A Celebration of Books,
Writers & LIterary Excellence

Save the Date


Gaithersburg
Book Festival

May 16, 2026

10am – 6pm

Bohrer Park


Michelle Knudsen

Featured Title: Into the Wild Magic
Into the Wild Magic

From New York Times best-selling author Michelle Knudsen comes a pitch-perfect fantasy about adolescent girlhood—navigating friendship and trust, owning your gifts, and becoming the hero of your own story.

Eleven-year-old Bevvy spends her time avoiding other kids, playing with her neighbor’s kittens, and escaping into her fantasy novels. When new girl Cat arrives at school, Bevvy thinks she may finally have found a friend, until Cat provokes Bevvy’s worst tormentor and leaves her alone to deal with the consequences. Later, on Bevvy’s doorstep, Cat’s apology is cut short when a car with dark windows rolls up. Bolting into a nearby wood with Bevvy in tow, Cat proceeds to open a hole, in the air, just in time. Bevvy knows magic when she sees it, the kind in books, but the world the girls escape to—teeming with unicorns, sorcerers, and dragons—is shockingly, exhilaratingly real. It’s a world at war. Those who wield wild magic, in tune with nature, are pitted against dark sorcerers. As Bevvy’s role in the struggle grows, and her confidence with it, can she trust Cat to support her? Can she trust herself not to run? An acclaimed author builds a breathtaking and emotionally resonant world where magic and monsters are real and friendship and risk go hand in hand.

About Michelle Knudsen

Michelle Knudsen is the New York Times best-selling author of more than fifty books for children and young adults, including the award-winning “Library Lion” (Time magazine’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time). Other titles include the picture book “Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten” and the novels “The Dragon of Trelian” and “Evil Librarian.” Her latest are the YA webcomic novelization “Cursed Princess Club: A Most Unusual Princess” and the middle grade novel “Into the Wild Magic,” which was just announced as a finalist for the 2025 Andre Norton Nebula Award(!). Michelle lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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Instagram: @michelle.knudsen

Author Schedule:

Venue(s):

Willa Cather Pavilion

Presentation Start Time:

3:15 pm

Presentation End Time:

4:05 pm

Signing Time:

4:15 pm