At the new school, Alex finds herself exploring the idea of other sexualities, specifically with her interactions with her childhood friend, Sonja, who was torn away from her and later reconnected with her during a protest.
A specific scene featured in her novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon where a baby is being pried away from its mother was replicated after Barnhill herself worked in a battered women’s shelter.
At this shelter, Barnhill witnessed a mother beg for help to cure her sick child after being denied medical treatment, going to show just how influential personal experiences are in the art of writing to convey messages and emotion.
[1][2] Barnhill's books include The Unlicensed Magician, The Witch's Boy, Iron-Hearted Violet, The Mostly True Story of Jack, as well as several non-fiction titles for children.
[8] In February 2019 Kelly was the Literary Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker at the 37th annual Life, the Universe, & Everything professional science fiction and fantasy arts symposium.
Before finding success as an author, Barnhill studied creative writing as an undergraduate, worked for the National Park Service, and was trained as a volunteer firefighter.