Heather Kassner

Heather Kassner writes middle-grade fantasy with eerie settings, vulnerable protagonists, and questions about what makes a family. The Bone Garden debuted through Henry Holt Books for Young Readers in 2019 and follows Irréelle, a girl created from dust, bone, and imagination by Miss Vesper. Irréelle gathers bone dust beneath a cemetery and fears that one mistake will cause her creator to imagine her away. After defying Miss Vesper, she enters the graveyard’s hidden reaches with other companions and begins to understand that being real is not determined by perfection or another person’s approval. Matt Saunders illustrated the novel, using dark line drawings that complement its fairy-tale atmosphere. Kirkus places the book among fantasy for readers aged eight to twelve and emphasizes its themes of identity, love, and emotional control. Kassner wrote The Forest of Stars and The Plentiful Darkness, continuing her interest in landscapes and children searching for belonging. The Bone Garden balances gothic imagery with an ultimately hopeful account of self-worth and chosen connection.