, the newfound ability proves exhilarating, while others face unexpected consequences once their secrets are revealed. “Mlynowski writes teen protagonists with heart and depth—authentically illustrating the trials and tribulations of the high school experience,” Liz Overberg commented in School Library Journal. A Publishers Weekly critic suggested that Don’t Even Think about It “will leave readers thinking about the gaps between our private and public selves.”
In I See London, I See France readers meet Manhattanite Sydney Aarons, whose agoraphobic mother has quashed most vacation plans for years. Leaving home for college gave Sydney independence, and she and best-friend Leela plan to spend the summer after freshman year backpacking throughout Europe. The friends plan to start in England and trek all over the Continent, but things change when Leela’s ex-boyfriend, Matt, shows up at the airport and boards the same overseas flight. Hoping to reconnect with Matt, Leela broadcasts every stop along their route and encourages him to join them. When Matt shows up, his handsome traveling companion Jackson quickly steals Sydney’s heart. Published in the United Kingdom as The Girl’s Guide to Summer, I See London, I See France is “peppered with fresh, funny dialogue,” according to Carrie Finberg in School Library Journal, the critic adding that “Sydney’s struggle to balance … friends, romance, and family obligations will resonate with teens.” “Mlynowski is known for infusing her tales of teen friendship and romance with comedy and banter,” observed a Kirkus Reviews writer, “and this latest is no exception.”
In an interview with Judy Batalion on the Canadian Jewish News website, Mlynowski noted that I See London, I See France is based on a trip she took at age nineteen, after her first year attending McGill University. “My boyfriend at the time, also a student at McGill, was traveling through Europe with his friends and we kept meeting in various cities along the way,” she explained. “When I backpacked through Europe, we didn’t even have email,” she added, reflecting on the way advances in technology have changed the experience of travel. “We reserved hostel rooms from payphones and left messages back home with our parents. There was no Instagram or cellphones or Google Maps.” I See London, I See France was a novel that needed writing for another reason, the author also admitted. Her husband “happens to be the McGill boyfriend I strategically bumped into in cities across Europe,” she added, noting that “the romance that inspired my novel had a happy ending.”
A summer spent as a camp counselor brings surprise revelations to teenager Sam in Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe. With her boyfriend away in Europe, she takes a job at her former summer camp, where she will supervise older elementary graders. Although she figures that it will be good training for an aspiring teacher, keeping up with her charges over the six-week session is exhausting. Nonetheless, Sam has enough free time in the evenings to spend with camp sailing instructor Gavin, and despite the fact that he has a girlfriend, he quickly steals her heart. Praising Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe as “a fun summer romance,” Jennifer Rummel added in School Library Journal that the novel taps readers’ “nostalgia for camp” while offering the “racier side” that was hidden from them as children. “Fun, sexy, … and inclusive,” according to a Kirkus Reviews critic, Mlynowski’s novel is also a “deceptively thought-provoking summer read” with “a thoughtful feminist subtext.”
With Fairest of All, Mlynowski opens her “Whatever After” series for middle graders. Fairest of All introduces ten-year-old Abby and her younger brother, Jonah, whose discovery of a magical mirror thrusts them (and family dog Prince) into the world of Snow White. After preventing Snow from eating her evil stepmother’s poisonous apple, the youngsters realize that they have dramatically altered the course of the fairy-tale world and must set things to rights so that Snow can meet her handsome prince. “Mlynowski’s story is studded with comical pratfalls, witty quips, and one-liners,” a writer observed in Publishers Weekly.
In If the Shoe Fits, Abby and Jonah help Cinderella become more self-reliant, and Sink or Swim finds the siblings coming to the rescue of the Little Mermaid. In Dream On, Abby’s friend, Robin, falls into a deep sleep after entering the world of Sleeping Beauty, while Bad Hair Day presents an unconventional take on the story of Rapunzel. “Mlynowski has a knack for these fresh, hip fractured tales,” stated Booklist contributor Ann Kelley in a review of If the Shoe Fits. Nicole Rowlinson noted in Resource Links that Bad Hair Day treats series fans to “a fun and clever read.” A writer in Kirkus Reviews observed of If the Shoe Fits that “the ever-resourceful Abby’s savvy wit and Jonah’s enthusiastic assistance overcome all obstacles.”
More stories in the “Whatever After” series include Two Peas in a Pod, Seeing Red, Spill the Beans, and Good as Gold. Two Peas in a Pod treats series fans to a topsy turvy version of “The Princess and the Pea,” and in Spill the Beans, Abby, Jonah, and family dog Prince each play their part in a non-storybook-conforming version of “Jack in the Beanstalk.”
