The Winnie Years
The Winnie Years is a series of American children's books by Lauren Myracle. Published from 2004 to 2011 by Dutton Juvenile, the novels follow Winnie Perry as she grows up, deals with friends and family, and learns what it means to be a pre-teen and then a teen.
Books in the series (in brief)
- Ten (a prequel): Winnie turns ten and starts learning about new responsibilities and changes.
- Eleven: Winnie is 11, navigating changing friendships, a possible rift with her best friend Amanda, and family quirks.
- Twelve: Winnie faces puberty, junior high, and new feelings, including adventures with new friends like Cinnamon.
- Thirteen: Winnie finds out her brother is sick and donates her hair to Locks of Love; she also struggles to talk with her boyfriend Lars.
- Thirteen Plus One: Winnie is in junior high, with close friends and a mostly good-but-bumpy boyfriend, as graduation and high school loom.
Author notes and spin-off
- The books draw heavily on Myracle’s own tween experiences. Winnie's younger brother Ty is based on the author’s son Jamie. A spinoff series about Ty, The Life of Ty, was released in 2013.
Reception
- The series has been mostly praised for its realism and authentic voice. Kirkus Reviews highlighted its authenticity, while School Library Journal and Horn Book Guide gave positive reviews; Ten was noted by some reviewers as lacking the emotional depth of the others.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:31 (CET).