Donna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children’s and YA fiction. She loves to garden and bake bread, and even dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist.
She has five children, seven grandchildren, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT.
She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), the University of Newcastle (UK), the University of Venice at Ca’ Foscari (Italy), and the Siena School for the Liberal Arts (Italy) as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and held a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin. In the area of linguistics, she has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited 17 books, ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people.
She has held grants and fellowships from numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Sloan Foundation.
Books in order of publication:
Young Adult novels
The Magic Circle, 1993 Dutton Penguin, 1995 Puffin Books (Paperback)
Zel, 1996 Dutton Penguin, 1998 Puffin Books (Paperback)
Song of the Magdalene, 1996 Scholastic, 1998 (Paperback), 2004 Simon & Schuster (Paperback)
Stones in Water, 1997, 1999 (Paperback) Dutton Penguin
For the Love of Venice, 1998, 2000 (Paperback) Delacorte Press
Sirena, 1998, 2000 (Paperback) Scholastic
Spinners, 1999, 2001 (Paperback) Dutton Penguin
Crazy Jack, 1999, 2001 (Paperback) Delacorte Press
North, 2004, 2005 (Paperback) Greenwillow
Bound, 2004, 2006 Simon & Schuster
The King of Mulberry Street, 2005, 2007 (Paperback) Delacorte Press
Fire in the Hills, 2006, 2008 (Paperback) Dutton Press
Hush: An Irish Princess’ Tale, 2007, 2008 (Paperback) Simon & Schuster
The Smile, 2008, 2009 (Paperback) Dutton Press
Alligator Bayou, 2009, 2010 (Paperback) Random House
The Wager, 2010, 2014 (Paperback) Henry Holt and Company
Skin, 2013 Skyscape
Storm, 2014 Simon & Schuster
Hidden: An Irish Princess’ Tale, 2014 Paula Wiseman Books
Dark Shimmer, 2015 Random House
Beast, 2000, 2002 (Paperback) Simon & Schuster
Daughter of Venice, 2002, 2003 (Paperback) Delacorte Press
The Great God Pan, 2003, 2005 (Paperback) Delacorte Press
Breath, 2003, 2005 (Paperback) Simon & Schuster
North, 2004, 2005 (Paperback) Greenwillow
Bound, 2004, 2006 Simon & Schuster
The King of Mulberry Street, 2005, 2007 (Paperback) Delacorte Press
Fire in the Hills, 2006, 2008 (Paperback) Dutton Press
Hush: An Irish Princess’ Tale, 2007, 2008 (Paperback) Simon & Schuster
The Smile, 2008, 2009 (Paperback) Dutton Press
Alligator Bayou, 2009, 2010 (Paperback) Random House
The Wager, 2010, 2014 (Paperback) Henry Holt and Company
Skin, 2013 Skyscape
Storm, 2014 Simon & Schuster
Hidden: An Irish Princess’ Tale, 2014 Paula Wiseman Books
Dark Shimmer, 2015 Random House
Elementary- and middle-school novels
Soccer Shock, 1991 Dutton Penguin, 1993 Puffin Books (Paperback)
The Prince of the Pond, 1992 Dutton Penguin, 1994 Puffin Books (Paperback)
When the Water Closes over my Head, 1994 Dutton Penguin, 1996 Puffin Books (Paperback)
Shark Shock, 1994 Dutton Penguin, 1997 Puffin Books (Paperback)
The Bravest Thing, 1995 Dutton Penguin, 1997 Puffin Books (Paperback)
Jimmy, the Pickpocket of the Palace, 1995 Dutton Penguin, 1997 Puffin Books (Paperback)
On Guard, 1997 Dutton Penguin, 1999 Puffin Books (Paperback)
Trouble on the Tracks, 1998 Scholastic
Changing Tunes, 1998 Dutton Penguin, 2000 Puffin Books (Paperback)
Shelley Shock, 2000 Dutton Penguin, 2002 Puffin Books (Paperback)
Three Days, 2001 Dutton Penguin, 2003 Puffin Books (Paperback)
Gracie, the Pixie of the Puddle, 2004 Dutton Penguin
Sly the Sleuth and the Pet Mysteries, 2005 Dial Press, 2007 Scholastic (Paperback)
Ugly, 2006, 2008 (Paperback) Hyperion Books
Sly the Sleuth and the Sports Mysteries, 2006 Dial Press
Sly the Sleuth and the Food Mysteries, 2007 Dial Press
Mogo, the Third Warthog, 2008 Hyperion Books
Sly the Sleuth and the Code Mysteries, 2009 Dial Press
Picture books and early readers
The Hero of Barletta, Illustrations by Dana Gustafson, Carolrhoda Books, 1988
Albert, Illustrations by Jim LaMarche, Harcourt, 2001
How Hungry are You?, Illustrations by Amy Walrod, Simon & Schuster, 2001
Rocky, the Cat who Barks, Illustrations by Tamara Petrosino, Dutton Children’s Books, 2002
Flamingo Dream, Illustrated by Cathie Felstead, Greenwillow, 2002
Hotel Jungle, Illustrations by Kenneth J. Spengler, Mondo Publishing 2004
Pink Magic, Illustrations by Chad Cameron, Clarion Books, 2005
Bobby the Bold, Illustrations by Ard Hoyt, Dial Books for Young Readers, 2006
The Wishing Club: A Story About Fractions, Illustrations by Anna Currey, Henry Holt and Company, 2007
Lights On The Nile, 2011 HarperCollins
Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters, 2011 National Geographic
Treasury of Egyptian Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters & Mortals, 2013 National Geographic
Treasury of Norse Mythology: Stories Of Intrigue, Trickery, Love & Revenge, 2015 National Geographic
Tales From the Arabian Nights: Stories of Adventure, Magic, Love, and Betrayal, 2016 National Geographic
Treasury of Bible Stories, 2019 National Geographic
Treasury of Magical Tales From Around the World, 2021 National Geographic
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