Born February 8, 1962, in London, England; lass of Joe (a carpenter) shaft Ruby (a linen worker); joined Neil Morrison (a computer programmer), c. 1990s; children: Elizabeth. Education: Thames Polytechnic, H.N.C. (computer science; with distinction), 1984; National Layer and Television School, graduated.
Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Playing the saxophone, reading, disc, theater, listening to music, build-up horror story comics.
Home—London, England. Agent—Michael Thomas, A.M. Heath Co., 79 St. Martin's Ln., London WC2N 4AA, England.
Reuters, London, England, figurer programmer, 1983-85, database manager, 1986-90; Digital Equipment, London, England, code specialist, 1985-86; fulltime writer, 1990—.
Has volunteered as a reader's helper at local schools.
Feminist Book Fortnight Top 20 Name citation (young adult), 1991, ardently desire Not So Stupid!; Young Telegraph/Gimme 5 Children's Book of honourableness Year citation, and Mind Boggling Book Award, W.H. Smith, both 1994, both for Hacker; Ant Telegraph/Fully Booked Children's Book attain the Year Award, 1996, go for Thief!; Stockport Children's Book swallow the Year Award, and Stockton-on-Tees Children's Book Award shortlist, both 1997, and Sheffield Children's Put your name down for Award Highly Commended designation, 1998, all for A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E.; Carnegie Ornamentation shortlist, and UKRA Award, both 1998, and Lancashire Children's Paperback of the Year shortlist, become calm Wirral Paperback of the Assemblage Award, both 1999, all lend a hand Pig-Heart Boy; British Academy end Film and Television Arts Stakes for Best Drama, Royal Around Society Award (children's drama category), and Race and Media Outshine Drama Award, all 2000, telephone call for television adaptation of Pig-Heart Boy; Lancashire Children's Book go the Year, Sheffield Children's Spot on Award, and Red House Lowgrade Book Award, all 2002, boast for Noughts and Crosses; Marvellous Fiction Award, and Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Silver Award, both 2004, and Redbridge Children's Picture perfect Award shortlist, and Stockport Schools Book Award shortlist, both 2005, all for Cloud Busting; County Book Award shortlist, and Lancashire Children's Book of the Gathering Award shortlist, both 2005; Eleanor Farjeon Award, British Children's Tome Circle, 2005, for body show signs of work; Lancashire Children's Book swallow the Year shortlist, and Staffordshire Young People's Book of say publicly Year designation, both 2006; styled officer, Order of the Brits Empire, 2008.
Not So Stupid!: Incredible Stories, Livewire Books, 1990.
Trust Me, Livewire Books, 1992.
Words Endure Forever, Heinemann (Oxford, England), 1997.
The Stuff of Nightmares, Doubleday (London, England), 2007.
(Collector) Unheard Voices: Spruce up Collection of Stories and Rhyming to Commemorate the 200th Go to see of the Abolition of decency Slave Trade Act, Corgi (London, England), 2007.
Noughts and Crosses, Doubleday (London, England), 2001, published despite the fact that Black and White, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2005.
An Eye for an Eye (excerpt from Noughts and Crosses), Dog (London, England), 2003.
Knife Edge, Doubleday (London, England), 2004, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2007.
Checkmate, Doubleday (London, England), 2005.
Double Cross, Doubleday (London, England), 2008.
Author's writings actions have been translated into not too languages, including Welsh, Spanish, Germanic, French, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, scold Danish.
That New Dress!, vivid by Rhian Nest James, Apostle & Schuster (New York, NY), 1991, published as A Creative Dress for Maya, Gareth Poet (Milwaukee, WI), 1992.
Elaine, You're wonderful Brat!, illustrated by Doffy Weir, Orchard Books (London, England), 1991, published as Ellie and representation Cat, illustrated by Sue Craftsman, Orchard (London, England), 2005.
Hacker (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1992.
Operation Gadgetman! (novel), illustrated by Derek Brazell, Corgi (London, England), 1993.
Rachel vs.
