425 ratings | 173 reviews | avg rating:4.61

Karen Autio’s Followers (31)

Karen’s Bookshelves

to-read (2)
currently-reading (0)
read (425)
first-reads (1)

Karen’s Friends (40)

Nancy Runstedler

1,231 books | 411 friends

Alison Jacques

1,651 books | 92 friends

Marsha

2,187 books | 1,591 friends

Steffi van Zyl

118 books | 18 friends

James

193 books | 478 friends

Danielle

8,168 books | 1,971 friends

Darlene Foster

1,666 books | 812 friends

Mary Feliciani

288 books | 242 friends

More friends…

Karen Autio

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.karenautio.com/

Genre

Children's, Contemporary, Historical Fiction

Member Since

June 2013

edit data

Karen Autio is the author of picture books PLAYDATE SURPRISE and I CAN, TOO! (in French Moi aussi, je peux!) about accessibility, inclusion, and friendship.

Karen has also written a Middle Grade STEM novel called MAKING SEAKER, a tribute to the iconic book PADDLE-TO-THE-SEA, focused on science, self-realization, and friendship: Moving to a new town is tough, especially when you’re different. And Jamie’s not like most girls. She loves science and math and building things. But when she moves to Nipigon, Ontario, Jamie’s determined to have a future with friends.

Karen has also authored two illustrated chapter books called KAH-LAN THE ADVENTUROUS SEA OTTER and KAH-LAN AND THE STINK-INK, a narrative nonfiction picture book called GROWING UP IN WIL Karen Autio is the author of picture books PLAYDATE SURPRISE and I CAN, TOO! (in French Moi aussi, je peux!) about accessibility, inclusion, and friendship.

Karen has also written a Middle Grade STEM novel called MAKING SEAKER, a tribute to the iconic book PADDLE-TO-THE-SEA, focused on science, self-realization, and friendship: Moving to a new town is tough, especially when you’re different. And Jamie’s not like most girls. She loves science and math and building things. But when she moves to Nipigon, Ontario, Jamie’s determined to have a future with friends.

Karen has also authored two illustrated chapter books called KAH-LAN THE ADVENTUROUS SEA OTTER and KAH-LAN AND THE STINK-INK, a narrative nonfiction picture book called GROWING UP IN WILD HORSE CANYON, and a trilogy of historical novels for young readers. She writes about events in Canada’s history that haven’t had much attention: Okanagan history, the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, tuberculosis and living in a sanatorium; spies, sabotage and internment during the First World War.

Karen also focuses on the value of family stories and heritage. When her Finnish-Canadian grandmother gave her a silver spoon and told her its tale, Karen had no idea it would lead her into a whole novel's worth of words. She learned that her grandmother's Finnish friends had members of their family from Port Arthur who died in the wreck of the Empress of Ireland. Karen researched the steamship and wove the ship's story into fictional Saara's life in SECOND WATCH.

When Karen asked her Finnish-Canadian grandparents to record their life stories, she was given a glimpse of her grandmother's brave yet mysterious battle against tuberculosis as a young mother. The idea for SAARA'S PASSAGE took tangible shape after Karen read letters written by her grandmother to her infant daughter, Karen's mother, letters that were discovered after her grandmother's death.

SAARA'S PASSAGE is the sequel to SECOND WATCH, and both books were shortlisted for the BC Chocolate Lily Award.

The third book in the trilogy about the Finnish-Canadian Mäki family is SABOTAGE. Told by both Saara and her brother John, SABOTAGE takes readers into a real-life world of espionage, sabotage, and paranoia in Canada in 1915!

