Barbara Newhall Follett, a celebrated child prodigy who published her first novel at the age of 12, mysteriously vanished at 25, leaving behind a legacy of literary brilliance and unanswered questions about her fate.

At just 12 years old, Barbara Newhall Follett was a literary sensation, hailed as a child prodigy who penned her first novel, “The House Without Windows,” to critical acclaim.

But by the time she turned 25, she had mysteriously vanished, leaving behind a legacy shrouded in intrigue and unanswered questions.

Now, her half-nephew, Stefan Cooke, has devoted nearly 15 years to unraveling the enigma of his aunt’s life and disappearance, determined to honor her remarkable story.

“That’s gonna be my job,” Cooke said with conviction. “To get her story out there again because it’s such a great story. I want people to appreciate the wisdom that she had at such an early age.”

Through his publishing company, Farksolia, Cooke has managed to bring Barbara’s final novel, “Lost Island,” back into print, along with her letters and a reissue of her second book, “The Voyage of the Norman D.”

Yet, despite these efforts, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain a haunting mystery.

Born in New Hampshire in 1914 to a literary family—her father, Wilson Follett, was an esteemed scholar at Ivy League institutions, while her mother, Helen, was also a writer—Barbara was homeschooled and nurtured in an environment that fostered her early literary talents.

By the age of six, she had already crafted a 4,500-word short story, and her first novel was completed by the age of eight.

Tragically, the original manuscript was lost in a house fire, but Barbara’s determination shone through as she rewrote the entire book, a testament to her dedication and resilience.

Cooke reflected on this moment, saying, “To write a novel-length book and then to have her manuscript burn up in the house fire—its only copy lost—and then to recreate it?

That shows a great level of dedication.” Her debut novel, published when she was just 12, told the story of a lonely girl named Eepersip who ran away to live among the animals on a mountain, a narrative that resonated deeply with readers and critics alike.

One review described it as “unbearably beautiful,” and it was clear that Barbara was destined for greatness.

However, the trajectory of her life took a tragic turn when her father left the family for his secretary, deeply affecting Barbara and her mother. “It was devastating for her,” Cooke noted. “They fell into poverty and despair.”

The emotional toll of her father’s departure strained their relationship, leading to estrangement after a tumultuous trip together. Barbara eventually sought refuge with friends in California, where she received psychiatric care and enrolled in junior college.

By the age of 15, Barbara had already made headlines again, this time for running away to escape the constraints of a life she felt suffocated by. “I came away because I felt I had to have my freedom,” she told a local newspaper.

“I felt utterly suppressed, almost frantic, under the plans that had been made for me.” Her quest for autonomy was evident, and it was clear that she was determined to forge her own path, regardless of societal expectations.

After returning to the East Coast, Barbara met Nickerson Rogers in 1931, and the two eventually married. However, the marriage quickly soured when she discovered his infidelity, leaving her heartbroken and disillusioned.

In 1939, Barbara left her apartment with just $30 in her pocket, never to be seen again. “Her husband waited two weeks to report her missing,” Cooke explained.

“He did so under her married name, which made it difficult to connect her disappearance to the prodigious author everyone once celebrated.”

The mystery of Barbara’s fate deepened as her mother only learned of her disappearance in the 1940s. Speculation about her fate has run rampant for decades, with theories ranging from suicide to murder, or even the possibility that she simply sought a new life.

In a chilling twist, human remains were discovered in November 1948 near Squam Lake, a place that held significance for Barbara.

While a Harvard pathologist determined the remains belonged to a local girl, discrepancies in the case led Cooke to wonder if they could be linked to his aunt.

“My heart sank when I heard about the body,” Cooke recalled. “I was 99 percent sure that this was Barbara’s remains.”

The remains, however, have since vanished, leaving behind more questions than answers. Cooke’s theory now suggests that Barbara may have taken a train to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where she stayed at a barn rented by her and her husband to contemplate her next steps.

“The next morning, she could have walked to her favorite lake, hugged her favorite tree, and died by suicide,” he speculated.

In his quest to uncover the truth, Cooke has created a website dedicated to Barbara’s life, where he documents her history and invites others to share their theories about her disappearance.

“She was capable of absolutely anything,” he said, reflecting on her extraordinary life. Commenters often share their thoughts, with some suggesting that Barbara may have adopted a new identity and continued writing under a pseudonym.

“I thought it most likely that she would have gone back to writing children’s books,” one commenter noted.

Others have speculated about the timing of her disappearance, suggesting that with the war raging in Europe, she could have easily assumed a male identity and sailed away to escape the chaos.

“In a strange way, she lived her art… vanishing as the world descended into war into a moment of infinite potentials,” another theorist mused.

Meanwhile, a third commenter raised concerns about foul play in her marriage, hinting that her husband may have been complicit in her disappearance.

Cooke remains steadfast in his belief that Barbara’s husband was unhappy but did not play a role in her vanishing act. “I think he wanted a divorce,” Cooke said, “but I don’t believe he had anything to do with her disappearance.”

As he continues to piece together the fragments of his aunt’s life, Cooke feels a profound sense of pride in her accomplishments. “Barbara was right there in the 1920s and early 1930s, struggling to make a way forward, and she did admirably,” he said.

The gripping mystery of Barbara Newhall Follett’s life and disappearance continues to captivate those who hear her story.

As her legacy endures through her literary works and the relentless pursuit of truth by her family, the question remains: what truly happened to the child prodigy who vanished into thin air?

Only time may reveal the answers, but for now, Barbara’s story is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring power of creativity.