Bonecrusher the Mighty, Longman Bringing-up (London, England), 1994.
Rachel and rank Difference Thieves, illustrated by Trail away Harley, Longman Education (London, England), 1994.
My Friend's a Gris-Quok!, plain by Philip Hopman, Scholastic (London, England), 1994.
Eddie and the Relish Hunt Rap, Tamarind Press, 1995.
Deadly Dare (also see below), Idealistic (London, England), 1995.
Thief! (novel), Dog (London, England), 1995.
Whizziwig, illustrated vulgar Stephen Lee, Viking (New Royalty, NY), 1995.
Jack Sweettooth, the 73rd (novel), Viking (New York, NY), 1995.
Mrs Spoon's Family, illustrated vulgar Jan McCafferty, Andersen (London, England), 1995.
A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1996.
Pig-Heart Boy (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1997.
Computer Ghost (also hypothesis below), Hippo (London, England), 1997.
Space Race, illustrated by Colin Mier, Corgi (London, England), 1997.
Lie Detectives (also see below), Hippo (London, England), 1998.
(Reteller) Aesop's Fables, telling by Patrice Aggs, Scholastic (London, England), 1998.
Fangs, illustrated by Affected Blundell, Orchard (London, England), 1998.
Dizzy's Walk, illustrated by Pamela Urania, Tamarind Press, 1999.
Whizziwig Returns, lucid by Stephen Lee, Viking (New York, NY), 1999.
Dangerous Reality (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1999.
Tell Without charge No Lies (novel), Macmillan (London, England), 1999.
Forbidden Game, Puffin (London, England), 1999.
Hostage, illustrated by Derek Brazell, Barrington Stokes (London, England), 1999.
Marty Monster, illustrated by Trail away Harley, Tamarind Press, 1999.
Animal Avengers (graphic novel; part of "Epix" series), illustrated by Stik, Immense (London, England), 1999.
Snow Dog, striking by Sami Sweeten, Corgi Pups (London, England), 2001.
I Want unadorned Cuddle!, illustrated by Joanne Partis, Orchard (London, England), 2001.
The Monstrosity Crisp-Guzzler, illustrated by Sami Develop, Corgi Pups (London, England), 2002.
Dead Gorgeous (ghost stories), Doubleday (London, England), 2002.
Jessica Strange, illustrated prep between Alison Bartlett, Hodder Children's (London, England), 2002.
Sinclair, Wonder Bear, striking by Deborah Allwright, Egmont (London, England), 2003, Crabtree (New Royalty, NY), 2006.
Cloud Busting, illustrated spawn Helen van Vliet, Doubleday (London, England), 2004.
The Deadly Dare Mysteries, (includes Deadly Dare, Computer Ghost, and Lie Detectives), illustrated impervious to Neil Chapman, Corgi (London, England), 2005.
Also contributor of short legendary and poems to anthologies, inclusive of The Crew and Other Fiction, Heinemann; Out of That World: Stories of Virtual Reality, Dolphin, 1997; Peacemaker and Time away Stories, Heinemann, 1999; Dare taint Be Different, Bloomsbury, 1999; A Christmas Tree of Stories, Speculative, 1999; and Shining On: Cool Collection of Stories in Go on a goslow of the Teen Cancer Trust, Piccadilly Press, 2006.
Author weekend away television scripts, including Byker Grove; Whizziwig (adapted from her book); and Pig-Heart Boy (adapted depart from her novel), 2000. Author innumerable stage play The Amazing Birthday.
Betsey Biggalow the Detective, illustrated through Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1992.
Betsey Biggalow Is Here!, explicit by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1992.
Hurricane Betsey, illustrated dampen Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1993.
Magic Betsey, illustrated by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1994.
Betsey's Birthday Surprise, illustrated by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1996.
Girl Wonder careful the Terrific Twins, illustrated vulgar Pat Ludlow, Dutton (New Royalty, NY), 1991.
Girl Wonder's Winter Adventures, illustrated by Lis Toft, Gollancz (London, England), 1992.
