Annie Barrows
Author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
About the Author
Award winning author Annie Barrows was born in San Diego, California. She graduated from UC Berkeley. After graduation Annie became an editor editing books on a wide-range of topics. After she had edited a couple hundred books, she decided that that she could probably write one herself so she went show more to writing school. After writing several books for adults she decided she'd like to write for children. Annie is the author of the Ivy and Bean Series which have won numerous awards including: 2007 ALA Notable Children's Book, Booklist, Editor's Choice, Best Books of 2007 Kirkus Reviews, The Best Children's Book of 2006, Best Early Chapter Books, Book Links, Best New Books for the Classroom, 2006, New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2006. she is also the co-author of the New York Times bestselling novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Her title The Truth According to Us, also made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Photo by Brook McCormick
Series
Works by Annie Barrows
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society [abridged audiobook] (2008) 124 copies, 26 reviews
What John Marco Saw: (Children?s Self-Esteem Books, Kid?s Picture Books, Cute Children?s Stories) (2019) 17 copies, 1 review
Ivy and Bean Bundle Set 3 (Books 7-9): Books 7-9 (Books about Friendship, Gifts for Young Girls) 2 copies
La societat literària i del pastís de pela de patata de Guernsey. Ed 2023 (NOVEL-LA) (2023) 2 copies
Doomed to Dance 1 copy
The House on First Street 1 copy
Associated Works
The Art of Ramona Quimby: Sixty-Five Years of Illustrations from Beverly Cleary’s Beloved Books (2020) — Contributor — 27 copies, 4 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1962
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- San Diego, California, USA
- Places of residence
- California, USA
- Education
- University of California, Berkeley (medieval history)
Mills College - Occupations
- book editor
- Relationships
- Shaffer, Mary Ann (aunt)
- Organizations
- Chronicle Books
- Short biography
- Annie Barrows grew up in San Anselmo, in Northern California. She is married and has two daughters.
Members
Discussions
The Book Thief and The Guernsey Litereary & Potato Peel Pie Society in Books Compared (October 2013)
Reviews
The Guernsey Library and Potato Peel Pie Society is written by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
Published in 2008, the book was immensely popular and garnered all sorts of prizes and awards. The book is emotional, historical, very life-affirming, joyful, and serendipitous.
I liked the plot, the fact that the story was told in a series of letters, the characters and the moments of heroism in the midst of depravity. There was so much warmth and delight in life. I loved the map (a great addition to any book). I loved, loved, loved the letters.
“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. . . .
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.”
Highly Recommended *****… (more)
Published in 2008, the book was immensely popular and garnered all sorts of prizes and awards. The book is emotional, historical, very life-affirming, joyful, and serendipitous.
I liked the plot, the fact that the story was told in a series of letters, the characters and the moments of heroism in the midst of depravity. There was so much warmth and delight in life. I loved the map (a great addition to any book). I loved, loved, loved the letters.
“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. . . .
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.”
Highly Recommended *****… (more)
Lists
Five star books (1)
Women's Stories (1)
War Literature (1)
Women Writers (1)
Great Audiobooks (1)
Female Author (1)
Indie Next Picks (1)
Women in War (1)
To Read (1)
Epistolary Books (2)
2000s decade (1)
Favourite Books (1)
READ in 2023 (1)
Best Audiobooks (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 55
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 35,977
- Popularity
- #519
- Rating
- 4.1
- Reviews
- 1,630
- ISBNs
- 540
- Languages
- 22
- Favorited
- 2
This is an epistolary novel that takes place in 1946. Juliet Ashton, a writer who had written a series of articles for a London newspaper during WWII, learns about the the experiences of the citizens of Guernsey during the war and makes many new friends.
The Channel Islands were the only British territory occupied by Germany. This is a very moving story about an interesting place in a unique situation.
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The audiobook production of this book is very well done: it is read by several people, which makes the letters very effective.… (more)