Author Profile
Sarah Mlynowski
18 Books
Sarah Mlynowski is a New York Times bestselling author celebrated for her engaging middle-grade and young adult fiction. She is best known for creating the widely popular "Whatever After" series, which inventively reimagines classic fairy tales, and for co-authoring the magical "Best Wishes" series. Through her extensive solo works and collaborative anthologies, she has established herself as a prominent and beloved voice in contemporary children's literature.
Gimme a Call
Sarah Mlynowski
Humor
Time Travel
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/5
Magic in Manhattan
Bras & Broomsticks
Sarah Mlynowski
Family
Humor
-
/5
Whatever After
Fairest of All: Book 1
Sarah Mlynowski
Action
Adventure
-
/5
Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)
Sarah Mlynowski
Friendship
Humor
-
/5
Whatever After
Whatever After
Sarah Mlynowski, Emily Eiden
Action
Adventure
-
/5
Best Wishes
Like A Boss: Book 4
Sarah Mlynowski, Hena Khan
Fantasy
Friendship
-
/5
Best Wishes
Time to Shine: Book 3
Susannah McFarlane, Sarah Mlynowski
Action
Adventure
-
/5
Whatever After Graphic Novel
If the Shoe Fits: Graphic Novel #2
Sarah Mlynowski, Emily Eiden
Adventure
Fairy Tales
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/5
Whatever After
Sink Or Swim: Book 3
Sarah Mlynowski, Dereen Taylor
Action
Adventure
-
/5
Best Wishes
The Sister Switch: Book 2
Sarah Mlynowski, Maxine Vee, Debbie Rigaud
Family
Fantasy
-
/5
Upside-Down Magic
Showing Off: Book 3
Lauren Myracle, Emily Jenkins, Sarah Mlynowski
Fantasy
Friendship
-
/5
Upside-Down Magic
Weather or Not: Book 5
Lauren Myracle, Emily Jenkins, Sarah Mlynowski
Friendship
Humor
-
/5
Upside-Down Magic
Dragon Overnight: Book 4
Lauren Myracle, Emily Jenkins, Sarah Mlynowski
Adventure
Animals
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/5
Upside-Down Magic
Upside-Down Magic: Book 1
Lauren Myracle, Emily Jenkins, Sarah Mlynowski
Fantasy
Friendship
-
/5
How to Be Bad
Sarah Mlynowski, Angela Church, Lauren Myracle, E. Lockhart
Adventure
Fiction
-
/5
Upside-Down Magic
Sticks & Stones: Book 2
Lauren Myracle, Emily Jenkins, Sarah Mlynowski, Isabelle Allard
Fantasy
Friendship
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/5
Vacations from Hell
Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Mlynowski, Libba Bray, Maud Desurvire, Claudia Gray
Anthologies
Short Stories
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/5
Hope Wins: A Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers
Sarah Mlynowski, Max Brallier, Stuart Gibbs, Tom Angleberger, Julie Buxbaum, Pablo Cartaya, J.C. Cervantes, Rex Ogle, Matt de la Peña, Adam Gidwitz, Veera Hiranandani, Hena Khan, Gordon Korman, Rose Brock
Anthologies
Emotions
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/5
High school senior Devi Banks has officially hit rock bottom. She has wasted the last three years of her life completely devoted to her adorable but heart-breaking boyfriend, Bryan. During that time, she ignored her academics, blew off all extracurricular clubs, and let her closest friendships quietly fade away. Now that Bryan has unexpectedly dumped her, she is left with absolutely nothing to show for her high school experience. To make matters worse, she accidentally drops her cell phone into a mall fountain. But when she fishes it out, it only dials one specific number: her own, from exactly three years ago.
After the initial shock wears off and she successfully convinces her fourteen-year-old freshman self that this is not an elaborate prank, Devi realizes she holds the ultimate superpower. She has the incredible opportunity to rewrite her entire history by giving her younger self perfect advice on what to avoid. It seems incredibly easy to just steer clear of the boy who ruins her life. However, Devi is about to discover that altering the timeline comes with massive, unpredictable consequences, and changing the past might not actually give her the perfect future she desperately wants.
