Winner of the David J. Langum, Sr. Prize for American Historical Fiction
Winner of the 2017 Silver IPPY Award for Best First Book/Fiction
“. . . a masterpiece. In a story as exquisitely wrought as Pamela’s intricate line drawings, debut novelist Huber brings to life the challenges of childhood genius, the glittering world of the creative arts in the decades leading up to World War II and beyond, the devastation of mental illness, and the power of unwavering parental love. Incandescent, pitch-perfect, and destined for greatness.” Library Journal, starred review
“What would have made a remarkable straight biography set in a golden but doomed age has been elevated by Huber’s ambitious approach into a poignant, thought-provoking and memorable historical novel. …this beautifully written novel…also adds an almost unbearable poignancy to rereading Margery’s The Velveteen Rabbit. But even if you neither know nor care about the work of Margery or Pamela, this book is still an insightful, moving story on the themes of love and parenthood, genius and art.” Historical Novel Society Review
“Combining the elegance of literary fiction with realistic period atmosphere and an emotional openness reminiscent of personal memoirs, the prose is entirely immersive … A compelling read for art and women’s history enthusiasts as well as historical fiction fans.” Booklist
“Huber’s reliance on primary sources, coupled with her luminous prose, creates an unforgettable sojourn into the lives of early 20th-century artists. At the same time, she effortlessly portrays the madness and addiction, which were regularly untreated in those days, that so often accompany genius. Despite much of the novel being introspective rather than action-oriented, it is fast-paced and difficult to put down. A novel as brilliant, but at times as troubling, as the subjects themselves.” Kirkus Reviews
“The Velveteen Daughter reveals the inner life of Pamela Bianco, the long-forgotten but once heralded English child prodigy of the 1900s. Seamlessly it weaves fiction into reality, and reality into fiction, quickly merging to become one truth that vividly reveals Bianco’s secret heart. This book is not only mesmerizing to read but of great importance, bringing Pamela Bianco as an artist to find her rightful place in the history of art.” Gloria Vanderbilt
“With a wonderful touch, Huber makes a lost artist come alive in vibrant yet melancholic colors.” BookPage.com
“A virtuoso performance …. Huber’s tight interweaving of the Bianco and Willlams’ stories, past and present, makes the book difficult to put down. … [She] is a storyteller of the first order and her talent gleams throughout her debut novel.” Maine Sunday Telegram
“The Velveteen Daughter is fascinating on several levels. Huber brings a once-famous artist back into the public eye, creates an intimate portrait of the relationship between mother and daughter, and thanks to her careful research, places them in the context of the artistic milieu they inhabited….” Omnivoracious
“Huber’s richly textured language is a wonder to behold, her prose every bit as luminous, inspired, and wise as either Bianco’s or Williams’s own work.” ForeWord Magazine
“The Velveteen Rabbit was a beautifully tender children’s story, and after reading this gorgeous novel about the author Margery Williams and her gifted daughter Pamela the children’s tale has come to mean much more. Being real hurts terribly. Laurel Davis Huber has taken the true story of mother and daughter and fictionalized it but with precision, following facts so much that she seems to be channeling the entire family. From the beginning pages I was already hooked . . . .Add this to your summer reading list!” Bookstalker
“ . . . compelling and affecting . . . . has great emotional appeal.” The Literate Quilter
“This is a dual fictionalized biography of Margery Williams, author of The Velveteen Rabbit, and her daughter, the artist and child prodigy, Pamela Bianco. . . . a beautifully written, entrancing book. . . . The novel delves deep into the emotional roller coaster of obsession, artistry, love, and familial pressures. Alternating between their two points of view, the novel presents different sides to each of the defining events in their lives. Their love, understanding, and forgiveness make this book shine.” Susan Coventry Blog
“The storytelling is dynamic and alive….captivating.” The Summit Daily (CO)
The Velveteen Daughter was chosen as one of “25 Books to Read in 2017” by Cleveland, Ohio independent booksellers.
Christina Baker Kline and Laurel at the ABA Winter Institute in Minneapolis in January.
Christina’s new novel, A Piece of the World, was released in February!