Kate DiCamillo’s The True Story of Edith Leapyear: Release Date and What We Know

Fact-checked: October 3, 2026

Kate DiCamillo’s next middle grade adventure has a publication date and a special place in its publisher’s plans. The True Story of Edith Leapyear, Child Outlaw: As Told by Herself is scheduled for April 6, 2027, and will be the first book published by Norton Waverly, a new imprint from W. W. Norton & Company.

For readers looking for the latest on DiCamillo’s forthcoming novel, the biggest developments are the precise release date, the newly announced imprint, and a premise that puts a young heroine’s own account at the center of the story.

When Is The True Story of Edith Leapyear Coming Out?

In its October 1 report on Norton Waverly’s launch, Publishers Weekly identifies April 6, 2027, as the publication date for DiCamillo’s novel.

The report also clarifies its publishing home. Norton Waverly will launch in spring 2027 under Karen Lotz, who previously worked with DiCamillo at Candlewick and its parent company, Walker Books.

That makes the release both a new chapter for DiCamillo and a reunion with a longtime publishing collaborator.

What Is the Book About?

The publisher’s description, available through the book’s Google Play listing, introduces Edith as a child who has never had a real home.

At Elma Larkspur’s Home for Unwanted Girls, another orphan teaches her to read and write. An escape and unsuccessful efforts to correct the injustices she has experienced eventually land her in jail. There, with access to writing materials, Edith begins telling her story.

Her adventures involve an unusual assortment of companions and objects, including a mule, wolves, a spyglass, and pies. The description presents the novel as an adventure combining comedy, compassion, and a pursuit of justice.

Is It Actually a True Story?

Despite its title, The True Story of Edith Leapyear is fiction. Lotz describes it in the launch coverage as a fictional memoir with the feeling of a fairy tale.

The words “As Told by Herself” are therefore an important part of the title: Edith narrates her own experiences. Readers should approach it as a novel, rather than a biography or a documented account of a historical child outlaw.

That narrative choice is also the most interesting part of the premise. A child who has had little control over her circumstances gets to decide how her experiences are told. Whether that voice proves funny, defiant, heartbreaking, or all three will be something to assess when the finished book arrives.

Is Kate DiCamillo Leaving Candlewick?

The Norton release does not mean DiCamillo has stopped working with Candlewick.

In the April acquisition report, her agent, Holly McGhee, said DiCamillo intended to publish with both companies and already had other projects progressing at Candlewick.

DiCamillo also expressed a wish for Edith’s story to be shared alou, by teachers and librarians, by children with adults, and by adults with one another. That makes its potential as a shared reading experience worth watching, although it is too early to judge its suitability for a particular classroom.

Why This Release Deserves Attention

DiCamillo’s official author biography lists Newbery Medal wins for The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses, alongside a Newbery Honor for Because of Winn-Dixie.

A new novel from an author with that record will interest readers, parents, teachers, and librarians. Here, the additional publishing news gives the announcement a clear hook: Edith’s story will introduce Norton Waverly to readers.

For Books of Brilliance, the strongest reason to follow the book is its central question: what happens when a child who has been treated unfairly finally gets to tell her own story? That offers a more specific reason for anticipation than simply calling another forthcoming release a must-read.

What We Still Need to Learn

The publication date and basic premise are available, but this remains a preview rather than a review. The ending, the full development of Edith’s character, and the effectiveness of the novel’s humor and emotional arc must wait for a reading of the book.

For now, April 6, 2027 is the date to keep in mind. The True Story of Edith Leapyear, Child Outlaw: As Told by Herself promises an unusual starting point for a new DiCamillo adventure: a young outlaw writing from jail, determined that her story will be heard.

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