13-18 Years
322 Pages
N/A
/5
Magic in Manhattan
Bras & Broomsticks
By:
Sarah Mlynowski
Imagine finding out that magic is absolutely real, but instead of you getting the incredible powers, they go to your annoying younger sister. That is the frustrating reality for fourteen-year-old Rachel. Her little sister Miri has suddenly developed the ability to cast spells and brew potions, and Rachel is convinced that magical abilities are entirely wasted on the youth. While world peace and curing diseases are obviously important, Rachel has a completely different set of urgent priorities for this newly discovered magic.
Determined to harness her sister's powers for her own teenage emergencies, Rachel attempts to guide Miri's spellcasting. She needs magic to finally learn how to dance without looking like she is being electrocuted, win back her former best friend, secure a date for the upcoming Spring Fling, and permanently stop her divorced father's impending wedding. But relying on a novice teenage witch to solve all your high school drama is a recipe for absolute disaster. Plunge into a hilarious, chaotic journey of sisterhood, high school survival, and the unpredictable consequences of mixing magic with everyday teenage life.
13-18 Years
322 Pages
N/A
/5
One minute, nine-year-old Abby and her little brother Jonah are perfectly normal kids settling into their new house. The very next minute, a mysterious antique mirror in their basement magically slurps them up and drops them right into the middle of the Snow White fairy tale. Thrilled to be a part of the action, they immediately take charge and successfully stop Snow White from taking a bite of the infamous poisoned apple. They feel like brilliant heroes until they realize they have made a massive mistake.
By saving Snow White from the poison, they completely ruin the story. If she never falls into her enchanted sleep, she will never meet her prince, which means her guaranteed happily ever after is officially canceled. Now, Abby and Jonah are entirely responsible for fixing the fairy tale they accidentally broke. They must figure out how to sneak into a heavily guarded castle, avoid getting poisoned themselves, and manually orchestrate a royal romance. Jump into a hilarious, fast-paced adventure where fixing a classic storybook ending is far more dangerous and complicated than anyone could have guessed.
9-12 Years
153 Pages
N/A
/5
Every sixteen-year-old dreams of total independence, and April is finally getting the ultimate chance to live entirely parent-free. To make this incredible living arrangement with her friend Vi a reality, April only had to tell her father a tiny, insignificant lie about where she was actually staying. The girls are utterly convinced they are mature, highly responsible, and perfectly capable of managing a household on their own. However, absolute freedom quickly proves to be far more complicated than simply staying up late and eating junk food for dinner.
Without any adults around to enforce the rules, April and Vi's unsupervised year rapidly spirals out of control. Somehow, their grand experiment in independent living leads to skipping school, purchasing a massive hot tub, and unexpectedly harboring a fugitive in their home. On top of the domestic chaos, April finds herself completely tangled up in an intensely confusing love triangle. As her carefully constructed world begins to crumble around her, April must figure out how to do her own laundry, fix her mistakes, and learn that true independence means taking real responsibility for the absolute wildest choices you make.
13-18 Years
372 Pages
N/A
/5
Whatever After
Whatever After
You might think traveling through a magic mirror into the legendary story of Aladdin would be the ultimate dream come true. For my brother Jonah and me, it is the start of a massive headache. We step into the sweltering desert expecting helpful genies and granting wishes, but reality is far more complicated. The genie we encounter is not exactly eager to assist, and if Aladdin does not get his wishes granted, he will never marry the princess. That means his entire happily ever after is on the line, and it is entirely our fault.
Now we are stuck trying to fix a broken fairy tale before time runs out. Our massive to-do list includes escaping a highly enchanted cave, tracking down forty buckets of glittering jewels, organizing an epic royal parade, and somehow figuring out how to pilot a magic carpet without crashing. If we fail, Aladdin loses his future, and we lose our only ticket back home. It is a high-stakes race through a world of magic, danger, and seriously unhelpful magical beings. Prepare for an unforgettable adventure where absolutely nothing goes according to the classic storybook script.
