Ann Reynold (maiden name Anilu Bernardo) was born in Cuba and fled as a child to the United States in 1961, her own jumping off to freedom.

She grew up in Miami, Florida and attended Coral Gables High school.

She then earned a B.A. in Spanish from Florida State University, graduating in 1971 and an M.A. in communications in 1980. Like many authors for young people, Bernardo began writing as a youngster, originally writing stories and poems in Spanish, her first language. She lives in Plantation, Florida with her husband Jim and their two daughters, Stephanie and Amanda.

Her first published book, Fitting In, is a collection of short stories and was published as part of the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Project at the University of Houston. Fitting In tied with Margaret Wiley's Facing the Music for the Paterson Prize for Books for Young...