Elana K. Arnold Books in Order

Where to Start with Elana K. Arnold

Elana K. Arnold is an exceptionally versatile author whose writing spans from cozy, illustrated early reader chapter books to gritty, award-winning young adult (YA) novels. Because her target audience ranges from five-year-olds to older teens, the best place to start depends entirely on who is reading.

For young readers (ages 6 to 10), the absolute best starting point is the warm-hearted middle-grade novel A Boy Called Bat (2017). This series introduces Bixby Alexander Tam (Bat), an autistic boy who forms a deep bond with an orphaned baby skunk. It is gentle, funny, and deeply empathetic.

For YA readers who appreciate dark, uncompromising contemporary realism and feminist subversions of classic tropes, the best place to start is What Girls Are Made Of (2017), which was a National Book Award Finalist. If you prefer high-concept, dark fantasy, start with Damsel (2018), a Printz Honor-winning subversion of classic dragon-and-princess tales, or its thematic modern companion Red Hood (2020).

For fans of historical fiction, start directly with The Blood Years (2023), an intense, critically acclaimed YA novel set during the Holocaust in Romania, which won both the Sydney Taylor Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award.

The Bixby Alexander Tam (Bat) Series Reading Order

The A Boy Called Bat series is written for middle-grade readers and should be read in chronological order. The books follow Bat's growth at school and at home, tracing his relationships with his family, his classmates, and the animals under his care. While initially envisioned as a trilogy, the series has since expanded with new releases:

1. A Boy Called Bat (2017) - Introduces Bat, his family, and the orphaned baby skunk named Thor that he desperately wants to keep.
2. Bat and the Waiting Game (2018) - Bat learns to navigate waiting for Thor to grow up, alongside changes in his household and friendships.
3. Bat and the End of Everything (2019) - Bat prepares for the eventual release of Thor back into the wild while coping with new responsibilities.
4. Bat and the Business of Ferrets (2025) - Bat enters the fourth grade, adjusts to a classroom without a pet, and tries to convince his new teacher to let a group of veterinary clinic ferrets move in.
5. Bat and the Case of the Yips (2026) - Further adventures in Bat's life as he continues to interact with animals and manage personal growth.

Starla Jean Series Reading Order

Illustrated by A.N. Kang, this series is aimed at emerging readers transitioning to chapter books. Starla Jean is a plucky, energetic girl who gets into mild trouble with her pet chicken, Opal Egg. These books should be read in order of publication:

1. Starla Jean (2021) - Starla Jean catches a chicken in the park and convinces her parents to let her keep it.
2. Starla Jean Takes the Cake (2022) - Starla Jean and Opal Egg set out to help plan her baby sister's birthday party, with humorous results.
3. Starla Jean Cracks the Case (2023) - Starla Jean takes on a neighborhood mystery, enlisting Opal Egg's help to find a missing item.

Just Harriet Series Reading Order

Another fantastic early reader chapter book series, illustrated by Renée Kurilla, features the independent and strong-willed Harriet Wermer. To get the full context of Harriet's summer adventures, read them in order:

1. Just Harriet (2022) - Harriet is sent to spend the summer with her grandmother on Marblehead Island, where she uncovers a family mystery.
2. Harriet Spies (2023) - Harriet continues her island adventures, keeping a close eye on the suspicious characters around her.
3. Harriet Tells the Truth (2024) - Back home for the school year, Harriet must deal with the consequences of her actions when a lie spirals out of control.

The Sacred YA Duology

For teenagers who enjoy contemporary romance, grief exploration, and equestrian themes, Arnold's early YA duology is set on the windswept Catalina Island. These books must be read in order:

1. Sacred (2012) - Focuses on Scarlett, a grieving girl who finds solace in horses and a mysterious boy named Will.
2. Splendor (2013) - Concludes Scarlett's journey as she uncovers family secrets and navigates the complexities of love.

Feminist Companions: Damsel & Red Hood

While Damsel (2018) and Red Hood (2020) are standalone novels set in entirely different universes—one a medieval-style high fantasy and the other a gritty contemporary setting with supernatural undercurrents—the author has stated that they are "in conversation" with each other. They are thematic companions that explore female rage, bodily autonomy, and survival in a patriarchal society. They can be read in any order, but reading them back-to-back provides a powerful comparative look at Arnold's feminist retellings of fairy tales (specifically Rapunzel/Sleeping Beauty tropes and Little Red Riding Hood).

Standalone Novels

Elana K. Arnold has written several acclaimed standalone novels for various age groups. They can be read in any order:

• Burning (2013) - A YA novel exploring a teen girl's summer in a small desert town adjacent to a Burning Man-style festival.
• The Question of Miracles (2014) - A middle-grade novel about a girl named Iris dealing with grief and moving to rainy Oregon, where she meets a boy who believes in miracles.
• Infandous (2015) - A raw, adult-oriented YA novel that uses fairy tales as a framework for a mother-daughter relationship and trauma.
• Far from Fair (2016) - A middle-grade book following a family road trip in an RV, exploring family dynamics, illness, and change.
• The House That Wasn't There (2021) - A middle-grade contemporary fantasy dealing with two neighbors, family connections, and a strange multi-dimensional house.
• The Blood Years (2023) - A historical YA novel based on the survival story of Arnold's grandmother in Holocaust-era Czernowitz, Romania.

What to Know Before You Start

Readers should be aware that Elana K. Arnold's young adult books deal with very mature themes. Novels like What Girls Are Made Of, Infandous, and Red Hood contain explicit discussions of sexuality, trauma, abuse, and abortion. These books have frequently faced challenges and bans in several school districts due to their uncompromising, feminist honesty. Conversely, her middle-grade and early-reader works (like Bat, Starla Jean, and Just Harriet) are entirely family-friendly, gentle, and focused on childhood growth, friendship, and animal care.