Ursula Le Guin took children’s fantasy to new lands with the six Books of Earthsea—which told the stories of a wizard-filled world of seas and islands—selling millions of copies in the U.S. and England. Born in California, but having lived in Oregon since the 1950s, the 82-year-old author started her Earthsea series in the late 1960s, creating a name in the children’s fantasy world, even if some argued at the time that the books should not be classified as children’s literature because of the intense magic subject matter. Her third novel in the series, The Farthest Shore, took home the National Book Award for children’s literature. But Le Guin also wrote dozens of novels that dove into issues like gender roles and class status. Her Hainish Cycle adult works are some of her most popular, using the fantasy world of Hain to discuss the role of social order in shaping a lasting society.
J.K. Rowling and 6 Other Children’s Authors Who ‘Graduated’ to Adult Books
J.K. Rowling's new novel, 'The Casual Vacancy', hits shelves tomorrow. How will the author's foray into adult lit stack up against these other beloved children's authors?