Mlynowski has also produced three “Whatever After Special Edition” installments: Abby in Wonderland, Abby in Oz, and Abby in Neverland. In the first, Abby falls down a rabbit hole and finds herself facing the same challenges as Lewis Carroll’s famous heroine. Although an expert in traditional fairy tales, Abby has never read Carroll’s “Wonderland” novels, and this puts her at a distinct disadvantage. Fortunately, she is joined by Frankie, Robin, and arch-nemesis Penny, who help her navigate a safe path through Carroll’s quirky fantasy world. While “readers who have followed the [“Whatever After”] series will have a leg up,” observed a Kirkus Reviews critic, “other book lovers and fantasists will find some kindred souls here.”
Mlynowski teamed up with fellow writers Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle to produce the “Upside-down Magic” middle-grade fantasies, which follow a group of students attending the Dunwiddle Magic School for budding magicians. Upside-down Magic focuses on Nory Horace, a youngster whose audition for a spot at her father’s distinguished Sage Academy goes horribly wrong. Placed in an experimental class at Dunwiddle Magic School, Nory befriends Elliott, Andres, and Bax, three magically challenged classmates whose adventures highlight “individuality, self-acceptance, and tolerance,” according to a Publishers Weekly critic.
In Sticks and Stones, Nory and company come under fire when several school activities are disrupted by uncontrolled magic, while in Dragon Overnight the four magicians in training gain in confidence and compassion during a three-day field trip to a dragon orphanage. A Kirkus Reviews writer stated that Sticks and Stones offers “a deftly balanced mixture of otherworldly effects, humor, action, and the confusing and recognizable emotions of middle-school dynamics.” Recommending Dragon Overnight in Resource Links, Mavis Holder recommended the “Upside-down Magic” series as “‘Harry Potter’ for the younger reader.” Other tales in the entertaining “Upside-down Magic” series include Showing Off, Weather or Not, The Big Shrink, and Hide and Seek.
Mlynowski opens a fresh middle-grade novel series with Best Wishes, set in New York City’s Upper West Side. When Becca plans a sleepover for her tenth birthday, she is devastated to learn that Harper, her only friend, has found a new best friend. Then she receives a mysterious box with a magic bracelet and verse instructions telling her that she has one wish, and that she should mail the bracelet to someone else when she no longer needs it. Becca wishes for everyone to want to be her friend, and as she wears the bracelet to school, it works like magic, with peers clamoring for her attention left and right. When it gets to be overwhelming, Becca tries to take the bracelet off—but doing so proves harder than she bargained for. Becca is Jewish, while Harper is South Asian, and Becca narrates the story in an effusive letter to one Addie Asante. A Kirkus Reviews writer affirmed that readers “will love Becca for her humor, honesty, kindness, and insecurities” and praised Best Wishes as “a coming-of-age tale told with humor, compassion, and more than a touch of magic.”
The next “Best Wishes” book is The Sister Switch, which finds ten-year-old Addie Asante—whose last name means “thank you” in Swahili—living in Columbus, Ohio. Feeling stuck as the middle sister between imperial twelve-year-old Sophie and pampered five-year-old Camille, Addie is excited to put the bracelet on as soon as she receives it. Thus overlooking a warning from Becca, Addie is spurred by an argument with Sophie to wish she were not the middle sister—and suddenly Addie finds herself in Sophie’s body, Sophie in Camille’s, and Camille in Addie’s. As a Kirkus Reviews writer observed, “mayhem, confusion, twists and turns, and even laugh-out-loud hilarity ensue” as the sisters get reacquainted with both themselves and each other, and try to figure out how to switch back. Luckily Becca is able to offer clues, as well as the scoop on a blonde stranger who wants the bracelet, via text message from afar. Addie narrates this story in a letter to someone named Lucy. The Kirkus Reviews writer praised the “happy, heartwarming ending” and deemed The Sister Switch “delightful, with just the right touch of magic.”
[OPEN NEW]
Mlynowski branches into the picture book genre with A Dragon for Hanukkah. The story begins with Hannah receiving a dragon named Nerry on the first night of Hanukkah. In the ensuing seven nights, Hannah receives seven other gifts, including a time travel machine, a treasure chest, and other outlandish items, or at least that is how they appear to Hannah. She learns, however, that her favorite parts of Hanukkah are eating latkes with her family, playing dreidel with her friends, and lighting the menorah. Ariel Landy provides the illustrations. A contributor in Kirkus Reviews described the book as “appealing and magical.” They praised the illustrations as “dynamic” and “colorful” and “full of imaginative imagery.”
