carolyn coman photo

carolyn coman

Carolyn Coman (born 1951 in Evanston near Chicago) is a writer of children's books living in South Hampton, New Hampshire. Her books What Jamie Saw (1995) and Many Stones (2000) were nominated for several awards.

She worked as a bookbinder from 1975-84 and later as an editor with Heinemann before she became a full-time writer. Her books include the portrait documentary of the debut, and a picture book before 4 novels for young adults from 1993 to 2000. Her two latest books (2004 and 2007), for middle grade readers, combine humor, investigation and a sense of nostalgia.

Her four young adult novels are described as “she explores the darker sides of growing up: dealing with parent's abandonment through death in Tell Me Everything, abuse by a stepparent in What Jamie Saw, sibling incest in Bee and Jacky and a political-inspired tragedy in Many Stones.” Many Stones was inspired by the murder of Amy Biehl.

Her book What Jamie Saw (1995) was short-listed for the Newbery Medal and National Book Award, it was also nominated for Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award. Many Stones (2000) was a National Book Award finalist, won the Michael L. Printz Award and were listed among School Library Journal's Best Books of The Year.


“All dreams can be a source of light...but some are especially radiant. They linger and continue to shine with all they have to reveal.”
carolyn coman
Read more
“Never underestimate the importance of the beginning. Of anything. The beginning has the seeds of everything else to come.”
carolyn coman
Read more