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author Reading Order

Annie Barrows Books in Order

23 Books
5 Series & collections
2006 – 2022 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start Reading Annie Barrows

Annie Barrows is an incredibly versatile writer, meaning the best place to start depends entirely on who is reading. Because she writes for different age groups and in vastly different genres, readers should pick their entry point based on these recommendations:

  • For Early Readers (Ages 6–9): Start with the first book of her signature series, Ivy and Bean (2006). It establishes the unlikely but enduring friendship of the two titular characters.
  • For Middle-Grade Readers (Ages 8–12): Start with The Magic Half (2007). This is a charming time-travel fantasy that is highly engaging and has a direct sequel. Alternatively, for kids who love humorous troublemakers, The Best of Iggy (2020) is an excellent choice.
  • For Young Adults: Grab her standalone novel Nothing (2017), which centers on two fifteen-year-old best friends trying to survive a summer where seemingly nothing happens.
  • For Adult Readers: Begin with the international bestseller The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2008), co-authored with her aunt Mary Ann Shaffer. This beloved epistolary novel is a warm, witty, and moving look at life under German occupation during World War II.

Ivy & Bean Books in Order

The Ivy & Bean series is Annie Barrows's most famous children's creation, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. The books are episodic, meaning each tells a self-contained story about these two polar-opposite best friends. While they can technically be read standalone, we recommend reading them in publication order to see how their friendship develops from the very first day.

  1. Ivy and Bean (2006)
  2. The Ghost That Had to Go (2006)
  3. Break the Fossil Record (2007)
  4. Take Care of the Babysitter (2008)
  5. Bound to be Bad (2008)
  6. Doomed to Dance (2009)
  7. What's the Big Idea? (2010)
  8. No News Is Good News (2011)
  9. Make the Rules (2012)
  10. Take the Case (2013)
  11. One Big Happy Family (2018)
  12. Get to Work! (2021)

Iggy Frangi Books in Order

Written for slightly older kids who have graduated from Ivy and Bean, the Iggy books follow the comedic misadventures of a fourth-grade boy named Iggy who has a talent for getting into trouble (though he rarely intends to). These books should be read in order of publication as they follow Iggy's growing maturity and changing relationships.

  1. The Best of Iggy (2020)
  2. Iggy Is Better Than Ever (2020)
  3. Iggy Is the Hero of Everything (2021)
  4. Iggy the Legend (2022)
  5. Iggy Rules the Animal Kingdom (2023)

Miri and Molly (The Magic Half) Series

This middle-grade series blends family dynamics with time travel. Because the plot of the second book relies heavily on the time-travel mechanics, family secrets, and characters established in the first, you must read these in chronological order.

  1. The Magic Half (2007) – Miri moves into a new house and finds a portal to 1935 in her attic, where she meets a girl named Molly.
  2. Magic in the Mix (2014) – Miri and Molly are back, but this time they are sent even further back in time, landing in the American Civil War era.

Stella & Marigold Books in Order

Launched in 2024, this early chapter book series reunites Annie Barrows with illustrator Sophie Blackall. The books follow the daily lives and wild imaginations of two sisters, seven-year-old Stella and four-year-old Marigold. They are best read in order of release.

  1. Stella & Marigold (2024)
  2. Stella & Marigold: Mermaids and Mix-Ups (2024)
  3. Stella & Marigold: Past and Presents (2025)

Adult Fiction & Standalone Books

In addition to her children's series, Annie Barrows has written acclaimed standalone novels for older audiences. Unlike her children's series, these can be read in any order.

  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2008) – A co-authored epistolary novel. Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie's aunt, became terminally ill before finishing the manuscript and asked Annie to step in to complete the book. It was later adapted into a 2018 film.
  • The Truth According to Us (2015) – A historical fiction novel set during the Great Depression in West Virginia, focusing on a family history, secrets, and a young woman writing a town history for the Federal Writers' Project.
  • Nothing (2017) – A young adult novel about two teenagers who set out to write a book about their boring lives, only to realize that real life is more complicated than it seems.

Picture Books

For the youngest readers, Barrows has penned standalone picture books that explore perspective and friendship. They can be read at any time:

  • What John Marco Saw (2019) – A story about a young boy who notices the small details in the world that adults miss.
  • Like (2022) – An interactive picture book exploring the similarities and differences between humans, animals, and objects.

Frequently Asked

QCan the Ivy and Bean books be read out of order?

Yes. The Ivy and Bean books are self-contained stories. However, it is highly recommended to start with the first book, Ivy and Bean, to understand how they became friends. After that, you can jump around without losing track of the plot.

QHow did Annie Barrows come to write The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society?

The novel was originally written by Annie's aunt, Mary Ann Shaffer. When Shaffer fell seriously ill and was unable to complete the edits requested by the publisher, she asked Barrows, an experienced editor and author, to step in and finish the book for her.

QIs there a sequel to The Magic Half?

Yes, the sequel is titled Magic in the Mix (2014). It features the same main characters, Miri and Molly, as they embark on another time-travel adventure to the Civil War era.

QHow many books are in the Iggy series?

There are five books in the series, starting with The Best of Iggy (2020) and ending with Iggy Rules the Animal Kingdom (2023).

QWhat is the Stella & Marigold series about?

It is an early chapter book series featuring two sisters, Stella and Marigold. It focuses on their sibling relationship and imaginative play, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, who also illustrated the Ivy and Bean series.