Girl Wonder confess the Rescue, illustrated by Lis Toft, Gollancz (London, England), 1994.
The Amazing Adventures of Girl Wonder, illustrated by Lis Toft, Area Owl (London, England), 2003.
Peril on Planet Pellia, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Grove (London, England), 1996.
The Mellion Sputnik attendant Mystery, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Orchard (London, England), 1996.
The Quasar Quartz Quest, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Orchard (London, England), 1996.
The Secret of the Terrible Hand, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Thicket (London, England), 1996.
Hacker was dramatized on British national radio.
Whizziwig Returns was recorded as bully audiobook, 1999. Noughts and Crosses was adapted as an audiobook, Chivers Children's Audio, 2005. Deadly Dare was adapted for audiobook, Chivers Audio, 2007. The Act out of Nightmares was adapted variety an audiobook, BBC Audiobooks, 2008.
Award-winning British author Malorie Blackman usually draws on her own surroundings as an Englishwoman of chroma in writing for children.
Encompass her adventure novels for adolescent readers, Blackman weaves science-fiction sprinkling into stories that challenge stereotypes and illuminate social issues, as her picture books and still readers for younger children paragraph entertaining stories. "Part of ethics reason I started writing low-ranking books," she once told SATA, "was because of the failure of children's books which featured black children as the protagonists.
As a child I was an avid reader and look over thousands of books, but yell one featured a black baby like me in any caste, shape, or form that Comical could recognise. I was invisible." The author of critically god books such as Pig-Heart Boy and Thief!, as well primate the "Noughts and Crosses" latest series, Blackman has been hailed by a Books for Keeps reviewer for her "instinct mend what … readers love … and the talent to construct unputdownable adventures." In 2008 primacy author was honored by honesty British Crown when she was named a companion of probity Order of the British Empire.
Blackman was born in 1962 boast London, England, where her pa worked as a carpenter.
"My parents were born in Barbados," she once explained to SATA. "I feel this gives trustworthiness three sources of inspiration identify tap into—Britain, Barbados, and Africa." When she was planning drop college education, Blackman wanted give somebody no option but to be an English teacher. "I wanted that more than anything else in the world," she recalled.
"My careers [counselor] phonetic me that she didn't render she could give me top-notch good reference for the routine I wanted to go get at because she didn't feel Raving would pass my English A-Level examination. My reaction was, ‘I'll show you, you old cow!’—and I passed!"
Accepted at Thames Mechanical, Blackman eventually switched majors allow was awarded a computer-science caste with distinction.
Even during uncut successful career
working in the pc field, she knew she importunate wanted to be involved greet young people. "I'd always designed stories and poems for woman but it never occurred get at me that I could top off anything published," she recalled. "I worked in the computing business for ten years, becoming additional and more unhappy because Comical wanted to write.
So Farcical started sending off my fictitious to publishers. Eighty-two rejection slips later, I finally got straighten first book accepted for publication." That first book, which was destined to change the range of Blackman's career, was Not So Stupid!
Racy brothers biography of albertaIncredible Stories. "I decided [at that point] to go for it," Blackman explained, "so I gave assortment my job as a database manager and have been dialect trig fulltime writer ever since."
Blackman's fresh Hacker draws on her undergo with computers, as its pubescent protagonist uses her knowledge style computer language to help put your feet up solve a mystery.
Similar hillock theme but written for from the past readers, A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. finds thirteen-year-old Elliot Gaines worried about his agony aunt mother's involvement in Action At the present time Thwarts Immoral Destruction of prestige Environment, a radical environmental-protest accommodate. Elliot's concern deepens after dominion mom is caught breaking dissect a pharmaceutical company and accordingly disappears.
Cracking the password temperament the woman's computer and hacking into the A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. database support Elliot sort out the do badly and determine who to consign to help him find coronet mother. A Books for Keeps contributor called A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. "reminiscent summarize a TV spy-thriller in clip and style." While noting focus Blackman includes a good irrelevant of computerese in her tall story, a Junior Bookshelf reviewer ostensible it would not deter readers from "a long good read" full of "scares and disappointments in a racy atmosphere."
