Daniel Kraus (author)

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Daniel Kraus
10.13.12DanielKrausByLuigiNovi.jpg
Born (1975-06-07) June 7, 1975 (age 50)
Midland, Michigan, U.S.
Notable work
Website danielkraus.com

Daniel Kraus (born 1975) is an American author known for his collaborations with George A. Romero and Guillermo del Toro. He published his first novel, The Monster Variations, with Delacorte Press in 2009. As of November 2025, he has published 22 novels and 3 graphic novels, with a non-fiction book scheduled for released in 2026. He is author the author of Whalefall (2023) and co-author of The Living Dead (2020) with George A. Romero.

Contents

In 2012, Kraus was became the Booklist Books for Youth editor at the American book review magazine, Booklist . [1]

Kraus was born June 7, 1975, in Midland, Michigan, and grew up in Fairfield, Iowa.[ citation needed ] He lives in Chicago with his wife. [2]

Selected books

The Monster Variations (2009)

Kraus's debut novel, The Monster Variations, was published with Delacorte Press on August 11, 2009. [3] [4] The New York Public Library included the novel on their list of "100 Best Stuff for Teens" in 2010. [5]

Rotters (2011)

Krau's second novel, Rotters , was published by Delacorte in on April 5, 2011. [6] [7] [8] [9] The novel was well received by critics. It won the Parents' Choice Award Gold Award, [10] and was a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award. [11] Booklist and the The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books named it among the year's best books. [12] [13] The audiobook narrated by American actor Kirby Heyborne won the 2012 Odyssey Award. [14] The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) included it on their list of Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. [15] [16]

Scowler (2013)

Scowlers was published by Delacorte in March 2013. [17] [18] Booklist included the novel on their list of the year's "Top 10 Horror Fiction for Youth", and YALSA included on their list of the year's Best Fiction for Young Adults. [19] The audiobook narrated by Kirby Heyborne was also well received. Booklist included it among their 2013 "Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Youth" and 2014 list of the "Top 10 SF, Fantasy, and Horror Audiobooks for Youth", and YALSA named it among their 2014 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. It also won the 2014 Odyssey Award. [20] [21]

Trollhunters (2015)

Kraus co-authored Trollhunters with Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, publishing the novel with Disney/Hyperion in July 2015. [22] [23] [24] The Association for Library Service to Children named the audiobook narrated by American actor Kirby Heyborne on their 2016 list of Notable Children's Recordings; [25] YALSA also included it on their top ten list of Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. [26]

The novel was adapted into the Netflix animated series of the same name. [27]

Death and Life of Zebulon Finch (2015-16)

The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch duology, consists of At the Edge of Empire (2015) and Empire Decayed (2016). [28] [29] Entertainment Weekly included the first volume on their list of the best books of 2015. [30]

Whalefall (2023)

Whalefall was published by MTV Entertainment Studios in August 2023. [31] [32] Booklist included the novel on their list of the year's "Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror", [33] and Shelf Awareness named it among the ten best adult novels of the year. [34] It also won a 2024 Alex Award from YALSA. [35] [36]

The novel is being adapted into a film of the same name. [37]

Angel Down (2025)

Angel Down was published by Atria in July 2025. [38] The audiobook is narrated by American actor Kirby Heyborne. [39] The New York Times included the novel on their list of the year's "100 Notable Books", [40] and Booklist included it on their list of the year's "Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror". [41]

Awards and honors

Three of Kraus's books are Junior Library Guild selections: Scowler (2013), [42] The Shape of Water (2018), [43] and Bent Heavens (2020). [44]

Awards for Kraus's books
YearTitleAwardResultRef.
2011Rotters Bram Stoker Award for Best Young Adult Novel Nominee [11]
2012 Odyssey Award Winner [14]
Parents' Choice Award Gold
2014ScowlerOdyssey AwardWinner [45]
2019The Shape of Water Scribe Award for Adapted Novel Winner [46]
2020Bent HeavensBram Stoker Award for Best Young Adult NovelNominee [47]
2022They Stole Our Hearts Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel Winner [48]
2024Whalefall Alex Awards Winner [35]

