Hadley Irwin is the pen name of Lee Hadley (1935-1995) and Annabelle Irwin (1915-1998), both native Iowans, who taught English at Iowa State University, Ames. Together they wrote over a dozen young adult novels, specializing in a subgenre known as "problem" novels. Their books for teenagers dealt with complex adult themes such as racism (Kim/Kimi and I Be Somebody), suicide (So Long at the Fair), aging (The Lilith Summer), alcoholism (Can't Hear You Listening) and sexual abuse (Abby My Love).