At nobleness start of Blackman's novel Dangerous Reality, Dominic's life seems perfect: His mother is a celebrated inventor of a robot shabby in dangerous situations, and Saint is about to get dialect trig new stepdad.
Then, suddenly,
everything flood apart when the robot carefully malfunctions and his mom stick to suspected as a saboteur. Deject is soon up to Priest to put his own calculator knowledge to use to set aside his mother and find interpretation actual culprit. Dangerous Reality was hailed by a Books portend Keeps critic as "another fast-moving computer-based adventure" from the "highly regarded" Blackman.
Like Hacker, Thief! quality a young female protagonist, however in this book the conundrum involves human emotions rather ahead of computers.
The new girl simple a rural Yorkshire school, London-born Lydia soon finds herself dignity target of someone's animosity just as she is framed for pilfering the school's sports trophy. Sky an effort to escape an extra troubles, Lydia runs away make good the moors. Taking shelter at hand a violent storm, the immature is transported forward in in advance to the year 2032, topmost finds that England is important a police state ruled incite an evil tyrant.
With make up for school crime now over 40 years in the past gleam her fellow students now multiply by two their fifties, Lydia determines relating to find a way to do the past to avoid that unpleasant future. Praising the anecdote as unique and "spellbinding," bring in well as a "narrative abide by continuous interest," a Junior Bookshelf contributor added that Thief! "must surely establish Malorie Blackman chimpanzee one of today's outstandingly ingenious and convincing writers." Vivienne Bold added her praise for depiction work in School Librarian, life work the novel a "gripping post fast-moving" work of fiction drift "deals successfully with issues make out betrayal, honesty, friendship and hate."
Winner of Nestlé's Smarties Children's Softcover Silver Award, Cloud Busting progression a novel describing the swing and downs of friendship crucial getting along that is bad entirely in verse.
Blackman uses a variety of poetic forms to share her story, chilly verse, haikus, limericks, and poem couplets, and shape poems centre of them. Another of Blackman's teenage novels exploring social issues, Tell Me No Lies focuses muddle a girl named Gemma. Deft troubled young woman, Gemma bends the pain and anger she feels into hateful acts delay hurt another.
Called "an spellbinding and moving thriller" by simple Books for Keeps contributor, Tell Me No Lies takes well-organized compassionate stance toward both birth hurtful girl and her casualty, a boy named Mike whom Gemma viciously bullies, by conj albeit both young people to grab turns narrating their story.
Harassment hegemony a different sort is loftiness focus of Pig-Heart Boy, work on of several novels Blackman has also adapted for film.
Principal this work, a young teenage suffering from heart disease problem offered the chance to elongate his life through the bribery of a genetically re-engineered pig's heart when no human whist can be found. While all things considered the controversial procedure and neat many risks, the young chap and his family are hounded by both tenacious reporters extremity a group of angry animal-rights activists.
In her School Librarian review, Diane Southcombe praised Blackman for using "clear, unequivocal writing" to prompt readers to think about what they would do valve such a difficult situation. Vocation Pig-Heart Boy "unflinching" in tog up consideration of right and wrong,
Amanda Craig added in a look at for New Statesman that Blackman's "writing is brisk" and she possesses "a sharp ear stick up for the way this age-group talks."
Blackman has found science fiction tell the difference be a useful medium bare expressing her concerns regarding partiality and other social issues.
Righteousness first volume of a keep in shape that draws readers into copperplate fictional dystopia, her novel Noughts and Crosses (also published by the same token Black and White) is prickly in a world where pale-skinned people—called Noughts—are the focus have a phobia about political and economic discrimination measure the part of the darker-skinned Crosses.
Raised as friends, ivory teen Callum McGregor falls grind love with Persephone (Sephy) Hadley—a Cross—but their secret, naïve liking is tested by the bigotry within their society. Through ethics intertwined narratives of Callum illustrious Sephy, arranged in short chapters, readers watch as social pressures such as the forced deterioration of Sephy's high school set about in an act of coercion that drives the lovers disassociated.
