Kim Spencer is a graduate of the Writers Studio at Simon Fraser University, where she focused on creative nonfiction. Two of her short stories were published in an anthology released through SFU, and an experimental short story of hers appeared in Filling Station magazine and was shortlisted for the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association Award. Kim was selected as a mentee by the Writers Union of Canada for BIPOC Writers Connect, as well as for ECW's BIPOC Writers Mentorship Program. Her first novel, Weird Rules to Follow debuted on the BC Bestsellers list, received a Kirkus starred review and was named a USBBY 2023 Outstanding International Book. Kim is from the Ts’msyen Nation in northwest BC and currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Kim Spencer's profile page

• Short-listed, Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award
• Nominated, Young Readers' Choice Book Awards of British Columbia (YRCABC) Red Cedar Book Awards
• Commended, International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Honour List
• Joint winner, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) Pacific Northwest Book Awards
• Short-listed, BC and Yukon Book Prizes - Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize
• Winner, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award
• Commended, United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) Outstanding International Books List (OIB)
• Winner, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Jean Little First-Novel Award
• Short-listed, Chocolate Lily Book Awards
• Commended, Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee Best Children's Books of the Year
• Short-listed, Indigenous Voices Awards (IVA) - Published prose in English
• Winner, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People
• Nominated, The Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks) - Young People’s Literature Text
• Winner, The National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award
• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

“Heartfelt and moving…Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“Authentic and honest…Excellent for upper elementary and middle school students, either in a literature circle or independently.”

Children's Literature

“Recommended.”

School Library Connection

“Easy to read but poetic and focused…This story, while fiction, rings true.”

The Horn Book

★ “Readers will be left with a rich image of Mia’s world and the family and people that surround her as well as a strong sense of how culture and class impact people’s experiences. A touching exploration of identity and culture.”

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Like a photo album but in text rather than in pictures…providing the reader with a layered, nuanced picture of Mia’s life.”

Booklist