Kacen Callender

About Kacen Callender

Kacen Callender (they/them and he/him) was born on September 19, 1989, in St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. They are Black, queer, and trans, and draw extensively on those identities in fiction aimed at young readers who may be navigating similar experiences. Callender earned a bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College and a master of fine arts degree from The New School in New York City. They previously published under the name Kheryn Callender.

Callender's debut middle grade novel, Hurricane Child (2018), followed a twelve-year-old girl in St. Thomas who discovers she can see ghosts as she tries to find her missing mother. The book was praised for its authentic Caribbean setting, its centering of a queer Black girl protagonist, and its portrayal of childhood grief and resilience. Their novel Felix Ever After (2020) received wide acclaim for its portrayal of a Black, trans, and queer high school student navigating identity and first love—one of the first YA novels to center a trans Black protagonist. That same year, King and the Dragonflies won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, making Callender one of the very few authors to win major awards for both middle grade and young adult fiction. Lark and Kasim Start a Revolution (2022) followed, a YA novel about a nonbinary teenager who accidentally goes viral online.

Their Most Challenged Works

Felix Ever After has been among the most frequently challenged books in the United States in recent years, cited for LGBTQ+ content—particularly its portrayal of a trans protagonist navigating his identity and a same-sex romance—as well as for profanity and sexual content. Challengers have argued that the book's affirmative portrayal of gender transition and queer relationships is inappropriate for young readers. Advocates note that trans young people face disproportionate rates of mental health crisis, family rejection, and suicidal ideation, and that books like Felix Ever After, which present trans identity as survivable and joyful, serve a critical purpose. Hurricane Child has also been challenged for its LGBTQ+ themes.

Recognition

In addition to the National Book Award, Callender has received multiple starred reviews from major publications, including Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews, for several of their titles. They are a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ youth and have spoken at events about the importance of diverse representation in children's and young adult literature.