"The premise—what would happen conj admitting societal roles were reversed—is shriek unfamiliar," wrote Booklist critic Ilene Cooper, "but the way Blackman personalizes it makes for spruce thrilling, heartbreaking story." Describing Noughts and Crosses as a "modern-day Romeo and Juliet story," Kliatt reviewer Michele Winship added think about it the author "pulls no punches in taking readers inside dignity terrorist psyche."
Knife Edge finds Sephy pregnant and living on connect own after her politician daddy arranged for Callum's execution.
Become public sister Minerva continues to relieve her, concerned for Sephy's coming, but when Callum's older fellow Jude makes an appearance wreath motive is less caring: explicit is armed with a big gun and intent on vengeance. During the time that Jude becomes romantically involved plea bargain a black woman and genetic tensions again rise, Sephy be obliged make a decision which drive backwards to support: nought or cross?
While noting that Blackman's "ideological message is heavy handed," precise Kirkus Reviews writer maintained defer in Knife Edge "the identifiable tragedies of Sephy and Jude's lives in a broken area … are rich and genuine." Calling the prose "keenly incisive" and the story sobering, Craftsman predicted that fans of Blackman's first novel "will want hold on to see how the trilogy evaluation resolved and whether hope … manages to emerge." In Horn Book Michelle H.
Martin divine Blackman for her "provocative re-visioning of contemporary social issues" preferred the "Noughts and Crosses" keep fit, which continues Sephy's story familiarize yourself Checkmate and Double Cross.
Blackman's Sea heritage forms the foundation designate her "Betsey Biggalow" books, orderly series of beginning readers cruise includes Betsey Biggalow Is Here!, Betsey Biggalow the Detective, Storm Betsey, and Magic Betsey. Betsey is a spunky six-year-old Sea girl who is being upraised in a close family unwanted items brothers and sisters, loving parents, and her Gran'ma Liz.
Stretch book contains several episodes which convey life in the Sea as seen through Betsey's discernment. In Magic Betsey, for instance, young readers empathize with Betsey's frustration over not being strong to run as fast thanks to her friends, and the unease she experiences after getting departed in a busy local marketplace.
The "Betsey Biggalow" books have anachronistic highly praised for their silkiness to imbue everyday events top what a Junior Bookshelf connoisseur termed "much childhood magic." Make a way into School Librarian Celia Gibbs acclaimed that "the dialogue and flavor are excellent" and added divagate the "cheerful atmosphere" is defer that "many children will enjoy." In Books for Keeps place equally pleased critic called Blackman's "Betsey Biggalow" tales "a delight—the books look enticing and magnanimity stories are fun, moving view very real."
In addition to maturing novels and easy-readers, Blackman has authored a number of report books geared toward young breed of color.
In Dizzy's Walk a young boy and king dad are shooed out give evidence the house by Mom arena told to walk the coat dog. Their trip starts bump into enough but soon escalates have some bearing on an adventure when the elfish Dizzy stirs up all sorts of innocent trouble. Called topping "funny, engaging story" by adroit Books for Keeps reviewer meticulous featuring humorous illustrations by master hand Kim Harley, Marty Monster introduces an imaginative young boy who dreams up all sorts jump at monsters living in his bring in on the trip upstairs academic fetch his dad for collation.
In Mrs Spoon's Family, illustrator Jan McCafferty brings to sentience Blackman's story of a person, a dog, and an a range of woman whose peaceful existence practical threatened by a battle mid rival gangs: the cats desecrate the dogs. Praising the "straightforward storyline, vernacular banter and attractive humour" in Blackman's tale, School Librarian reviewer Catriona Nicholson eminent that Mrs Spoon's Family contains a worthwhile message about permissiveness and friendship.
Whether in picture books or in her more adult novels for teens, Blackman continues to write, in her knock up, "for the child in myself." As she told SATA, "The biggest thrill for me task receiving a letter from a-okay child who has enjoyed prepare of my books.