Publications

Novels

Standalone

  • Kraus, Daniel (2009). The Monster Variations. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN   978-0-385-73733-3.
  • Kraus, Daniel (2011). Rotters. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN   978-0-385-73857-6.
  • Kraus, Daniel (2013). Scowler. Westminster: Random House Children's Books. ISBN   978-0-385-74309-9.
  • Kraus, Daniel (2019). Blood Sugar. London: Titan Books. ISBN   978-1-78909-193-9.
  • Kraus, Daniel (2020). Bent Heavens. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN   978-1-250-15167-4.
  • Moalem, Sharon; Daniel Kraus (2022). Wrath. Union Square & Co. ISBN   978-1-4549-4522-2. [49]
  • Kraus, Daniel (2022). The Ghost That Ate Us: The Tragic True Story of the Burger City Poltergeist. Bowie: Raw Dog Screaming Press. ISBN   978-1-947879-55-3. [50]
  • Kraus, Daniel (2023). Whalefall . New York: MTV Entertainment Books. ISBN   978-1-6659-1816-9.
  • Kraus, Daniel (2025). Angel Down. New York: Atria Books. ISBN   978-1-6680-6845-8.
  • Kraus, Daniel; Dani (2025). Athanasia. Vault. ISBN   978-1-63849-281-8. [51]

Death and Life of Zebulon Finch duology

  • Kraus, Daniel (2016). The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume 1: At the Edge of Empire. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN   978-1-4814-1139-4.
  • Kraus, Daniel (2016). The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume 2: Empire Decayed. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN   978-1-4814-1142-4.

Filmmaker collaborations

The Graveyard Girls trilogy

The Graveyard Girls trilogy is co-authored by Canadian writer Lisi Harrison.

The Teddies Saga

The Teddies saga is illustrated by Australian artist Rovina Cai. [58]

  • Kraus, Daniel (2020). They Threw Us Away. Illustrated by Rovina Cai. New York: Henry Holt Books and Company. ISBN   978-1-250-22440-8. [59]
  • Kraus, Daniel (2021). They Stole Our Hearts. Illustrated by Rovina Cai. New York: Henry Holt Books and Company. ISBN   978-1-250-22442-2. [60]
  • Kraus, Daniel (2022). They Set the Fire. Illustrated by Rovina Cai. New York: Henry Holt Books and Company. ISBN   978-1-250-22444-6. [61]