[CLOSE NEW]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, December 15, 2001, Kristine Huntley, review of Milkrun, p. 708; October 1, 2002, Kristine Huntley, review of Fishbowl, p. 305; September 15, 2003, Kristine Huntley, review of As Seen on TV, p. 224; September 15, 2004, review of Monkey Business, p. 224; January 1, 2005, Chris Sherman, review of Bras and Broomsticks, p. 846; July 1, 2006, Kristine Huntley, review of Me vs. Me, p. 40, and Jennifer Hubert, review of Frogs and French Kisses, p. 51; November 15, 2008, Chris Sherman, review of Parties and Potions, p. 38; March 1, 2010, Frances Braburn, review of Gimme a Call, p. 59; May 15, 2011, Heather Booth, review of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have), p. 48; April 1, 2012, Ann Kelley, review of Fairest of All, p. 74; January 1, 2013, Ann Kelley, review of If the Shoe Fits, p. 116; January 1, 2014, Ann Kelley, review of Don’t Even Think about It, p. 105; July 1, 2015, Karen Cruze, review of Upside-down Magic, p. 77.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, January, 2005, Timnah Card, review of Bras and Broomsticks, p. 221; December, 2015, Jeannette Hulick, review of Upside-down Magic, p. 211.
Horn Book, September-October, 2015, Elissa Gershowitz, review of Upside-down Magic, p. 111.
Horn Book Guide, fall, 2013, Rachel L. Smith, review of If the Shoe Fits, p. 87; fall, 2014, Rachel L. Smith, review of Dream On, p. 84; spring, 2015, Rachel L. Smith, review of Bad Hair Day, p. 87; fall, 2015, Rachel L. Smith, review of Cold as Ice, p. 94.
Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, February, 2008, Amanda Lindblom, review of Spells and Sleeping Bags, p. 432.
Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2005, review of Bras and Broomsticks, p. 123; May 1, 2006, review of Frogs and French Kisses, p. 463; November 15, 2008, review of Parties and Potions; March 15, 2010, review of Gimme a Call; May 1, 2011, review of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have); March 15, 2012, review of Fairest of All; November 15, 2012, review of If the Shoe Fits; February 1, 2014, review of Don’t Even Think about It; July 15, 2015, review of Upside-down Magic; March 15, 2016, review of Sticks and Stones; April 15, 2017, review of I See London, I See France; July 15, 2017, review of Abby in Wonderland; March 1, 2020, review of Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe; September 1, 2022, review of Best Wishes; January 1, 2023, review of The Sister Switch; October 1, 2023, review of Time after Time; August 15, 2024, review of A Dragon for Hanukkah.
Kliatt, May, 2008, Aimee Cole, review of How to Be Bad, p. 12; November, 2008, Donna Scanlon, review of Parties and Potions, p. 15.
Library Journal, August 1, 2006, Stacey Rae Brownlie, review of See Jane Write: A Girl’s Guide to Writing Chick Lit, p. 99; May 31, 2024, Amy Ribakove, review of Fairest of All, p. 1.
Publishers Weekly, October 29, 2001, review of Milkrun, p. 34; August 26, 2002, “One of the Most Successful Authors at Harlequin’s ‘Chick Lit’ Imprint,” p. 13; October 28, 2002, review of Fishbowl, pp. 52-53; August 23, 2004, review of Girls’ Night In, p. 37; February 7, 2005, review of Bras and Broomsticks, p. 60; February 25, 2008, review of How to Be Bad, p. 80; March 8, 2010, review of Gimme a Call, p. 57; May 9, 2011, review of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have), p. 55; April 2, 2012, review of Fairest of All, p. 57; January 6, 2014, review of Don’t Even Think about It, p. 90; June 15, 2015, review of Upside-down Magic, p. 83.
Resource Links, October, 2013, Carolyn Cutt, review of Sink or Swim, p. 12; February, 2014, Myra Junyk, review of If the Shoe Fits, p. 14; February, 2015, Leslie Vermeer, review of Dream On, p. 14; April, 2015, Emma-Leigh Mitchell, review of Cold as Ice, p. 13; June, 2015, Nicole Rowlinson, review of Bad Hair Day, p. 11; October, 2016, Nicole Rowlinson, review of Once upon a Frog, p. 18; February, 2017, Nicole Rowlinson, review of Sugar and Spice, p. 14; October, 2017, Catherine Bellamy, review of I See London, I See France, p. 42; December, 2016, Helen Mason, review of Beauty Queen, p. 14; February, 2018, Nicole Rowlinson, review of Genie in a Bottle, p. 11; April, 2018, Mavis Holder, review of Dragon Overnight, p. 20; December, 2018, Mavis Holder, reviews of Weather or Not and Two Peas in a Pod, both p. 14; October, 2019, Mavis Holder, review of Spill the Beans, p. 28.
