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Karen Autio

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.karenautio.com/

Genre

Children's, Contemporary, Historical Fiction

Member Since

June 2013

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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

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Karen Autio’s books

Average rating: 4.49 · 239 ratings · 111 reviews · 16 distinct works • Similar authors

	I Can, Too! 4.52 avg rating — 54 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) 4.70 avg rating — 27 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) 4.58 avg rating — 12 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) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 6 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...

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

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Series by Karen Autio

Trilogy (3 books)
by

Karen Autio (Goodreads Author)

4.45 avg rating — 88 ratings

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Karen rated a book really liked it The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (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
Sep 11, 2026 03:56PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Correspondent by Virginia Evans <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karen rated a book it was amazing A House in My Barrio by Paola Santos (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
Bright, engaging illustrations and lively text make for an interesting immersion in barrio life and the Spanish language. This heartwarming, inspiring tale celebrates the importance of storytelling and community.
Sep 03, 2026 01:43PM · like · see review
Karen rated a book it was amazing Flying High on PEI: Prince Edward Island and Canada's First Transatlantic Flight by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail (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
A fun, inspiring historical nonfiction about the Maple Leaf’s flight across the Atlantic with warm, engaging text and illustrations.
Sep 03, 2026 01:42PM · like · see review
Karen rated a book it was amazing Flying High on PEI: Prince Edward Island and Canada's First Transatlantic Flight by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail (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
A fun, inspiring historical nonfiction about the Maple Leaf’s flight across the Atlantic with warm, engaging text and illustrations.
Sep 03, 2026 01:41PM · like · see review
Karen rated a book it was amazing Our Spectacular Sukkah by Sidura Ludwig	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
A lovely, inclusive read-aloud story with beautiful art from interesting perspectives that shares Jewish culture and kindness.
Sep 03, 2026 01:40PM · like · see review
Karen rated a book it was amazing Bompa's Intertidal Adventure (Nature Adventures with Bompa Book 2) by David Suzuki	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
A fun way to discover fascinating facts about the creatures on the ocean floor in the intertidal zone. With its engaging text and beautiful illustrations, readers discover more than the natural world, that people can change and grow for their whole l ...more
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Karen rated a book it was amazing The Magnificent Banyan and the Green Tong Lau by Stephanie Ellen Sy (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
With interesting interplay of text around illustrations, this book is a wonderful immersion in Chinese culture in Hong Kong. The children’s love for the tree helps them see its importance, and by speaking up, others wake up to the tree’s value.
Sep 03, 2026 01:36PM · like · see review
Karen rated a book it was amazing All the Water on Earth (CitizenKid, 29) by Rochelle Strauss (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
Rochelle Strauss’s debut picture book is filled with fascinating facts in lyrical language depicted in beautiful illustrations by Madelyn Goodnight. Readers will discover important things like: Water is all around you, even in you; all water in the w ...more
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Karen rated a book it was amazing All the Water on Earth (CitizenKid, 29) by Rochelle Strauss (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
Rochelle Strauss’s debut picture book is filled with fascinating facts in lyrical language depicted in beautiful illustrations by Madelyn Goodnight. Readers will discover important things like: Water is all around you, even in you; all water in the w ...more
Sep 03, 2026 01:35PM · like · see review
Karen rated a book it was amazing I Used to Be a Dinosaur by Casey Lyall (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
A humorous story with wonderful rhyme and wordplay, vibrant illustrations, and fun surprises. For dinosaur lovers and fans of fowl alike.
Sep 03, 2026 01:33PM · like · see review