13-18 Years
178 Pages
N/A
/5
Maya Amir is having a remarkably terrible day in Washington, D.C., complete with out-of-town relatives invading her bedroom and an annoying classmate taking over the Environmental Club she loves so much. But everything shifts when a mysterious package arrives in the mail from a girl in Texas. Inside is a magical bracelet that grants wishes. Unsure of what to ask for, Maya accidentally wishes to be in charge of her club meeting. To her utter shock, the magic works perfectly. Suddenly, Maya is the boss of the club, and the taste of authority is thrilling.
But being the boss escalates faster than Maya could ever imagine. Soon, her teacher leaves her in charge of the classroom, the principal hands over the entire school, and even the President of the United States arrives asking her to step in as Commander-in-Chief. Overwhelmed by the crushing weight of these new responsibilities, Maya realizes that being in charge of everything is terrifying. With the support of her long-distance friends and her family, Maya must untangle the chaotic magic of the bracelet and discover what true leadership really means before the entire country falls apart under her watch.
9-12 Years
135 Pages
N/A
/5
Saving the world is just a standard Tuesday for Emma Jacks. As a top-secret agent-in-training known as EJ12 for the elite SHINE Agency, Emma is used to facing down dangerous situations. When the evil agency known as SHADOW begins leaking oil into the ocean and demanding a massive ransom, EJ12 is immediately called to action. She must use all her brilliant skills and high-tech gadgets to stop the villains and protect the innocent marine animals trapped in the spill. Defeating international bad guys has always been the easy part of her double life.
The real challenge begins when the mission is over and Emma returns to her normal life. Out of nowhere, she learns that one of her absolute best friends is moving away. Even a super spy struggles with a broken heart, and suddenly all her confidence vanishes. As EJ12, Emma feels like she can accomplish absolutely anything, but navigating the painful changes of middle school friendships without her best friend might be her hardest assignment yet. Discover how a brave secret agent learns to find her inner strength both in the field and in the classroom.
9-12 Years
126 Pages
N/A
/5
Abby and her younger brother Jonah are completely ordinary kids, except for the highly unusual magic mirror resting in their basement. When the mirror suddenly slurps them up in the middle of the night, they are transported directly into the legendary fairy tale of Cinderella. They arrive with a strict plan to stay out of the way and let the classic story unfold flawlessly. However, disaster strikes when Cinderella accidentally breaks her foot, swelling it up so much that the famous glass slipper will never, ever fit.
Without the glass slipper, the prince has absolutely no way to identify the girl of his dreams, and Cinderella's happily ever after is in severe jeopardy. It is entirely up to Abby and Jonah to rewrite the story and save the day before the clock strikes midnight. Their frantic rescue mission involves finding Cinderella a temporary job, avoiding getting thrown into the royal dungeon, and proving that true love does not always rely on perfectly fitting footwear. Dive into this incredibly funny, fast-paced graphic novel adventure that brilliantly turns a beloved classic completely upside down.
9-12 Years
164 Pages
N/A
/5
Diving into a fairy tale sounds like a dream, but for Abby and her brother Jonah, it always leads to a massive, messy rescue mission. This time, their unpredictable magic mirror drops them straight into the ocean depths of The Little Mermaid. When they finally locate the famous mermaid princess, they are determined to protect her from the manipulative sea witch. By successfully preventing her from trading her beautiful voice for human legs, they think they have saved the day. Unfortunately, their heroic intervention causes a colossal problem.
Because the Little Mermaid never makes her dangerous deal, she never meets her charming prince on land. Once again, Abby and Jonah have completely derailed a classic happily ever after. Now they must navigate treacherous underwater politics, outsmart a deeply frustrated sea witch, and figure out a brand new way for their finned friend to find true happiness without losing her voice. Grab your scuba gear and prepare for a hilarious, breathless adventure beneath the waves as these two siblings desperately attempt to keep an iconic story from sinking entirely.