Graphic Novels/Comics

Nonfiction

References

  1. ↑ "Daniel Kraus named new Booklist Books for Youth Editor". American Library Association . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  2. ↑ "About". Daniel Kraus. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  3. ↑ "The Monster Variations". Kirkus Reviews . July 15, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Children's Book Review: The Monster Variations by Daniel Kraus". Publishers Weekly . August 24, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  5. ↑ Donovan, Ryan (March 22, 2010). "Highlight from Stuff for the Teen Age 2010 List – The Monster Variations". The New York Public Library . Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Rotters". Kirkus Reviews . March 15, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  7. ↑ Wilkinson, Emily Colette (May 13, 2011). "I Was A Teenage Grave Robber: Daniel Kraus's Rotters". The Millions. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Book Review: Rotters by Daniel Kraus". The Book Smugglers. April 20, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Review: Rotters by Daniel Kraus". Dark Faerie Tales. Retrieved January 10, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ↑ "Rotters" Archived 2013-01-31 at the Wayback Machine . Parents' Choice
  11. 1 2 "2011 Stoker Winners". Locus Online . April 2, 2012. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  12. ↑ Rotters, by Kraus, Daniel – Booklist Online . Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  13. ↑ "BCCB-2011 BLUE RIBBONS". Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  14. 1 2 "Odyssey Award 2012". Young Adult Library Services Association . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults: 2012". Booklist . March 1, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Rotters". American Library Association . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Daniel Kraus' 'Scowler' ratchets up the intensity". Chicago Tribune . March 16, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Book Review: Scowler by Daniel Kraus". School Library Journal . Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  19. ↑ Engberg, Gillian (March 14, 2013). "Scowler". Booklist . Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  20. ↑ Beauregard, Sue-Ellen (June 1, 2013). "Scowler". Booklist . Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  21. ↑ "2014 Odyssey Winner and Honor Recordings". American Library Association . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Trollhunters" . Booklist . May 15, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Trollhunters by Guillermo del Toro & Daniel Kraus | SLJ Review". School Library Journal. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  24. ↑ Anders, Charlie Jane. "First Look At Guillermo Del Toro's YA Horror Novel, Trollhunters!". io9. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Notable Children's Recordings: 2016". Booklist . March 1, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults: 2016". Booklist . March 1, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  27. ↑ Osborn, Alex (April 9, 2018) [2016-01-05]. "New Netflix Animated Series Include Voltron and Guillermo del Toro's Trollhunters". IGN . Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  28. ↑ "At the Edge of Empire". Kirkus Reviews . July 14, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Empire Decayed". Kirkus Reviews . August 1, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  30. ↑ "10 Best (And 5 Worst!) Books of 2015". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Whalefall by Daniel Kraus". Publishers Weekly . May 22, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  32. ↑ Spratford, Becky (May 1, 2023). "Whalefall". Booklist . Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  33. ↑ Maguire, Susan (August 2023). "Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror: 2023". Booklist . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Shelf Awareness's Best Adult Books of 2023". Shelf Awareness . November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  35. 1 2 "Alex Awards: 2024". Booklist . March 15, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Young Adult Library Services Association announces 2024 Alex Awards". American Library Association . January 22, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  37. ↑ Grober, Matt. "Imagine Entertainment Pre-emptively Secures Film Rights To Daniel Kraus' Anticipated Novel Whalefall". Deadline. Deadline. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  38. ↑ Spratford, Becky (May 1, 2025). "Angel Down". Booklist . Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Angel Down". Booklist . October 1, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  40. ↑ "100 Notable Books of 2025". New York Times . November 25, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  41. ↑ Maguire, Susan (June 1, 2025). "Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror: 2025". Booklist . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Scowler". Junior Library Guild . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  43. ↑ "The Shape of Water". Junior Library Guild . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Bent Heavens". Junior Library Guild . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  45. ↑ "2014 Odyssey Winner and Honor Recordings". Young Adult Library Services Association . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  46. ↑ "The Thirteenth Annual Scribe Awards (2019)". International Association of Media Tie-In Writers. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  47. ↑ Templeton, Molly (June 1, 2021). "Announcing the 2020 Bram Stoker Awards Winners". Tor.com . Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  48. ↑ "The 2022 Bram Stoker Awards® Winners". Locus Online . June 19, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Wrath by Daniel Kraus, Sharon Moalem". Publishers Weekly . July 20, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  50. ↑ Spratford, Becky (May 1, 2022). "The Ghost that Ate Us: The Tragic True Story of the Burger City Poltergeist". Booklist . Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  51. ↑ "Athanasia by Daniel Kraus". Publishers Weekly . October 7, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  52. ↑ Breznican, Anthony (February 14, 2018). "Daniel Kraus will complete George A. Romero's unfinished 'The Living Dead' novel". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  53. ↑ "The Living Dead". Kirkus Reviews . March 29, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  54. ↑ "Pay the Piper" . Booklist . July 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  55. ↑ "1-2-3-4, I Declare a Thumb War". Kirkus Reviews . June 21, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  56. ↑ "Scream for the Camera". Kirkus Reviews . August 23, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  57. ↑ "Season's Eatings". Kirkus Reviews . July 19, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  58. ↑ "The Teddies Saga". Macmillan Publishers. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  59. ↑ "They Threw Us Away". Kirkus Reviews . June 29, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  60. ↑ "They Stole Our Hearts". Kirkus Reviews . July 26, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  61. ↑ "They Set the Fire". Kirkus Reviews . October 10, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  62. ↑ Hong, Terry (September 15, 2021). "The Autumnal: The Complete Series". Booklist . Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  63. ↑ "Partially Devoured". Kirkus Reviews . October 24, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
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