Middle Grade

Rob Harrell

Rob Harrell is the author of the middle grade novel Wink, the Life of Zarf series, and the graphic novel Monster on the Hill, which was adapted into the animated film Rumble. In addition, Harrell created the comic strip Big Top and now writes and draws the daily strip Adam@Home.

Harrell recently wrote and illustrated the graphic novels Batpig: When Pigs FlyBatpig: Too Pig To Fail, and Batpig: Go Pig or Go Home. His latest middle grade novel, Popcorn, came out in September 2024.

Born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, Harrell now lives in Zionsville with his dog, Shepler.

2026 Middle Grade Shortlist: Popcorn

Popcorn is the a story of a young boy making it through school picture day before a failed science experiment and a runin with bully raises his anxiety.

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2022 Middle Grade Shortlist: Batpig: When Pigs Fly

Introducing a supremely hilarious graphic novel featuring an unstoppable, super-swine hero who boldly fights for justice . . . in between taking mud baths and eating tasty sandwiches.  Gary Yorkshire was your perfectly average, fuzzy pink pig who loved tasty sandwiches, video games, mud baths, and hanging out with his friends Carl the fish and Brooklyn the bat. Until one day . . . a radioactive bat bite gives him powers he never would have dreamed of! Inspired by his old Crimson Swine comics, Gary decides that he’ll use his powers for good and becomes (drumroll) Batpig! Now he just needs a good zinger of a Batpig slogan, a spandex costume that flatters his rear end . . . and maybe a little advice about how in the world to defeat supervillains?

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