After living in Pelago, Italy for a year, she moved back to Irvine, California.

[9] In 1997, she and her husband, Michael Grant (her co-author on many projects, including Animorphs and Everworld) had their first child, who has since come out as a transgender woman.

Upon returning to writing, she wrote a picture book, Buffalo Storm, a middle reader novel, Home of the Brave, and an early chapters series, Roscoe Riley Rules, with HarperCollins.

[14] Applegate won the 2013 Newbery Medal for The One and Only Ivan, drawn by Patricia Castelao and published by HarperCollins.

According to the award committee: "Applegate gives readers a unique and unforgettable gorilla's-eye-view of the world that challenges the way we look at animals and at ourselves.