Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Creek | 2003 | Jennifer L. Holm | Buy |
| 2 | Penny from Heaven | 2006 | Jennifer L. Holm | Buy |
| 3 | The Lion of Mars | 2021 | Jennifer L. Holm | Buy |
| 4 | Outside | 2025 | Jennifer L. Holm | Buy |
Jennifer L. Holm’s standalone novels span historical and contemporary settings for middle-grade readers. Penny from Heaven (2006) earned a Newbery Honor for its story of a girl navigating family secrets in 1950s New Jersey, while The Lion of Mars (2021) follows children growing up in a Mars colony. The Creek (2003) and Outside (2025) round out her standalone work.
Holm writes with a focus on family, community, and kids figuring out the world on their own terms. Penny from Heaven draws on her own Italian-American family history. The Lion of Mars is a departure into science fiction, set on a colony where the children have never set foot on Earth. Each book is self-contained, so readers can start with any title.
Her standalone novels sit alongside her series work, including the Babymouse and Squish graphic novels she creates with her brother Matthew Holm. The standalones tend toward longer, prose-driven storytelling compared to her illustrated series, and they have earned her multiple Newbery recognition nods over the years.