Alexandra Bracken | |
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![]() Bracken at the 2023 Texas Book Festival | |
Born | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | February 27, 1987
Occupation | Author |
Alma mater | Chaparral High School College of William & Mary |
Genre | Young-adult fantasy |
Notable works | The Darkest Minds, Passenger, Lore |
Website | |
alexandrabracken |
Alexandra Bracken (born February 27, 1987) is a #1 New York Times bestselling American author known for The Darkest Minds series and Passenger series.
Alexandra Bracken was born in Phoenix, Arizona,[1] where she later returned after living in New York City for many years. She graduated from Chaparral High School in 2005, and attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in History and English in May 2009.[2] She worked in the children's publishing industry in New York City, first as an editorial assistant and then in marketing.[3]
Bracken wrote her first unpublished novel as a college freshman, and began her debut novel, Brightly Woven, as a birthday present for her friend during her sophomore year when she was nineteen.[4] In their review of the book, Publishers Weekly dubbed Bracken "a debut author to watch."[5] Her debut placed third in the 2010 GoodReads Choice Awards for Best Debut Author.[6]
In 2012, Disney Hyperion published the near-future, young adult thriller The Darkest Minds, the first book in the eponymous series. In 2018 The Darkest Minds was adapted into a feature film.
On November 13, 2014, Bracken was announced as the writer for Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farmboy, a novelization of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Bracken replaced R.J. Palacio who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.[7]
Passenger was released in January 2016, and its sequel Wayfarer was released in January 2017.[8] Both books debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestsellers list.[9][10]
Her novel Lore has been optioned for film by Universal Pictures with Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse attached to write the screenplay.[11]