Shauna Holyoak Books In Order

Publication Order of Kazu Jones Books

Shauna Holyoak is an American novelist best known for the Kazu Jones Mystery series aimed at middle graders. She was still very young when she got into storytelling, and she has often asserted that she learned how to craft stories even before she mastered bicycle riding. Her passion for storytelling would then evolve into a career in which she focused on writing for teenagers and children, which she believes has to be the best job in the world. In her later years, Shauna went to Brigham Young University, where she graduated with an English Literature master’s degree with a specialization in creative writing. Her academic background would become the foundation for subsequent endeavors in both journalism and writing. Before Holyoak became a novelist, she was a columnist who wrote humor for a semi-popular paper. “Up in the Night ” was featured in The River City Weekly and showcased her brilliance in infusing humor into just about any everyday observation. Between 2009 and 2017, she wrote for The Post Register, where she further honed her distinct narrative style and voice.

It was in 2019 that Shauna Holyoak made her debut into the writing of middle-grade fiction when she published Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers under Disney-Hyperion. The work introduced a Japanese American girl named Kazu Jones, who is the best at solving mysterious cases around her neighborhood. The book became massively popular, and with 115 ratings, it had an average rating of 4.21 on Goodreads. Following the success of her debut, she published the next one in 2020, which gained her further recognition for weaving relatable and engaging stories for young readers. In addition to her novels, Holyoak is the author of the collection FYI, Sometimes There Is No Grass, in which she offers reflections on her insights and experiences as a single mother. The work further showcased her versatility as a writer.
Beyond her work as an author, Shauna Holyoak makes her home in Idaho Falls, where she lives with her husband, their children, and two mischievous dogs. She is very active on social media and usually engages with the broader literary community and her readers and fans on Instagram. On the latter, she usually provides glimpses into her personal life and writing process while she provides interaction and updates on her Facebook page.

Shauna’s contributions to children’s literature have made her one of the most respected novelists in many literary communities. Over the years, her works have been featured on the likes of Goodreads, where readers can share reviews and explore her books. Given her growing influence in the literary world, she has also been listed in LibraryThing. Her commitment to the writing of great narratives for young readers, in addition to her background in humor writing and literature, has made her one of the most notable authors in modern children’s fiction.

Shauna Holyoak published her debut novel, Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers, in 2019. At the opening of the novel, neighborhood dogs are being kidnapped from backyards and others taken right from their leashes. Kazu is interested in solving the mystery even though her parents believe it would be too serious of an undertaking. She lies and sneaks around a lot, which results in a lot of yelling between her and her mother. Her mother is worried about her sanity and safety even as she also stresses about work. She needs to be since Kazu and March, her friend, have been hacking into Mr Crowley’s laptop trying to find information about the dognappings. They have also been sneaking into his garage and going through his garbage. Kazu is also dealing with a school bully named Madeline, who has been teasing her and her friends. When her dog goes missing, they come together to try to get it back, and while working in close proximity, they come to like and respect each other. Combining serious talk about why dogs get kidnapped and a whodunit, it also offers lessons on family, growing up, and friendship, making it relatable to a wide audience.

Fresh off her very popular debut, Shauna Holyoak published her second novel, Kazu Jones and the Comic Book Criminal, in 2020. After completing their first successful investigation Kazu and Madeline, CindeeRae, and March, her friends, cannot wait to work on their next case. They get their wish when a vandal starts to go after local comic book stores which he sprays with anti-comic graffiti. March is particularly desperate to track down the man before he gets to The Super Pickle, his beloved shop. But when March insists on taking the lead, the gang starts to butt heads. It does not help that Kazu is also working on another mystery close to home. Her grandmother just came over from Japan to help nurse her bedridden mother, and no one has explained to Kazu what was wrong. She now finds herself dealing with two investigations, which just makes things more complicated. Ultimately, Kazu and her friends discover that the secret identity of the vandal is tied to one of the most popular superhero characters. Even worse, he has a horrific revenge plot, and they will have to work together despite their differences if they are to catch the man.