Picture a storyteller who weaves hope into the darkest corners of young adult fiction—meet Rocky Callen! A critically acclaimed author and passionate mental health advocate, Callen burst onto the literary scene with her haunting debut, A Breath Too Late. With a life rooted in service and storytelling, she crafts novels that resonate with teens and adults alike, offering a lifeline through raw, lyrical narratives.
Born to an Ecuadorian immigrant mother, Callen’s journey is as inspiring as her books. From lobbying Congress at 13 to founding initiatives like the HoldOn2Hope Project, she’s a force of creativity and compassion, blending her experiences as a behavioral therapist into stories that tackle tough topics with grace.
The Making of Rocky Callen
Rocky Callen’s early life was a whirlwind of advocacy and ambition. By 12, she was interning at NASA, and by 14, she was producing radio stories for NPR. Growing up outside Washington, DC, she began advocating for undocumented immigrants at 13, a testament to her lifelong commitment to service. Her decade as a behavioral therapist shaped her understanding of mental health, while an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts honed her craft. These experiences fueled her storytelling, blending empathy with unflinching honesty.
Rocky Callen’s Unforgettable Stories
Callen’s debut, A Breath Too Late (2020), is a gut-wrenching young adult novel told in an epistolary style. It follows Ellie, a teen who dies by suicide and witnesses the aftermath, piecing together her life’s joys and sorrows. Praised as a Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book, it’s a raw exploration of depression and hope, lauded for its lyrical prose and sensitive handling of heavy themes.
Her follow-up, Crashing Into You (2024), shifts gears to a vibrant YA contemporary romance with street-racing flair. Centering on a Latina protagonist and an autistic love interest, it tackles grief and identity with a Fast & Furious vibe, earning two starred reviews. Callen also co-edited Ab(solutely) Normal (2023), a mental health anthology smashing stereotypes. Her upcoming picture books with Simon & Schuster signal her versatility. Her style—poetic, heartfelt, and unflinchingly real—makes her a standout in YA fiction.
Why Rocky Callen Matters
Rocky Callen’s impact transcends her books. Through the Bleed Ink Foundation, she nurtures writers, while the HoldOn2Hope Project unites creatives for suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Her stories, rooted in her own struggles with depression, offer teens a mirror for their pain and a beacon of hope. As a Latinx author, she amplifies diverse voices, making YA literature richer and more inclusive. Her work reminds readers that even in darkness, light persists.
- Birthplace: Outside Washington, DC
- Key Works: A Breath Too Late, Crashing Into You, Ab(solutely) Normal
- Awards: Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book (2020), Chicago Public Library Best Book
Snag A Breath Too Late and dive into Rocky Callen’s lyrical, life-affirming world!