School Library Journal, September, 2006, Kelly Czarnecki, review of Frogs and French Kisses, p. 212; January, 2005, Sarah Couri, review of Bras and Broomsticks, p. 134; September, 2006, Marcie Mann, review of See Jane Write, p. 233; August, 2007, Angela M. Boccuzzi-Reichert, review of Spells and Sleeping Bags, p. 122; May, 2008, Emily Garrett Cassady, review of How to Be Bad, p. 130; March, 2010, Adrienne L. Strock, review of Gimme a Call, p. 164; May, 2012, Mandy Laferriere, review of Fairest of All, p. 78; January, 2013, Elizabeth Swistock, review of If the Shoe Fits, p. 82; April, 2014, Liz Overberg, review of Don’t Even Think about It, p. 171; June 1, 2017, Carrie Finberg, review of I See London, I See France, p. 111; March, 2020, Jennifer Rummel, review of Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe, p. 117.
Voice of Youth Advocates, February, 2005, Julie Scordato, review of Bras and Broomsticks, p. 497; October, 2010, Jennifer Ingram, review of Gimme a Call, p. 368; February, 2014, Jen McIntosh, review of Don’t Even Think about It, p. 75.
ONLINE
Canadian Jewish News, https://www.cjnews.com/ (October 30, 2017), Judy Batalion, “Sarah Mlynowski: “My Characters, like My Dad, Are Searching for Home.”
Laura Dail Literary Agency, https://www.ldlainc.com/ (February 11, 2025), author profile.
Publishers Weekly, http://www.publishersweekly.com/ (December 20, 2016), Sally Lodge, author profile; (February 8, 2022), Shannon Maughan, “Mlynowski’s Middle Grade Magic: ‘Whatever After’ Turns 10 and a New Series Cover Reveal.”
Sarah Mlynowski website, https://www.sarahm.com (February 10, 2025).
Scholastic Kids Press website, https://kpcnotebook.scholastic.com/ (December 8, 2022), Natalie Bendix, “A Conversation with Sarah Mlynowski.”*
Sarah Mlynowski
Canada (b.1977)
Daughter of Elissa Ambrose
Sarah was born in Montreal, Canada in 1977. After graduating with an honors degree in English literature from McGill University, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises. While she never met Fabio, she used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel MILKRUN, which has since been published in 16 countries, selling over 600,000 copies around the globe.
When her second novel, FISHBOWL, received even more accolades, including a starred review from Booklist and being named one of Waldenbooks Best Women's Fiction novels of 2002, Sarah moved to New York City to write full-time.
Since then, Sarah has written AS SEEN ON TV and MONKEY BUSINESS for Red Dress Ink and BRAS & BROOMSTICKS, her first teen novel, for Random House. She has been featured in the short story collections, AMERICAN GIRLS ABOUT TOWN and SIXTEEN: STORIES ABOUT THAT SWEET AND BITTER BIRTHDAY. Sarah also co-edited the USA Today bestselling chick-lit anthology GIRLS' NIGHT IN.
Genres: Children's Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, Romance, General Fiction
New and upcoming books
November 2024
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Like A Boss
(Best Wishes , book 4)June 2025
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Mirror Mirror
(Whatever After, book 17)
Series
Magic In Manhattan: All About Rachel
1. Bras & Broomsticks (2005)
2. Frogs & French Kisses (2006)
3. Spells & Sleeping Bags (2007)
4. Parties & Potions (2008)
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Whatever After
1. Fairest of All (2012)
2. If the Shoe Fits (2012)
3. Sink or Swim (2013)
4. Dream On (2013)
5. Bad Hair Day (2014)
6. Cold As Ice (2014)
7. Beauty Queen (2015)
8. Once Upon a Frog (2015)
9. Genie in a Bottle (2016)
10. Sugar and Spice (2016)
11. Two Peas in a Pod (2018)
12. Seeing Red (2018)
13. Spill the Beans (2019)
14. Good as Gold (2021)
Whatever After: Book 1 - 14 (2021)
15. Just Dance (2022)
16. Liar, Liar (2024)
17. Mirror Mirror (2025)
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Don't Even Think About It
1. Don't Even Think About It (2014)
2. Think Twice (2016)
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Upside-Down Magic
1. Upside-Down Magic (2015) (with Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle)
2. Sticks & Stones (2016) (with Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle)
3. Showing Off (2016) (with Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle)
4. Dragon Overnight (2018) (with Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle)
5. Weather or Not (2018) (with Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle)
6. The Big Shrink (2019) (with Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle)
7. Hide and Seek (2020) (with Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle)
8. Night Owl (2021) (with Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle)
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Whatever After Special Edition
1. Abby in Wonderland (2017)
2. Abby in Oz (2020)
3. Abby in Neverland (2023)
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Best Wishes
1. Best Wishes (2022)
2. The Sister Switch (2023) (with Debbie Rigaud)
3. Time After Time (2023) (with Christina Soontornvat)
4. Like A Boss (2024) (with Hena Khan)
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Novels
Milkrun (2001)
Fishbowl (2002)
As Seen on TV (2003)
Monkey Business (2004)
Me Vs. Me (2006)
How to Be Bad (2008) (with E Lockhart and Lauren Myracle)
Gimme a Call (2010)
Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) (2011)
aka Ten Things We Shouldnt Have Done
