Bio

Maizy Chen's Last Chance has been named a Newbery Honor Book, National Book Award Finalist, and the winner of the Asian Pacific American Children's Literature Award!
The Misfits #1 - A Royal Conundrum was the 2024 Barnes & Noble Children's/YA Book of the Year and, along with the brand new The Misfits #2 - A Copycat Conundrum, has been on the New York Times Bestseller List over 25 times!

Here's Lisa, and Peepy, with some of the books she's written!

So thrilled to announce MAIZY CHEN'S LAST CHANCE!!! Out of the 22 novels I've written, this is my most personal book so far. You can find out more about Maizy, HERE. Or read about how and why Lisa wrote the book HERE.

OOF! FIND OUT STUFF ABOUT LISA . . .

New York Times bestselling author, Lisa Yee was born and raised near Los Angeles. As a kid, she loved reading, opening brand new boxes of cereal (to get the prize), and riding the teacups at Disneyland.

Lisa attended Brightwood Elementary School in Monterey Park, CA where she once won an award for best decorated cake.

While at Alhambra High School, Lisa was on the debate team and president of the honor society. On occasion, she would ditch class and sneak off to the library. (Okay, so she never quite figured out the juvenile delinquent thing.) At the University of Southern California, she majored in English and Humanities, and she also took a bowling class.

Lisa has been an inventor, a hand model (once), and worked for a creative think tank. At Walt Disney World she was a writer/producer and one time, when she was the only short person around, she got to be Mickey Mouse. She has also directed creative projects for Fortune 500 clients, led creativity seminars for dairy farmers (moo), and been featured in the Wall Street Journal for her obsessive workaholic behavior. (She is now practically, totally cured of this.)

Even though Lisa has been paid to eat chocolate, the thing she likes doing most is writing--except for when she has writer's block, or needs a snack, or is distracted.

Her writing assignments have included labels for cans of refried beans and a sort-of speech for a President of the United States. Plus, she has penned her own newspaper column, written commercials, Red Lobster menus, and jingles. And, that's right, she came up with the slogan, “Pass the Old El Paso."

Her first book, MILLICENT MIN, GIRL GENIUS debuted in 2003. Since then, she's had over 22 more novels published -- and at this VERY MOMENT is working on a new one. Well, either that or she's having a snack. THE MISFITS #1 - A ROYAL CONUNDRUM, is a 22-week New York Times Bestseller, and is illustrated by Dan Santat. Plus, Barnes & Noble named it the Children's and YA Book of the Year! And the MISFITS #2 - A COPYCAT CONUNDRUM is out January7, 2025!

Lisa has garnered oodles of awards, and her backwards handwriting is neater than her regular handwriting. Her HUGE collection of Winnie the-Poohs is on loan to the White River (Ontario) Winnie-the-Pooh Museum. She's mom to two amazing adult children, and has lots of imaginary friends.

Her projects included penning the DC Super Hero Girls middle grade novel series and American Girl's Girl of the Year books. Her novel, MAIZY CHEN'S LAST CHANCE, debuted February 2022 to rave reviews and won a Newbery Honor, National Book Awards Finalist, Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, the Judy Lopez Memorial Award, and more.

What's happening now? A mysterious, twist, hilarious caper! You can find out more about THE MISFITS, here!!!

Lisa lives in Western Massachusetts, but spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, especially when it's cold.

For the past ten-ish years, Lisa's helped pick the Best Books of the Year for NPR.

Here's a recent interview on how Lisa writes so much. And you can read Lisa's latest interview about her journey to become author HERE.

HEY!!! Why didn't you tell me there's a shorter bio HERE?

Coming in January 2025, The Misfits #2: A Copycat Conundrum!!!

All author photos where Lisa is wearing this purplish top or a purplish jacket are by Emi Fujii Photography.