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A Mind of Her Own

The Story of Mystery Writer Agatha Christie

Illustrated by Liz Wong

About The Book

Uncover the fascinating, inspiring, and sometimes mysterious true story of world-renowned detective novelist Agatha Christie’s journey to authorship in this picture book biography.

Before Agatha Christie became the greatest mystery writer of all time, she was a girl who loved books, make-believe, and puzzling out problems. She was a keen observer, always noticing the secrets hiding in the shadows and the clues just waiting to be uncovered. More than anything, Agatha loved detective stories. She longed to write her own mysteries, but she struggled when she put pen to paper. The letters came out jumbled, the words twisting and snagging. Writing became a new puzzle for her to solve.

Her family and teachers chided her for being lost in her head, but Agatha wasn’t lost…she had a mind of her own!

About The Author

Photo courtesy of the author

Robyn McGrath is a native of Texas and lives in Austin with her family where she works as a play therapist. She’s the author of Dolly!: The Story of Dolly Parton and Her Big Dream, illustrated by Ellen Surrey; There’s Always Room for One More, illustrated by Ishaa Lobo; and A Mind of Her Own, illustrated by Liz Wong. To learn more about Robyn, visit RobynMcGrathWrites.com.

About The Illustrator

Liz Wong is the illustrator of A Mind of Her Own by Robyn McGrath, Pirate Queen by Helaine Becker, Nobody Likes Frogs by Barbara Davis-Pyles, Her Eyes on the Stars by Laurie Wallmark, and her own Quackers, The Goose Egg, and I Am Not a Penguin. Liz lives in Edmonds, Washington, with her husband and son. Learn more about her at LizWongIllustration.com.

Product Details

Raves and Reviews

"This imagination-oriented biography of mystery writer Agatha Christie (1890–1976) by McGrath foregrounds the role Christie’s internal world played in both her child-hood and her later success."

– Publishers Weekly, 3/4/24

"With additional details of Christie's life, creator notes, mystery vocabulary, and bibliography appended, this makes a good introduction to the Queen of Crime."

– Booklist, 4/1/24

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More books from this author: Robyn McGrath