Karen grew up in Nipigon, ON, and now lives in Kelowna, BC. For more information, visit www.karenautio.com and www.facebook.com/KarenAutioAuthor
View her author video where she speaks about SABOTAGE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ewhSR...
KAH-LAN AND THE STINK-INK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBelb... ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Karen Autio questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Karen Autio’s books

Average rating: 4.51 · 235 ratings · 111 reviews · 14 distinct works • Similar authors

	I Can, Too! 4.53 avg rating — 53 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sabotage (Trilogy, #3) 4.25 avg rating — 40 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Saara's Passage (Trilogy, #2) 4.73 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 2008 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kah-Lan, the Adventurous Sea Otter 4.63 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Playdate Surprise by Karen Autio (Goodreads Author), Laura Watson (illustrator) 4.71 avg rating — 21 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Second Watch (Trilogy, #1) 4.52 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 2005 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Growing Up in Wild Horse Canyon by Karen Autio (Goodreads Author), Loraine Kemp (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator) 4.18 avg rating — 17 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kah-Lan and the Stink Ink by Karen Autio (Goodreads Author), Emma Pedersen (Illustrations) 4.73 avg rating — 11 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	MAKING SEAKER 4.70 avg rating — 10 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Moi aussi, je peux! by Karen Autio (Goodreads Author), Laura Watson (Illustrator) 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2022	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Karen Autio…

10 posts
Karen Autio's Blog

Writing Historical Fiction

Nikki Tate with Nexus Generation Writers on Fire in Conversation with Karen Autio about writing historical fiction:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WgBH...

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 23, 2020 10:45 • Tags: historical-fiction, researching, writing

View all 10 posts »

Series by Karen Autio

Trilogy (3 books)
by

Karen Autio (Goodreads Author)

4.46 avg rating — 87 ratings

rss
Karen’s Recent Updates

Karen rated a book it was amazing Warrior Girl Unearthed (Firekeeper's Daughter, #2) by Angeline Boulley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 19, 2026 10:25AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karen rated a book it was amazing Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 12, 2026 09:13AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karen rated a book it was amazing Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 01, 2026 06:14PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karen rated a book it was amazing I Won’t Feel This Way Forever by Kim Spencer (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Amelia (Mia), still processing the end of a best friendship, has her world rocked by her grandmother’s terminal diagnosis and death. Nothing is the same in herself, her home, her Indigenous community, her entire world. “I don’t want to punch pillows. ...more
Feb 01, 2026 06:10PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of I Won’t Feel This Way Forever by Kim Spencer. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — I Won’t Feel This Way Forever by Kim Spencer <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karen rated a book it was amazing Snuggle Season (This Time of Year) by Jaimie MacGibbon	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jaimie MacGibbon’s debut picture book as author-illustrator is delightful! I remember first hearing from Jaimie in 2019 when she was starting to learn about the children’s book industry. Look how far she’s come! And this is the first book in the This ...more
Jan 15, 2026 04:46PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Snuggle Season by Jaimie MacGibbon. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Snuggle Season by Jaimie MacGibbon <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karen rated a book it was amazing My Life as an Asthmanaut: A book about asthma (Disability Books for Kids) by Jake Lockett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Lockett writes authentically from first-hand knowledge as one who has asthma. Choosing to write this story in first person is brilliant, drawing the reader into the world of the main character, Jacob. The book is both a mirror, allowing readers havin ...more
Jan 07, 2026 10:46AM · 1 like · like · see review
Karen rated a book it was amazing A Promise to Protect by Nikki Bergstresser (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
An engaging, authentically written novel for young readers about protecting an old-growth forest with sensitivity toward Indigenous values. Time after time, 13-year-old Sidney’s brother Riley is a breath of fresh air in the battle with him being the ...more
Jan 04, 2026 04:11PM · like · see review
Karen rated a book it was amazing Plague Thieves by Caroline Fernandez (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Written with heart and hope, this captivating story brings history alive. The historical details are cleverly woven in—you can practically smell the stench, sense the grit beneath your fingernails, and feel the terror of the relatable characters in t ...more
Jan 04, 2026 04:09PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Plague Thieves by Caroline Fernandez. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Plague Thieves by Caroline Fernandez <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karen rated a book it was amazing Standoff (Kidnapped From Ukraine #2) by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Engaging—no, riveting—story based on true facts for readers young and older. This well-researched novel focuses on the attack of Mariupol by Russia and is an essential read for grasping the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine on individuals, familie ...more
Jan 04, 2026 04:05PM · 4 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Standoff by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Standoff by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karen rated a book really liked it Star Sailor, The Story of Words by Sara Cassidy (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 24, 2025 10:41AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Star Sailor, The Story of Words by Sara Cassidy. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Star Sailor, The Story of Words by Sara Cassidy <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">