Alexandra Bracken was born in Phoenix, Arizona,[1] where she later returned after living in New York City for many years.

[2] She worked in the children's publishing industry in New York City, first as an editorial assistant and then in marketing.

[4] In their review of the book, Publishers Weekly dubbed Bracken "a debut author to watch.

[6] In 2012, Disney Hyperion published the near-future, young adult thriller The Darkest Minds, the first book in the eponymous series.

[9][10] Her novel Lore has been optioned for film by Universal Pictures with Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse attached to write the screenplay.