I See London, I See France (2017)
aka The Girl's Guide to Summer
The Legends of Greemulax (2019) (with Kimmy Schmidt)
Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe (2020)
A Dragon for Hanukkah (2024)
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Collections
Girls' Night in (2000) (with others)
American Girls About Town (2004) (with others)
Fireworks (2007) (with others)
Vacations from Hell (2009) (with others)
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Novellas and Short Stories
Know It All (2010)
A Nice Fling is Hard to Find (2012)
A Little Bit Broken (2012)
Cruisin' (2012)
Party Girls (2014)
The Two-Month Itch (2014)
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Anthologies edited
Girls Night Out (2006) (with Carole Matthews)
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Non fiction hide
See Jane Write (2006) (with Farrin Jacobs)
Short bio:
Sarah Mlynowski is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and coauthor of over fifty books for teens, tweens, kids and adults, including the Whatever After series, the Magic in Manhattan series, the Best Wishes series and the Upside-Down Magic series, which was adapted into a Disney Channel movie. Originally from Montreal, Sarah now lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Long bio:
Sarah was born in Montreal, Canada. After graduating with an honors degree in English literature from McGill University, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises. While she never met Fabio, she used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel Milkrun.
Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins), now a Disney Channel movie; the New York Times bestselling series Best Wishes (with Debbie Rigaud, Christina Soontornvat, and Hena Khan); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, I See London, I See France, and Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (Hope Wins, American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).
Sarah was also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brought together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.
Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters.
FAQ
About me
Where were you born? Where do you live? What's your birthday?
Montreal, Canada. Then I lived in NYC for almost twenty years, but now I live in Los Angeles, California. My birthday is January 4, 1977.
What are your hobbies?
I love to travel (once I went on an amazing African safari) and I like to scuba dive. (Except when I spot sharks under water. But that's a story for another time.)
Who are your all-time favorite authors?
I have tons. Margaret Atwood, Dorothy Parker, J.K. Rowling, Helen Fielding, E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle, Lauren Oliver, Judy Blume, Emily Giffin, Courtney Sheinmel, Gayle Forman, Jennifer Weiner…the list can go on and on.
Have your books won any awards?
Yes! Don't Even Think About It was the winner of the 2015-2016 Teen Readers' Choice Stellar Award. Much thanks to readers for their support!
What is your favorite fairy tale?
My favorite fairy tale is Cinderella. I have always wanted to go to a ball. Also the writer in me loves a ticking clock. It’s midnight or bust!
If you could wish for anything in the world, what would you wish for?
I have two incredible daughters. I wish for a world in which they feel safe and celebrated.
Can I send you a letter?
You sure can. My mailing address Sarah Mlynowski, PO Box 1119, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.
Can you come to my school?
Sure! But your school needs to invite me first. Tell your school librarian to contact me here (grownups only).
I sent you a letter/email but I haven’t heard back yet. Where are you?
I’m writing! Sometimes it takes me a few weeks or even months to reply to letters and emails from readers. Please be patient!
About my books
I have a book report due! Can you tell me the plot/theme/setting of one of your books?
No, I can't! But good luck with your book report. If you need any additional information about me, head on over to my about page, or read through the rest of my FAQ!
Where did you get the idea for Whatever After?
As a kid, I had two favorite kinds of bedtime stories. The first were about a little girl named Sarah who lived in Montreal, just like I did, but magic stuff happened to her—like she had a magic umbrella and could fly, or a magic fork that could turn vegetables into chocolate. The second were fractured fairy tales. Since I was not a fan of vegetables, when my mom told me the story of the Princess and the Pea, I decided that the queen put M&Ms under the girl’s mattress to see if she was a true princess instead of a pea! When I became a writer I wondered: What if I combined the two? What if a regular girl magically fell into a fairy tale and fractured it?
Where did you get the idea for Upside-Down Magic?
Emily Jenkins, Lauren Myracle, and I told our editor David that we wanted to write a book together and laid out all these elements we thought it should have — funny magic, eccentric characters, emotional truth, ridiculous composite animals, flying sequences, and so on. All four of us talked, and David helped us shape the idea of a magic school with a class for, well, magical misfits.
Who illustrates the Whatever After books?
Helen Huang! She is amazing.
Have your books won any awards?
