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==== Kingdom of Souls ====
==== Kingdom of Souls ====

===== Backstory =====
Barron didn't originally set out to write a [[trilogy]], but found that the story demanded it. She completed the first draft of the story ten years prior to its publication, but put the project on hold after receiving a number of rejections on it. She revisited the story in 2017, rewriting it from the ground up.<ref name=":6" />
Barron didn't originally set out to write a [[trilogy]], but found that the story demanded it. She completed the first draft of the story ten years prior to its publication, but put the project on hold after receiving a number of rejections on it. She revisited the story in 2017, rewriting it from the ground up.<ref name=":6" />


The manuscript, then called ''The Last Witchdoctor'', was showcased during [[Pitch Wars]], a now-defunct online pitch contest for a spring authors, where it became the most-requested manuscript in the history of the six-year contest, having garnered interest by 43 literary agents.<ref name=":5" />
The manuscript, then called ''The Last Witchdoctor'', was showcased during [[Pitch Wars]], a now-defunct online pitch contest for a spring authors, where it became the most-requested manuscript in the history of the six-year contest, having garnered interest by 43 literary agents.<ref name=":5" />


===== Plot =====
Set in a West African-inspire fictional kingdom, it tells the story of a girl failing at magic to the extent that her mother conjures a better daughter, whose magic soon threatens the kingdom.<ref name=":5" />
Set in a West African-inspire fictional kingdom, it tells the story of a girl failing at magic to the extent that her mother conjures a better daughter, whose magic soon threatens the kingdom.<ref name=":5" />


===== Reception =====
''Kingdom of Souls'' ([[HarperCollins|HarperTeen]], 2019) was a Best Fiction for Young Adults selection by [[Young Adult Library Services Association]] (YALSA).<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.booklistonline.com/Best-Fiction-for-Young-Adults-2021/pid=9744798 |title=Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2021 |publisher=[[Booklist]] |date=March 15, 2021 |access-date=April 17, 2023}}</ref> It received a [[starred review]] from ''[[School Library Journal]]''.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Winslow |first=India |date=July 31, 2019 |title=Kingdom of Souls |url=https://www.slj.com/review/kingdom-of-souls |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 17, 2023 |website=[[School Library Journal]]}}</ref>
''Kingdom of Souls'' ([[HarperCollins|HarperTeen]], 2019) was a Best Fiction for Young Adults selection by [[Young Adult Library Services Association]] (YALSA).<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.booklistonline.com/Best-Fiction-for-Young-Adults-2021/pid=9744798 |title=Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2021 |publisher=[[Booklist]] |date=March 15, 2021 |access-date=April 17, 2023}}</ref> It received a [[starred review]] from ''[[School Library Journal]]''.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Winslow |first=India |date=July 31, 2019 |title=Kingdom of Souls |url=https://www.slj.com/review/kingdom-of-souls |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 17, 2023 |website=[[School Library Journal]]}}</ref>


===== Film Adaptation =====
In 2019, [[Michael B. Jordan|Michael B. Jordan's]] Warner Brothers-based production company Outlier Society acquired the movie rights for the first book, with Jordan to produce alongside Alana Mayo and Pouya Shahbazian based on a screenplay by Misanthropist Sagay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Mike Fleming |date=2019-09-18 |title=Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society & Warner Bros Acquire Rena Barron Novel Trilogy ‘Kingdom Of Souls’ |url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/michael-b-jordan-outlier-society-kingdom-of-souls-warner-bros-rena-barron-novel-trilogy-misan-sagay-1202738143/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2019, [[Michael B. Jordan|Michael B. Jordan's]] Warner Brothers-based production company Outlier Society acquired the movie rights for the first book, with Jordan to produce alongside Alana Mayo and Pouya Shahbazian based on a screenplay by Misanthropist Sagay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Mike Fleming |date=2019-09-18 |title=Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society & Warner Bros Acquire Rena Barron Novel Trilogy ‘Kingdom Of Souls’ |url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/michael-b-jordan-outlier-society-kingdom-of-souls-warner-bros-rena-barron-novel-trilogy-misan-sagay-1202738143/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>


Revision as of 13:19, 8 January 2024

Rena Barron is an American author of children's and young adult fiction,[1] best known for her debut young adult fantasy novel Kingdom of Souls.

