Karen Hesse Reading Order
1 series · 31 books
Karen Hesse is an acclaimed American author who writes novels for children and teenagers, frequently grounding her stories in historical settings. Her lyrical writing style brought her the Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust, a Depression-era novel told in verse that remains a touchstone of young adult literature. Across her three-decade career, Hesse has crafted deeply emotional, character-driven narratives that explore resilience and human connection during pivotal moments in history.
Standalone Novels Series
Complete31 books
Start with The Music of Dolphins, the first of 31 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Granny and Bean |
| 2 | Literature Guide |
| 3 | My thumb |
| 4 | Night job |
| 5 | Nights with Dad |
| 6 | Pearson Literature--California--Reading and Language |
| 7 | Safekeeping |
| 8 | The Music of Dolphins 1920 |
| 9 | Wish on a Unicorn 1991 |
| 10 | Letters from Rifka 1992 |
| 11 | Lavender 1993 |
| 12 | Lester's dog 1993 |
| 13 | Poppy's Chair 1993 |
| 14 | Sable 1994 |
| 15 | A time of angels 1995 |
| 16 | Out of the Dust 1997 |
| 17 | Lift (LIFT, literature is for thinking) 1998 |
| 18 | Phoenix Rising. 1998 |
| 19 | A Light in the Storm 1999 |
| 20 | Come on, rain 1999 |
| 21 | Just Juice 1999 |
| 22 | Stowaway 2000 |
| 23 | Witness 2001 |
| 24 | Young Nick's Head 2001 |
| 25 | Aleutian sparrow 2003 |
| 26 | The stone lamp 2003 |
| 27 | The cats in Krasinski Square 2004 |
| 28 | Hans Christian Andersen 2005 |
| 29 | The young Hans Christian Andersen 2005 |
| 30 | Brooklyn Bridge 2008 |
| 31 | Spuds 2008 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Karen Hesse written?
- Karen Hesse has written 31 books across 1 series. Their published works span from 1920 to 2008.
- Are Karen Hesse's series complete?
- Karen Hesse has 1 completed series.

