Erin Entrada Kelly


Erin Entrada Kelly is a Filipino-American writer of children's literature. She was awarded the 2018 John Newbery Medal by the Association for Library Service to Children for her third novel, Hello, Universe.

Early life and education

Kelly was born in the United States and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, but now lives in New Castle County, Delaware, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines.
Kelly has a bachelor's degree from McNeese State University and a Master of Fine Arts from Rosemont College, where she teaches graduate-level courses in children's literature.

Career

Kelly started her career as a journalist for the American Press and worked as an editor for Thrive Magazine for several years before relocating to the Northeast. Her debut novel, Blackbird Fly, was published by HarperCollins Greenwillow Books in 2015 and won a Golden Kite Award honor from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and an honor award from APALA. She won the 2016 Children's Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature for her second novel, The Land of Forgotten Girls. Kelly has also published short stories for adults.
Kelly’s third novel, Hello, Universe — the story of a missing middle-school boy and the group of friends who set out to rescue him — received the 2018 Newbery Medal, among other honors.
Kelly has cited Judy Blume as her greatest influence.

Selected works