Book Series Guide
Kathryn Stockett

Author guide

Kathryn Stockett Books in Order

Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, and graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in English and creative writing. She worked in magazine publishing and marketing in New York City before publishing her debut novel, The Help, in 2009. Her second novel, The Calamity Club, was published in 2026.

historical fictionliterary fictionsouthern fictionwomens fiction

Catalog record updated .

Kathryn Stockett's Newest Book

Cover of The Calamity Club

The Calamity Club

novel · First published 2026

Abandoned by her mother one Christmas Eve, eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur has learned the hard way to rely on no one. Now one of the unadoptable "big girls" at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, she fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed. Birdie Calhoun, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford to ask her socialite sister to help the struggling family she's left behind. But as the Depression tightens its grip, Birdie discovers her sister's seemingly charmed life is a tapestry of lies. Then, Birdie encounters Charlie, a woman running low on luck with little left to lose. When their fates—and Meg's—converge, Charlie comes up with an audacious plan to claim what's rightfully theirs. But in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife and women's freedom is fragile, even the smallest act of defiance can have dangerous consequences. The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to underestimated women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. This is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time.

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Cover of The Help

The Help

Standalone debut novel and the author's best-known work.

Cover of The Calamity Club

The Calamity Club

Standalone second novel requiring no prior reading.

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Novels (2)
  1. The Help

    novel · 2009

    "Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She’s full of ambition, but without a husband, she’s considered a…

  2. The Calamity Club

    novel · 2026

    Abandoned by her mother one Christmas Eve, eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur has learned the hard way to rely on no one. Now one of the unadoptable "big girls" at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, she fights each day to keep her spirit…

Frequently asked questions about Kathryn Stockett

Who is Kathryn Stockett?

Kathryn Stockett is an American novelist born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. She graduated from the University of Alabama with degrees in English and creative writing and became widely known for The Help.

Sources: penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)mississippiencyclopedia.org (opens in a new tab)

What did Kathryn Stockett do before becoming a novelist?

After graduating from the University of Alabama, Stockett moved to New York City and worked in magazine publishing and marketing for sixteen years before becoming a novelist.

Source: penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)

What inspired Kathryn Stockett to write The Help?

Stockett has said the novel grew from memories of Demetrie, the Black maid who helped raise her in Mississippi. While homesick in New York after September 11, she began writing in Demetrie’s voice, and conversations with fellow Southerners helped shape the idea further.

Sources: time.com (opens in a new tab)penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)

What awards has Kathryn Stockett received?

The Help won Goodreads’ 2009 Choice Award for Fiction and the 2010 Townsend Prize for Fiction.

Sources: goodreads.com (opens in a new tab)georgiawritersmuseum.org (opens in a new tab)

What is Kathryn Stockett’s literary legacy?

Stockett’s public literary legacy is closely tied to The Help, which became a number-one New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a major film. The novel also prompted discussion about the challenges of a white Southern author writing Black characters’ perspectives.

Sources: kathrynstockettauthor.com (opens in a new tab)awards.wga.org (opens in a new tab)theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)