Michelle Barker

Last updated
Michelle Barker
Born1964 (age 60–61)
Vancouver
OccupationAuthor, editor, educator
LanguageEnglish
NationalityCanadian
EducationMFA in Creative Writing, University of British Columbia
Notable worksThe House of One Thousand Eyes
Notable awardsAmy Mathers Teen Book Award (2019)

Michelle Barker (born 1964) is a Canadian author, poet, editor, and educator. She writes for young adults, children, and adults, across historical fiction, fantasy, picture books, poetry, and non-fiction. She is a senior editor with the editing collective Darling Axe. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Barker earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. [2] [3]

Career

Literary work

Barker's young adult novel The House of One Thousand Eyes (2018, Annick Press) was named a Kirkus Best Book of 2018. [4] She followed with My Long List of Impossible Things (2020, Annick Press) and the picture book A Year of Borrowed Men (2015, Pajama Press), which was a finalist for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. [5] Her earlier works include The Beggar King (2013, Thistledown Press) and the poetry chapbook Old Growth, Clear-Cut: Poems of Haida Gwaii (2012, Leaf Press). [3]

Reception and awards

Barker won the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award in 2019 for The House of One Thousand Eyes. [6]

The House of One Thousand Eyes received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal. [7] [8] It was also named to Kirkus Reviews' list of Best Young Adult Books of 2018. [9]

A Year of Borrowed Men drew praise from Quill & Quire for its portrayal of wartime life through a child's perspective, [10] and was a finalist for the 2016 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. [11]

Other roles

Barker works as a senior editor with the Darling Axe and contributes poetry, short fiction, and non-fiction to literary journals internationally. [3]

Personal life

She lives in Vancouver, Canada, and participates in triathlons when not writing. [2]

Works

TitleYearPublisherGenre
Old Growth, Clear-Cut: Poems of Haida Gwaii2012Leaf PressPoetry / Chapbook
The Beggar King2013Thistledown PressFantasy
A Year of Borrowed Men2015Pajama PressPicture book / Historical fiction
The House of One Thousand Eyes2018Annick PressYoung adult / Historical fiction
My Long List of Impossible Things2020Annick PressYoung adult / Historical fiction

References

  1. ↑ "Editor profile: Michelle Barker". Darling Axe. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 "About Michelle Barker". Michelle Barker. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Michelle Barker — Writers' Union of Canada". Writers' Union of Canada. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "The House of One Thousand Eyes – Kirkus Reviews". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "A Year of Borrowed Men – Review". Quill & Quire. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Past Winners and Finalists – Amy Mathers Teen Book Award". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  7. ↑ "The House of One Thousand Eyes". Kirkus Reviews. 2018-05-27. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  8. ↑ Hixson, Tyler (2018-10-01). "The House of One Thousand Eyes". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  9. ↑ "Best Young Adult Books of 2018". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  10. ↑ "A Year of Borrowed Men". Quill & Quire. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  11. ↑ "Awards: Kelley Armstrong, Willow Dawson, Ken Oppel among CCBC finalists". Quill & Quire. 2016-09-08. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
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