Yes! Don't Even Think About It was the winner of the 2015-2016 Teen Readers' Choice Stellar Award. Much thanks to readers for their support!
Will you ever write a fifth Magic in Manhattan book?
Rachel and Miri's story ended in Parties and Potions, and right now I have no plans to write a fifth book...but I never say never! If you like the Magic in Manhattan series, I really think you'll like I See London, I See France, my YA about two best friends who backpack through Europe together on their summer vacation.
Is there a sequel to Don't Even Think About It?
Think Twice, the sequel to Don't Even Think About It, came out in April 2016.
When can I get your books in paperback?
Usually my books come out in paperback about 12-18 months after they are released in hardcover. If you don’t know when the book came out in hardcover, you can check the publication information on Goodreads. Or you can sign up for my newsletterI send updates when I have news to share!
You should turn your books into a movie! Are you making one?
That’s a great idea! Unfortunately it is not up to me. If I ever have movie or TV news, I will be sure to post an update about it on my social media or in my newsletter.
I have an idea for your next book!
Cool! If you’ve thought of it, I may have, too. Great minds think alike. While I appreciate your suggestions, I have lots of ideas in the works and you will see them in my books at some point.
On writing
When did you start writing?
I used to write stories about my little sister, Aviva. They were called “Life with The Squirt,” “The Squirt Ate My Homework,” and “Adventures of SuperSquirt.” That one was about a little sister who could fly. Basically Magic in Manhattan is its updated version.
Where do you get your ideas?
My ideas come from everyday feelings and experiences. For example, Bras & Broomsticks is about a girl who finds out that her younger sister is a witch. This was based on my little sister Aviva. (Unfortunately, not the witchcraft part.) What inspired the book is the always-complicated love, jealousy, and pride involved in a sister relationship. Ever since Aviva was born and took over my role as the center of my family, I’ve been writing stories about her.
Do you have to wait to be inspired to write?
The thing about being a professional author—when it's no longer a hobby, but your job—is that you can't wait for inspiration. I have to stop myself from hitting the snooze button every morning, and force myself to sit at my desk and get to work. I have to see it as a job, like any other job, or I'd never get any work done!
How long does it take to write a book?
It takes me about 3 to 4 months to write a first draft. Then there's lots of editing, of course. The entire process from starting the book to seeing it in print takes about 2 years.
Where do you actually write?
I do most of my writing at home, at my desk on the computer. Sometimes, I take my laptop all the way over to the couch. I don't like to write outside of the house because I'm easily distracted (Nice coat! Cute dog! There's a bus! Why is my screen still blank?)
On becoming a writer
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Read all kinds of books — funny ones, sad ones, scary ones, adventurous ones. Then write the kind of book you love the most.
Consider a career in publishing. You’ll be around books all day, meet tons of smart book-loving people and get paid.
Publishers want the next big thing. They don’t know what that is. Nobody knows what that is. So write your book. Finish it. Make it awesome. Then worry about selling it.
What kind of schooling do I need to write a book?
Anything you learn or absorb helps your writing. In my case, I have a degree in English lit, which allowed me (er, forced me) to read many different types of books and understand various writing styles. But any subjects you take in high school or college will broaden your knowledge and make you a better and more informed writer.
I want to be a novelist, but an entire novel seems so overwhelming. What do I do?
Try setting small goals—like writing one page a day. Before you know it, you'll have a finished book. Trust me, it works.
I wrote a story! Can you read it?
Nope! Sorry. As much as I would love to read your writing, I barely have time to work on my own books.
Can you put me in touch with your publisher?
I can’t. My apologies.
Upcoming books
When is the next Whatever After book coming out?
Stay tuned! In the meantime, check out the latest book, Abby in Neverland.
How many Whatever After books will you write?
As many as I can! I have no plans to stop writing Whatever After any time soon.
Will Abby and Jonah ever fall into the story of Frozen?
Disney's Frozen is based on the story of the Snow Queen, which also inspired Whatever After: Cold As Ice.
Are Abby and Jonah going to fall into Jack and the Beanstalk?
They DID! Check out Whatever After: Spill the Beans.
Will you ever write a fifth Magic in Manhattan book?
Rachel and Miri's story ended in Parties and Potions, and right now I have no plans to write a fifth book...but I never say never! If you like the Magic in Manhattan series, I really think you'll like some of my other YA novels.
Is there a sequel to Don't Even Think About It?
Think Twice, the sequel to Don't Even Think About It, came out in April 2016.
When is your next adult book coming out?
Um...I don't know! I haven't written another one yet. I do have an idea for a mom lit book, but that's all I have at the moment—an idea. Maybe one day I'll actually write it. If you've read all of my chick lit and are looking for more, try Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have). It's teen, but older, edgier teen. Also for older teens is my YA novel, I See London, I See France, which follows two best friends as they backpack through Europe on their summer vacation. And check out my latest YA novel, Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe. It's summer camp after dark.