Personal Life

Barron grew up in small-town Alabama.[2] As a child, she was taught vodun, which served as the inspiration for her debut novel.[3]

Barron lives in Chicago and works at an ad agency.[3]

Career

Barrin wrote her first poem in middle school and wrote her first stories and novels in high school.[4]

She has written two-book series: Kingdom of Souls and Maya the Rising Dark.[5][6]

Kingdom of Souls Series

Kingdom of Souls

Backstory

Barron didn't originally set out to write a trilogy, but found that the story demanded it. She completed the first draft of the story ten years prior to its publication, but put the project on hold after receiving a number of rejections on it. She revisited the story in 2017, rewriting it from the ground up.[4]

The manuscript, then called The Last Witchdoctor, was showcased during Pitch Wars, a now-defunct online pitch contest for a spring authors, where it became the most-requested manuscript in the history of the six-year contest, having garnered interest by 43 literary agents.[3]

Plot

Set in a West African-inspire fictional kingdom, it tells the story of a girl failing at magic to the extent that her mother conjures a better daughter, whose magic soon threatens the kingdom.[3]

Reception

Kingdom of Souls (HarperTeen, 2019) was a Best Fiction for Young Adults selection by Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).[7] It received a starred review from School Library Journal.[8]

Film Adaptation

In 2019, Michael B. Jordan's Warner Brothers-based production company Outlier Society acquired the movie rights for the first book, with Jordan to produce alongside Alana Mayo and Pouya Shahbazian based on a screenplay by Misanthropist Sagay.[9]

Maya and the Rising Dark Series

Maya and the Rising Dark

The first book, Maya and the Rising Dark (HMH Books, 2020), based on West African mythology, tells the story of twelve-year-old Maya who starts seeing fantastical creatures around Chicago and relates that to stories her father told her that she previously dismissed as fiction.[10]

It received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.[11][12]

Works

Kingdom of Souls series

Maya and the Rising Dark series

  • Maya and the Rising Dark. HMH Books, 2020.[11][19][20][12]
  • Maya and the Return of the Godlings. Clarion Books, 2021.[21][22][23]
  • Maya and the Lord of Shadows. Clarion/HarperCollins, 2022.[6]

References

  1. ^ Reyes Lopez, Silvana (October 29, 2019). "An Interview with Rena Barron, Author of Kingdom of Souls". Book Riot. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  2. ^ Barron, Rena. "Bio". Rena Barron. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Kit, Borys (December 12, 2017). "New Leaf Literary Signs Breakout Author Rena Barron (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Comment, Amanda MacGregor Leave a (February 16, 2021). "Tips for Writing A YA Series, a guest post by Rena Barron". Teen Librarian Toolbox. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Master of Souls. Kirkus Reviews. March 29, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Maya and the Lord of Shadows. Kirkus Reviews. September 14, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  7. ^ Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2021. Booklist. March 15, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Winslow, India (July 31, 2019). "Kingdom of Souls". School Library Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  9. ^ Jr, Mike Fleming (September 18, 2019). "Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society & Warner Bros Acquire Rena Barron Novel Trilogy 'Kingdom Of Souls'". Deadline. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  10. ^ read, Anuska G·Books··3 min (August 23, 2020). "Review: Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved January 8, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ a b Maya and the Rising Dark. Kirkus Reviews. February 26, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Mason Smith, Maggie (April 1, 2020). "Maya and the Rising Dark". School Library Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  13. ^ Kingdom of Souls. Kirkus Reviews. June 15, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  14. ^ "Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron". Publishers Weekly. July 11, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  15. ^ Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron. Booklist. September 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  16. ^ Toliver, S. R. (March 23, 2020). "Review of Kingdom of Souls". The Horn Book. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  17. ^ Reaper of Souls. Kirkus Reviews. January 12, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Williams, Ashleigh (March 12, 2021). "Reaper of Souls". School Library Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  19. ^ Marshall, Melanie (September 2020). Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron. Booklist. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  20. ^ Harris, Monique (February 11, 2021). "Review of Maya and the Rising Dark". The Horn Book. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  21. ^ Maya and the Return of the Godlings. Kirkus Reviews. July 13, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  22. ^ Maya and the Return of the Godlings by Rena Barron. Booklist. September 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  23. ^ Mason Smith, Maggie (September 1, 2021). "Maya and the Return of the Godlings". School Library Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2023.



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