267 ratings | 51 reviews | avg rating:4.88

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Barbara’s Year In Books

Barbara’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Barbara’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Sujata Massey

123 books | 135 friends

3,175 books | 1,586 friends

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2,342 books | 2,823 friends

Candlewick Press

4,884 books | 3,336 friends

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1,709 books | 3,592 friends

Christine Husom

241 books | 1,149 friends

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6,512 books | 70 friends

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Barbara DaCosta

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.barbaradacosta.com

Twitter

barbaradacosta

Genre

Children's Books, Mystery & Thrillers, Literature & Fiction

Member Since

August 2008

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From lighthearted children's books to adult mysteries, award-winning author Barbara DaCosta enjoys looking at the odd, quirky things in life. DaCosta's newest book is NIGHT SHADOWS, the touching story of an intergenerational friendship, DaCosta's third collaboration with Caldecott Medalist Ed Young. Their previous work includes Mighty Moby (a Minnesota Book Awards finalist) and bestseller Nighttime Ninja, , winner of the Children's Choice Award.
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Barbara DaCosta's Blog

Ed Young Day at Hastings Library

The prolific illustrator and author Ed Young will be honored at the Hastings-on-Hudson library, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, from 1–5 p.m. Ed was very involved with the library over many years. A room will be named in his honor, and there will be lots of fun activities!

Ed illustrated three of my books: Nighttime Ninja, Mighty Moby, and Night Shadows. Each book opened up a new world to me of thinking

Combine Editions
Barbara DaCosta’s books

Average rating: 3.57 · 2,357 ratings · 397 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta (Goodreads Author), Ed Young (Illustrator) 3.61 avg rating — 1,681 ratings — published 2012 — 10 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
	Mighty Moby by Barbara DaCosta (Goodreads Author), Ed Young (Illustrator) 3.43 avg rating — 444 ratings — 4 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
	Resort to Murder by Carl Brookins (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Ellen Hart (Editor), William Kent Krueger (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 3.53 avg rating — 174 ratings — published 2007 — 4 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
	Night Shadows by Barbara DaCosta (Goodreads Author), Ed Young (Illustrator) 3.44 avg rating — 63 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
	Minnesota Not So Nice: Eighteen Tales Of Bad Behavior it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 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
	Nighttime Ninja it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	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 Barbara DaCosta…

Barbara is Currently Reading

Barbara DaCosta is currently reading

Prince & Knight (Prince & Knight, #1)

by Daniel Haack (Goodreads Author)

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Jun 08, 2022 10:40PM

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Barbara’s Recent Updates

Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Night Shadows by Barbara DaCosta (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
“In Barbara DaCosta’s story, friendship and forgiveness emerge from the shadows to shine as warmly as Ed Young’s art. I found myself deeply touched by this tender, honest story, and mesmerized by the jaggedly beautiful, moody illustrations. This book ...more
Feb 16, 2026 06:55AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Night Shadows by Barbara DaCosta. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Night Shadows by Barbara DaCosta <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta wants to read The Memoir Engineering System: Make Your First Draft Your Final Draft by Wendy Dale (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
Wendy Dale's Memoir Engineering System strikes a nice balance between analytical and the deeply experiential, personal and typically emotion-laden genre of memoir. Full of practical information, this book will help novice and experienced writers alik ...more
Oct 02, 2025 07:37AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Memoir Engineering System by Wendy Dale. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Memoir Engineering System by Wendy Dale <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta has read The Elephant Whisperer: Learning About Life, Loyalty and Freedom from a Remarkable Herd of Elephants by Lawrence Anthony	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 memoir about so many things—the elephants and his relationship to them are central to the story, but the book is also about his love for Africa and the Zulu people, and for nature. Written like a thriller, it is hard to put down.
Aug 08, 2025 06:33AM · like · see review
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Unglued: A Bipolar Love Story by Jeffrey Zuckerman	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
Aug 08, 2025 06:30AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Unglued by Jeffrey Zuckerman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Unglued by Jeffrey Zuckerman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta has read Unglued: A Bipolar Love Story by Jeffrey Zuckerman	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
Aug 08, 2025 06:29AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Unglued by Jeffrey Zuckerman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Unglued by Jeffrey Zuckerman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta is currently reading The Elephant Whisperer: Learning About Life, Loyalty and Freedom from a Remarkable Herd of Elephants by Lawrence Anthony	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
Jul 29, 2025 04:44PM · like
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer (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
Ezra is grappling with middle-school and is tormented by a bully. As well, Ezra is torn between worlds: life with his father in urban Minneapolis during the school year, and summers on the reservation with extended family. A crisis sends him even fur ...more
Jun 30, 2025 02:42PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Pinocchio by Ed Young	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
Ed Young's Pinocchio art is fascinating. He illustrated my Nighttime Ninja 16 years later, and I can see the threads of connection between the two. Both unique, but the ways in which he played with the paper and other materials he used, and the maste ...more
Feb 24, 2025 09:54PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Pinocchio by Ed Young. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Pinocchio by Ed Young <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Somebody I Used to Know: A Memoir by Wendy Mitchell	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 15, 2025 08:22PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Somebody I Used to Know by Wendy Mitchell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Somebody I Used to Know by Wendy Mitchell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Peony in Love by Lisa See (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
This is a stunning, captivating book. Takes you into the hidden women's world of an elite Chinese family in the early Qing dynasty and explores the this-world and other-world love affair of the young woman, Peony. Exquisite attention to detail, and w ...more
Feb 15, 2025 09:44AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Peony in Love by Lisa See. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Peony in Love by Lisa See <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">