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Betty Culley

Betty Culley

Betty Culley is a Maine author of young-adult verse novels and middle-grade fiction. A former obstetrics and pediatric home-hospice nurse, she draws on rural Maine, caregiving, adoption, family, and the natural world in books including Three Things I Know Are True and The Name She Gave Me.

Photo: Betty Culley via official author site · Source: Betty Culley — about ↗

Titles1
Editions2
Media5
Years covered2022

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Cover of The Name She Gave Me

The Name She Gave Me

2022 · Contemporary

2 editions: Print · 2022 | eBook · 2022

About this work & edition details

A heartbreakingly beautiful novel in verse about adoption, family, friendship, and love in all its many forms, perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jandy Nelson, from the acclaimed author of Three Things I Know Are True. Rynn was born with a hole in her heart—literally. Although it was fixed long ago, she still feels an emptiness there when she wonders about her birth family. As her relationship with her adoptive mother fractures, Rynn finally decides she needs to know more about the rest of her family. Her search starts with a name, the only thing she has from her birth mother, and she quickly learns that she has a younger sister living in foster care in a nearby town. But if Rynn reconnects with her biological sister, it may drive her adoptive family apart for good. This powerful story uncovers both beautiful and heartbreaking truths and explores how challenging, yet healing, family can be. One name. Two sisters. A second chance that could cost her everything. Finding Your Birth Family: Armed with a single name—Scheherazade—Rynn begins a search for the mother she’s never known, only to uncover a truth she never expected. A Sister in Foster Care: The stunning discovery that she has a younger sister, Ella, living in a nearby town offers a chance at the connection Rynn has always craved. Complicated Mother-Daughter Relationships: As Rynn grows closer to her past, the already-fractured bond with her adoptive mother threatens to shatter completely, forcing an impossible choice. Heartfelt Coming of Age: A powerful story told in beautiful, accessible verse about identity, what it means to be family, and healing the literal and metaphorical holes in your heart.

Print · HarperCollins · 2022 · English

eBook · HarperCollins · 2022 · English

Podcasts & Discussion (5)

More About Betty Culley

Betty Culley is a Maine author of young-adult verse novels and middle-grade fiction. A former obstetrics and pediatric home-hospice nurse, she draws on rural Maine, caregiving, adoption, family, and the natural world in books including Three Things I Know Are True and The Name She Gave Me.

Culley writes young-adult verse novels and middle-grade fiction set in rural Maine.

She worked as an obstetrics nurse and pediatric home-hospice nurse before publication.

Her experience as an adoptee informs The Name She Gave Me, whose protagonist searches for her birth family.

The retained bibliography connects this profile to The Name She Gave Me. These title relationships remain candidate editorial evidence and do not create or alter canonical Works.

Coverage retained for the profile includes Compassionate and compelling: Kirkus praised the verse novel's insight and nuance about adoption and family formation.; A poignant, humanizing exploration: Kirkus highlighted the novel's character-centered treatment of guilt, forgiveness, caregiving, and community division.; The Literary Spotlight with Author Betty Culley: Culley discusses her writing background, creative process, nursing experience, and literary influences.; 2020 Debut Author Interview: Betty Culley: Culley discusses writing Three Things I Know Are True and choosing verse..

Genres

Links

Sources

  1. Betty Culley — official site ↗
  2. Betty Culley — about ↗
  3. The Name She Gave Me — official work page ↗
  4. The Natural Genius of Ants — official work page ↗
  5. Down to Earth — official work page ↗
  6. Betty Culley — Penguin Random House ↗
  7. Down to Earth curriculum guide ↗
  8. Betty Culley — TeachingBooks ↗
  9. The Literary Spotlight with Betty Culley ↗
  10. 2020 debut author interview: Betty Culley ↗
  11. An interview with author Betty Culley ↗
  12. Words on Words: an interview with Betty Culley ↗
  13. Betty Culley and Eric Smith conversation ↗
  14. The Name She Gave Me excerpt coverage ↗
  15. The Name She Gave Me — Kirkus review ↗
  16. Three Things I Know Are True — Kirkus review ↗
  17. Betty Culley — Kirkus author index ↗
  18. Betty Culley portrait asset ↗