Marissa Moss

Marissa Moss is an American author and illustrator best known for her children's book series "Amelia's Notebook," which features the illustrated diary entries of a young girl named Amelia. Since publishing her first book in 1991, Moss has written and illustrated more than 70 children's books across multiple genres, including historical fiction, picture books, and middle-grade novels. The "Amelia's Notebook" series alone comprises over 30 titles and has sold more than 5 million copies. Beyond her signature notebook-style books, Moss has created several historical works for young readers, including "Nurse, Soldier, Spy" about Civil War hero Sarah Edmonds and "Barbed Wire Baseball" about Japanese internment camps. She founded Creston Books in 2013, an independent children's book publishing company focused on diverse voices and stories. Moss has received numerous awards for her work, including the California Book Award and the Eureka Award for Excellence in Nonfiction. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and are used in elementary school curricula across the United States.

Readers consistently praise Moss's ability to capture authentic kid voices, particularly in the Amelia series. Parents and teachers note that the diary format and hand-drawn illustrations help reluctant readers engage with books. What readers liked: - Relatable characters and situations that reflect real childhood experiences - Humor that appeals to both children and adults - Integration of drawings and text that makes reading feel accessible - Historical books that present complex topics in kid-friendly ways What readers disliked: - Some find later Amelia books repetitive - A few parents object to Amelia's occasional attitude toward adults - Historical books sometimes oversimplify complex events Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: Amelia series averages 4.1/5 stars (12,000+ ratings) - Amazon: Most titles maintain 4.5/5 stars - Common Sense Media: Parents rate books 4/5, kids rate 5/5 One teacher wrote on Amazon: "My students fight over who gets to read Amelia next. The format makes them feel like they're reading someone's real diary."

Amelia's Notebook - The first book in the series follows sixth-grader Amelia as she records her daily life, thoughts, and drawings in her composition notebook.

Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero - A historical account of Sarah Edmonds, who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Civil War and serve as a Union spy.

Barbed Wire Baseball - Chronicles the true story of Kenichi Zenimura, who built a baseball field in a Japanese American internment camp during World War II.

Max's Logbook - A young boy documents his scientific observations and experiments in notebook format, similar to his sister Amelia's style.

Rachel's Journal: The Story of a Pioneer Girl - Written as a diary, this book follows a young girl's journey on the Oregon Trail in 1850.

Rose's Journal: The Story of a Girl in the Great Depression - Details life during the Great Depression through the diary entries of a young girl living on a Kansas farm.

Hannah's Journal: The Story of an Immigrant Girl - Depicts the experience of a young Jewish immigrant arriving in New York City in 1901.

The All New Amelia - Shows Amelia dealing with starting a new school and making friends in an unfamiliar environment.

Galen: My Life in Imperial Rome - Written as a journal of a young boy living in ancient Rome, combining historical facts with daily life details.

Regina's Big Mistake - A picture book about a young girl learning to embrace her creative process despite initial frustrations.

Jeff Kinney Creates illustrated diary-style books through the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series that blend text with drawings. His format and focus on everyday school and family experiences mirror the notebook approach used in Amelia's stories.

Rachel Renée Russell Writes and illustrates the "Dork Diaries" series featuring middle school student Nikki Maxwell's daily experiences. Her books combine personal narrative with drawings in a journal format similar to Moss's style.

Raina Telgemeier Produces graphic novels about childhood and adolescent experiences based on her own life. Her works feature strong female protagonists navigating school and family relationships.

Shannon Hale Writes historical fiction and contemporary stories for young readers with female protagonists. She focuses on character development through personal growth and tackles social issues in accessible ways for children.

Lauren Tarshis Creates historical fiction for young readers through the "I Survived" series. She combines factual historical events with child protagonists to make history accessible to young readers.