9-12 Years
31 Pages
N/A
/5
Ten-year-old Addie Asante is completely sick and tired of being the middle sister. Her older sister, Sophie, gets to do whatever she wants, and her little sister, Camille, is spoiled rotten. But Addie's luck changes when a mysterious box arrives in the mail containing a beautiful, glowing bracelet and a cryptic note from a girl in New York. Intrigued, Addie makes a desperate wish to no longer be stuck in the middle. Poof! In a flash of magical chaos, Addie literally transforms into her big sister. At first, living as Sophie is a dream come true, she gets her own room, coffee shop privileges, and a spot in the school talent show. But the magic quickly spirals out of control. Addie realizes her older sister has turned into the baby, and the baby is now living as Addie! To make matters worse, a sneaky stranger is tracking the bracelet, determined to steal its wish-granting power. Addie must team up with her sisters to navigate this hilarious, messy body-swap and find a way to reverse the spell before they are stuck this way forever!
9-12 Years
176 Pages
N/A
/5
Being different at a school for magic is never easy, especially when your abilities refuse to follow the rules. In the world of Dunwiddle Magic School, having upside-down magic means your spells and transformations rarely go exactly as planned. For this unique group of friends, everyday classroom exercises can quickly turn into chaotic adventures involving mismatched animal shapes, backwards spells, and completely unpredictable results. They might be considered the misfits of the academy, but their unusual talents make them far more powerful than anyone realizes.
As new challenges arise at school, the pressure to prove themselves begins to weigh heavily on the upside-down magic students. They are tired of being underestimated and hidden away from the rest of their classmates. It is finally time for them to step out of the shadows and show the entire magical community exactly what they are capable of achieving. By embracing their wonky powers and relying on their unbreakable friendship, these extraordinary kids are ready to demonstrate that there is more than one right way to do magic. Prepare for a hilarious and deeply heartfelt journey about finding your true potential.
9-12 Years
129 Pages
N/A
/5
In the Upside-Down Magic classroom, predicting the weather is entirely impossible. When Willa's unpredictable magic flares up, it literally rains indoors. Dark storm clouds form right under the ceiling, and classrooms flood with soggy puddles. Her classmates always keep umbrellas nearby, but Willa absolutely hates being the constant source of all this gloomy precipitation. The worst part is the vicious cycle: the more she accidentally rains on everyone, the worse she feels, and her negative emotions only trigger even heavier downpours.
Meanwhile, Nory is incredibly excited to celebrate Bing Day, her town's highly anticipated magical holiday featuring a massive parade. But her enthusiasm vanishes when she is forced to complete her Bing Day class project with the constantly dripping Willa. Tensions rise even higher when their friend Elliott starts taking Willa's side in every single argument. All this emotional storminess is threatening to drown the friendships holding the Upside-Down Magic class together. Nory and her friends must figure out how to navigate their conflicting feelings and use their wonky magic to finally make the dark clouds disappear before everything is washed away.
9-12 Years
118 Pages
N/A
/5
Packing for an overnight field trip is always exciting, but it is infinitely more thrilling when your destination is completely filled with dragons. Nory, Andres, and the rest of the Upside-Down Magic class are heading to Dragon Haven for their very first overnight adventure. The itinerary sounds like a dream come true, packed with incredible opportunities to swim with majestic water dragons, fly alongside winged beasts, and even visit the Hatchery to witness newborn dragons breaking out of their shells. For once, their wonky magic will not get in the way of having the absolute best time ever.
But their perfect magical getaway hits a massive snag when they realize they are not the only students visiting the sanctuary. A group of highly snobby kids from a rival school, who all possess perfectly normal and predictable magic, are sharing the same facilities. Suddenly, bonfires and pajama breakfasts feel like competitive sports as the Upside-Down Magic kids are forced to interact with strangers who constantly judge them. Tossed together with potential enemies, Nory and her friends must rely on their unique abilities to navigate hilarious misunderstandings and rescue missions, proving that being different is their greatest strength.
9-12 Years
125 Pages
N/A
/5
Having magical abilities is supposed to be incredible, but for Nory Horace, her shape-shifting powers are a total embarrassment. Instead of turning into a normal animal, she accidentally transforms into ridiculous combinations, like a beaver mixed with a kitten. After spectacularly flunking the entrance exam to her strict father's prestigious magic academy, Nory is sent away to attend the magic equivalent of remedial school. She is forced to join the Upside-Down Magic class at Dunwiddle Middle School, a place specifically designed for kids whose powers refuse to behave properly.