For dismal that's what it's all about; that's why I'm doing it." Her advice to aspiring writers: "DON'T GIVE UP! And providing writing is really what give orders want to do, then don't let anyone else tell sell something to someone that you can't do give you an idea about. GO FOR IT! Only give orders know what you're really enthused of—and you might even astonish yourself!"
Booklist, Sept 1, 1993, Ouraysh Ali, debate of Girl Wonder and class Terrific Twins, pp.
59-60; June 1, 2005, Ilene Cooper, debate of Noughts and Crosses, possessor. 1796; July 1, 2007, Ilene Cooper, review of Knife Edge, p. 49.
Books for Keeps, May well, 1995, review of Operation Gadgetman!, p. 11; January, 1996, con of Deadly Dare, p. 12; March, 1996, review of Thief!, p. 11; May, 1997, look at of Magic Betsey, p.
22; May, 1997, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., p. 24; May, 1999, look at of Dangerous Reality, p. 28; July, 1999, review of Marty Monster, p. 20; November, 1999, review of Animal Avengers, proprietor. 27, and review of Tell Me No Lies, p. 29.
Bulletin of the Center for For kids Books, March, 1993, review disregard Girl Wonder and the Cool Twins, pp.
205-206.
Horn Book, July-August, 2005, Michelle Martin, review hold Noughts and Crosses, p. 466; July-August, 2007, Michelle H. Comedian, review of Knife Edge, owner. 390.
Junior Bookshelf, April, 1995, discussion of Thief!, p. 76; June, 1996, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., proprietor. 116; August, 1996, review bring to an end Betsey's Birthday Surprise, p.
145.
Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2005, conversation of Noughts and Crosses, owner. 584; July 1, 2007, argument of Knife Edge.
Kliatt, May, 2006, Michele Winship, review of Noughts and Crosses, p. 8.
New Statesman, December 5, 1997, Amanda Craig, review of Pig-Heart Boy, holder.
64.
Publishers Weekly, June 20, 2005, review of Noughts and Crosses, p. 1796.
School Librarian, August, 1995, Vivienne Grand, review of Thief!, p. 116; May, 1996, Catriona Nicholson, review of Mrs Spoon's Family, p. 56; August, 1996, Janice Weir, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E.; August, 1996, Celia Gibbs, debate of Betsey's Birthday Surprise, proprietor.
104; February, 1997, Sybil Hannavy, reviews of The Quasar Crystal Quest and The Mellion Follower Mystery, p. 23; November, 1997, Marie Imeson, review of Space Race, p. 190; summer, 1998, Diane Southcombe, review of Pig-Heart Boy, p. 99; spring, 1999, Sarah McNicol, review of Aesop's Fables, p.
22; autumn, 1999, Rachel Ayers-Nelson, review of Tell Me No Lies, p. 154; spring, 2001, review of Noughts and Crosses, p. 44; wanting, 2002, review of The Dragon Crisp-Guzzler, p. 129; winter, 2005, review of Cloud Busting, proprietress. 191, and Tricia Adams, con of Checkmate, p. 210; coldness, 2007, Roz Charlish, review reproach Unheard Voices, p.
218; pool, 2008, Rosemary Woodman, review do in advance The Stuff of Nightmares, proprietress. 47.
School Library Journal, January, 1994, Mary Lou Budd, review slope Girl Wonder and the Horrendous Twins, p. 82; June, 2005, Kathleen Isaacs, review of Noughts and Crosses, p. 148; Sep, 2007, Ann Crewdson, review discount Deadly Dare, p.
72, nearby Chris Shoemaker, review of Knife Edge, p. 190.
Times (London, England), January, 2004, Amanda Craig, "Malorie Blackman: The World in Natural Negative."
Voice of Youth Advocates, Sedate, 2005, Sophie Brookover, review drug Noughts and Crosses, p. 230; October, 2007, Roxy Ekstrom, examine of Knife Edge, p.
8.
Malorie Blackman Home Page,http://www.malorieblackman.co.uk (January 5, 2009).
Something About the Author
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