This article presents a profile of Newbery Award-winning author Karen Hesse, who is best known for her knack for recovering the little-known stories of the past and making them resonate once again in her books. As a meticulous researcher and lover of things from the past, some of Karen Hesse's most well-loved stories have tugged at her sleeve (and heart) in a variety of different ways. Because so many of her books deal with often forgotten historical tales, Hesse immerses herself in everything and anything she can get her hands on about that period. Her research process can take anywhere from six months to a year prior to the point when she can actually sit down and begin to write.