PRESS KIT

BIOS

THE SHORT VERSION

Hanna Alkaf is an internationally bestselling, critically acclaimed author of books for kids and teens, including THE WEIGHT OF OUR SKY, THE GIRL AND THE GHOST, QUEEN OF THE TILES, HAMRA & THE JUNGLE OF MEMORIES and THE HYSTERICAL GIRLS OF ST. BERNADETTE’S. She is also co-editor of the YA anthology THE GRIMOIRE OF GRAVE FATES, co-creator and author of the MG horror series TALES FROM CABIN 23, and editor of the upcoming MG Southeast Asian fantasy anthology THE BEASTS BENEATH THE WINDS. Hanna graduated with a degree in journalism from Northwestern University, and is a Freeman Award winner and a Kirkus Prize finalist. She lives in Kuala Lumpur with her family.

THE SLIGHTLY LONGER VERSION

Hanna Alkaf is the internationally bestselling, critically acclaimed author of THE WEIGHT OF OUR SKY, THE GIRL AND THE GHOST, QUEEN OF THE TILES, HAMRA & THE JUNGLE OF MEMORIES, and THE HYSTERICAL GIRLS OF ST. BERNADETTE’S. She has also contributed to the award-winning MG anthology ONCE UPON AN EID, co-created and co-edited the magic school murder mystery anthology THE GRIMOIRE OF GRAVE FATES with Margaret Owen, and co-created the diverse MG horror series TALES FROM CABIN 23 with Justina Ireland. She graduated with a degree in journalism from Northwestern University and spent several years working in Chicago as an online copywriter before coming home to be with her family. She’s been a senior writer at Marie Claire Malaysia, the communications manager of education non-profit Teach For Malaysia, and a freelance journalist. Her articles have appeared in the Malaysian iterations of Marie Claire, Shape, and Esquire, as well as a host of other media both print and online. Her books have gotten starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist, have been Indie Next Picks and Junior Library Guild selections, have been included in various state award lists, and have earned a Kirkus Prize nomination and a Freeman Award.

Hanna now spends her time making it up as she goes along, both as an author of fiction and as a mom. She lives in Kuala Lumpur with her family. Her upcoming projects include the Southeast Asian MG fantasy anthology THE BEASTS BENEATH THE WINDS (editor and author, Abrams, Spring 2025).

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