Barbara Newhall Follett

Barbara Newhall Follett (1914–disappeared 1939) was an American author celebrated as a literary prodigy. Born in Hanover, New Hampshire, she was homeschooled by her parents, who encouraged her vivid imagination. At age twelve, she published The House Without Windows (1927), a lyrical fantasy about a girl who escapes into a magical forest world. The novel received widespread praise for its poetic prose and imaginative depth. She followed it with The Voyage of the Norman D. (1928), a travelogue based on a family sailing trip. Follett’s adult life was marked by personal struggles, and in 1939, at age 25, she left her Boston apartment and was never seen again. Despite her brief career, her work remains a touchstone in children’s fantasy literature, admired for its early ecological themes and visionary storytelling.