Inside this unconventional classroom, Nory meets a wonderful group of fellow magical misfits. There is Elliott, whose fire magic freezes things, Andres, who floats away and cannot get back down, and Bax, who turns into a rock whenever he feels anxious. Together, they face frustrating lessons, unpredictable accidents, and the harsh judgment of the normal magic students. But as they learn to embrace their incredibly wonky talents, Nory and her new friends are determined to prove that doing magic upside-down might just be the most powerful and amazing way to save the day.
9-12 Years
120 Pages
N/A
/5
Jesse, Vicks, and Mel could not be more different, but they all share one desperate goal: they need to escape their suffocating small town. Sick of their everyday worries, family drama, and predictable routines, the three teenage girls decide to pack up and hit the highway for an unforgettable road trip to Miami.
Told in alternating voices, their journey south is anything but a smooth ride. As the miles roll by, the girls encounter unexpected detours, hilarious mishaps, and moments that test the very limits of their friendship. Vicks is running from a complicated relationship, Jesse is hiding a secret that could change everything, and Mel is just trying to figure out how to break the rules for once in her life.
Trapped in a car together, they are forced to confront the issues they left behind and the truths they have been hiding from each other. This sun-soaked adventure is a funny, heartfelt exploration of independence, self-discovery, and what it truly means to be bad when you are trying to find yourself.
13-18 Years
352 Pages
N/A
/5
Upside-Down Magic
Sticks & Stones
Book 2
Strange and completely unpredictable things are happening in the halls of Dunwiddle Magic School, and the students in the Upside-Down Magic class are getting blamed for every single mess. Sure, maybe Marigold accidentally shrank a classmate down to the size of a tiny gerbil. And yes, it is true that nobody was fully prepared for Nory to transform into a squippy, which is a highly unusual combination of a squid and a puppy. Her paws and tentacles simply got mixed up during the shift.
Then there is Bax, who suffers from the unfortunate magical condition of turning into a solid rock whenever he gets nervous. Even though his rocky transformations are a massive inconvenience, Bax swears he has absolutely nothing to do with the strange stone magic disrupting the school. When magical accidents start spiraling out of control, it is far too easy for everyone to point fingers at the kids with the wonkiest powers. But Nory, Bax, and their friends refuse to take the blame. They must work together to investigate the real source of the chaos and clear their names before something permanently disastrous happens to their school.
9-12 Years
208 Pages
N/A
/5
Pack your bags for a journey into the unexpected. This gripping collection brings together top young adult authors to explore a universal teenage experience—the family vacation—with a distinctly supernatural twist.
From tropical beaches to ancient European towns, these five unique short stories reveal what happens when ordinary trips take a sharp turn into the paranormal. Follow a teen witch whose sunny getaway is ruined by a centuries-old grudge, navigate a cruise ship populated by undead passengers, and witness a chilling madness born from the French Revolution reaching across time.
Blending dark comedy, creeping dread, and unexpected romance, these tales prove that lost luggage and bad sunburns are the least of your worries when magic is involved. It is a thrilling, suspenseful ride that explores the spooky side of summer breaks and will make you think twice about your next holiday destination.
13-18 Years
288 Pages
N/A
/5
A Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers
Have you ever wondered where to find hope, especially when things feel a little tough? This special book brings together many amazing writers, like Matt de la Peña and R.L. Stine, to share their own true stories and thoughts about where hope comes from and how it helps us.
You'll discover that hope can be found all around you! It might be in your loving family, with your good friends, at your school, or even deep inside your own heart. Journey through tales about a cozy family restaurant, a fun car shaped like a hot dog, or happy holiday times in a classroom. Each story reminds you that no matter what challenges you face, hope is always there to light the way. These inspiring messages show that even in the darkest moments, hope wins!
9-12 Years
208 Pages
N/A
/5
