Kody Keplinger author page

Kody Keplinger biography

Kody Keplinger was born and raised in a small Kentucky town. She wrote The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend), her first novel, while she was in her senior year of high school. The DUFF was a YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers and a Romantic Times Top Pick.

Keplinger writes for children and teenagers. Her young adult novels include Shut Out and A Midsummer’s Nightmare, and her middle-grade fiction includes The Swift Boys & Me. She is the co-founder of Disability in Kidlit, a project focused on disability representation in children’s literature.

That’s Not What Happened is a young adult realistic fiction novel for readers aged 13 and above. The story follows Lee, a survivor of the Virgil County High School Massacre, as she considers whether to correct a false public story about her friend Sarah’s death three years after the shooting.

Keplinger has also written graphic fiction. Poison Ivy: Thorns, written by Keplinger and illustrated by Sara Kipin, was published by DC Comics on 1 June 2021 for readers aged 13 and above.