I have an idea for your next book!
Cool! If you’ve thought of it, I may have, too. Great minds think alike. While I appreciate your suggestions, I have lots of ideas in the works and you will see them in my books at some point.
Sarah Mlynowski
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sarah Mlynowski
Mlynowski at the 2023 Texas Book Festival
Mlynowski at the 2023 Texas Book Festival
Born January 4, 1977 (age 48)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupation Novelist
Citizenship United States, Canada[citation needed]
Period 2001–present
Spouse Todd Swidler
Children Chloe and Anabelle
Relatives Elissa Ambrose (mother)
Website
www.sarahm.com
Sarah Mlynowski (born January 4, 1977) is a Canadian writer of middle-grade fiction, young adult novels, and adult fiction. She lives in New York City.[1]
Biography
Sarah Mlynowski is the daughter of the romance writer Elissa Ambrose. Her parents are divorced, and she has one sister, Aviva Mlynowski, and an older stepsister.[2] She graduated with an Honors degree in English literature from McGill University. Later, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. She used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel Milkrun, which has since been published in 16 countries, selling over 600,000 copies around the globe. After her second novel Fishbowl was published, she moved to New York City to write full-time. She is best known for her New York Times best-selling series Whatever After. Along with authors Michael Buckley, Julia DeVillers, and Adele Griffin, Mlynowski is a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a book festival geared to middle-grade readers.[3]
Mlynowski married her husband Todd in 2004, and together they have two daughters,[1] Chloe and Anabelle.[4]
Bibliography
Adult fiction [5]
Milkrun (2001)
Fishbowl (2002)
As Seen on TV (2003)
Monkey Business (2004)
Me Vs. Me (2006)
Non-fiction [6]
See Jane Write (2006) (with Farrin Jacobs)
Young adult [7]
Magic in Manhattan series
Bras & Broomsticks (2005)
Frogs & French Kisses (2006)
Spells & Sleeping Bags (2007)
Parties & Potions (2008)
How to Be Bad (2008) (with E. Lockhart and Lauren Myracle)
Gimme a Call (2010)
Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) (2011)
Don't Even Think About It (2014)
Think Twice (Don't Even Think About It, Book #2) (2016)
I See London, I See France (2017)
Middle grade [8]
Whatever After series
Fairest of All (2012)
If the Shoe Fits (2012)
Sink or Swim (2013)
Dream On (2013)
Bad Hair Day (2014)
Cold As Ice (2014)
Beauty Queen (2015)
Once Upon a Frog (2015)
Genie in a Bottle (2016)
Sugar and Spice (2016)
Abby in Wonderland (2017)
Two Peas in a Pod (2018)
Seeing Red (2018)
Spill the Beans (2019)
Abby in Oz (2020)
Good As Gold (2021)
Just Dance (2022)
Abby in Neverland (2023)
Fairest of All: A Graphic Novel (2024)
Liar Liar (2024)
Upside-Down Magic series (with Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle)
Upside-Down Magic (2015)
Upside-Down Magic: Sticks & Stones (2016)
Upside-Down Magic: Showing Off (2017)
Upside-Down Magic: Dragon Overnight (2018)
Upside-Down Magic: Weather of Not (2019)
Upside-Down Magic: The Big Shrink (2019)
Upside-Down Magic: Hide and Seek (2020)
Upside-Down Magic: Night Owl (2021)
The Legends of Greemulax (2019) (with Kimmy Schmidt)[9]
Best Wishes series[10]
Best Wishes (2022)
Sister Switch (2023) (with Debbie Rigaud)
Time After Time (2023) (with Christina Soontornvat)
Like A Boss (2024)
References
"About". Sarah Mlynowski. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
"Sarah Mlynowski -- Biographies". www.epicreads.com. Epic Reads. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
"Authors". OMG BookFest. Retrieved 2017-05-31.[dead link]
Authors Read Best - Sarah Mlynowksi — Parents Read Best Archived 2016-03-14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2016-03-14.
"Adults". Sarah Mlynowski. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
"See Jane Write". Sarah Mlynowski. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
"Teens". Sarah Mlynowski. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
"Kids". Sarah Mlynowski. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
Koeverden, Jane van (21 February 2019). "Kimmy Schmidt's fictional novel, The Legends of Greemulax, is being published for real". CBC.ca. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
"Best Wishes". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
Sarah Mlynowski
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah was born in Montreal, Canada. After graduating with an honors degree in English literature from McGill University, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises. While she never met Fabio, she used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel Milkrun.
Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins), now a Disney Channel movie; and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, I See London, I See France, and Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).
Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.
Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters.
Mlynowski, Sarah TIME AFTER TIME Scholastic (Children's None) $15.99 11, 7 ISBN: 9781338628319
In this latest series installment, the magical bracelet finds its way to Lucy Usathorn.
Ten-year-old Lucy's parents have been divorced since she was 3, and Lucy splits her time between her parents. She's looking forward to her field trip to the Fort Worth Natural History Museum, where her dad works. But the day quickly turns sour. Strict Ms. Brock, the school librarian and her dad's girlfriend, is chaperoning the trip, a classmate vomits on Lucy's new sneakers, and Lucy's pushiness alienates her best friend, Olive. Just when things can't get any worse, Lucy's father proposes to Ms. Brock, and Lucy runs off crying. At her mother's house, Lucy discovers a strange package containing a bracelet. She connects via text with the bracelet's previous owners (series fans will be familiar with their stories), who explain that this is no ordinary piece of jewelry but warn her to be careful what she wishes for. Lucy decides to use the bracelet to redo her terrible day...and prevent the proposal. Told in the form of a letter from Lucy to an unseen girl named Maya (the bracelet's next recipient), this is a lighthearted yet poignant tale. Once again, the fantastical premise is used to wonderful effect--as Lucy relives her day, she eventually learns a much-needed lesson. Lucy and her father are Thai, while Ms. Brock appears to be light-skinned in Vee's artwork.
Gentle, inventive, and delightfully magical. (Fantasy. 8-11)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Mlynowski, Sarah: TIME AFTER TIME." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A766904271/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=70420f47. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
MLYNOWSKI, Sarah. Fairest of All: A Graphic Novel. illus. by Anu Chouhan. 160p. (Whatever After Graphic Novel: Bk. 1). Scholastic/Graphix. Apr. 2024. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781338845105.
Gr 3–6—Everyone knows the story of Snow White, especially young protagonist Abby. Abby hates change, and when her family moves to a new town, she finds comfort in familiar fairy tales where "good is good and bad is bad and endings are happily ever after." That is, until a magic mirror transports Abby and her adventurous brother Jonah right into the middle of Snow White's tale. When their arrival stops Snow from living her happily ever after, Jonah and Abby must try everything to get the story back on track. This graphic novel adaptation of the chapter book by Mlynowski is a fun twist on the classic tale. Snow is given agency to make choices and decide whether or not she wants a kiss from an unknown prince, while Abby discovers that change isn't always a bad thing. Snow, Abby, and Jonah use their brains and their guts to solve problems and defeat the evil queen. The art brings diversity to the story through the depiction of the seven dwarfs, who are drawn as different ages, genders, nationalities, and races.
VERDICT: Containing plenty of humor and heart, this is a worthwhile addition to library collections. Fans of the "Whatever After" prose series and the "Goddess Girls" series will enjoy this this title.—Amy Ribakove
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Library Journals, LLC
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews-first_look_at_new.html.csp
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Ribakove, Amy. "Fairest of All: A Graphic Novel." WebOnlyReviewsSLJ, vol. 70, no. 5, 31 May 2024, p. 1. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A797373915/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c378b1c8. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Mlynowski, Sarah A DRAGON FOR HANUKKAH Orchard/Scholastic (Children's None) $18.99 9, 3 ISBN: 9781338897524
A child describes a series of gifts given by family and friends for Hanukkah.
The first is from young Hannah's parents: a dragon named Nerry. Hannah details the presents received on the next nights of Hanukkah: a rainbow that "[spills] down the stairs," a treasure chest filled with gold coins, a merry-go-round, a time machine that takes Hannah back to the ancient days of the Maccabees, a pair of "rocket boots," and three boisterous unicorns. On the eighth and final night, it's Hannah's turn to give gifts; the child is preparing a "tasty treat." Readers also discover that Hannah has been describing the presents very inventively. Nerry the dragon's actually a stuffed animal; the rainbow's a multicolored drawing; the treasure chest is an assortment of chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. Hannah's gift to others? A large batch of latkes. Hannah shares them with family and friends at a festive holiday dinner, "which makes this last night, / the eighth night, / the most magical night // of Hanukkah." Kids will enjoy this simple, inviting reminder that the holiday is about warmth and togetherness. The dynamic, colorful illustrations are full of imaginative imagery and present familiar holiday symbols, including menorahs (Nerry lights the candles by breathing fire in one scene), stars of David, dreidels, and jelly doughnuts. Hannah's family is pale-skinned; the dinner guests are racially and ethnically diverse.
An appealing and magical celebration of the Festival of Lights. (more information about Hanukkah)(Picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Mlynowski, Sarah: A DRAGON FOR HANUKKAH." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A804504686/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c274918d. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.