author
Penn Shirley
1840–1929
Best known for warm, lively stories for young readers, this Maine writer published under the pen name Penn Shirley. Her books center on family, mischief, and the small adventures of childhood.
3 Audiobooks
About the author
Penn Shirley was the pen name of Sarah Jones Clarke (September 12, 1840–1929), an American writer of children's fiction from Norridgewock, Maine. She came from a literary family and was the younger sister of Rebecca Sophia Clarke, who was widely known by the pen name Sophie May.
Writing mainly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, she published children's books between 1886 and 1902. Sources identify her with works including Little Miss Weezy, The Happy Six, The Merry Five, and Boy Donald and His Hero. Her stories were written for young readers and are often described as juvenile fiction, with an easygoing, cheerful focus on everyday childhood life.
Penn Shirley is not as widely remembered as some of her contemporaries, but her books have stayed in circulation through public-domain libraries and audiobook projects, which suggests a lasting affection for her gentle, family-centered storytelling.