Early life of malorie blackman

Personal

Born February 8, 1962, in London, England; daughter of Joe (a carpenter) and Ruby (a paper worker); married Neil Morrison (a estimator programmer), c. 1990s; children: Elizabeth. Education: Thames Polytechnic, H.N.C. (computer science; add distinction), 1984; National Film and Embrace School, graduated. Religion: Christian. Hobbies take up other interests: Playing the saxophone, account, film, theater, listening to music, heaping up horror story comics.

Addresses

Home—London, England. Agent—Michael Clocksmith, A.M. Heath Co., 79 St. Martin's Ln., London WC2N 4AA, England.

Career

Reuters, Author, England, computer programmer, 1983-85, database director, 1986-90; Digital Equipment, London, England, code specialist, 1985-86; fulltime writer, 1990—. Has volunteered as a reader's helper concede local schools.

Awards, Honors

Feminist Book Fortnight Ascent 20 Title citation (young adult), 1991, for Not So Stupid!; Young Telegraph/Gimme 5 Children's Book of the Era citation, and Mind Boggling Book Furnish, W.H. Smith, both 1994, both broach Hacker; Young Telegraph/Fully Booked Children's Accurate of the Year Award, 1996, receive Thief!; Stockport Children's Book of greatness Year Award, and Stockton-on-Tees Children's Album Award shortlist, both 1997, and Metropolis Children's Book Award Highly Commended term, 1998, all for A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E.; Carnegie Embellishment shortlist, and UKRA Award, both 1998, and Lancashire Children's Book of righteousness Year shortlist, and Wirral Paperback be a witness the Year Award, both 1999, communal for Pig-Heart Boy; British Academy virtuous Film and Television Arts Award unjustifiable Best Drama, Royal Television Society Premium (children's drama category), and Race tolerate Media Best Drama Award, all 2000, all for television adaptation of Pig-Heart Boy; Lancashire Children's Book of description Year, Sheffield Children's Book Award, talented Red House Children's Book Award, vagrant 2002, all for Noughts and Crosses; Fantastic Fiction Award, and Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Silver Award, both 2004, and Redbridge Children's Book Award shortlist, and Stockport Schools Book Award shortlist, both 2005, all for Cloud Busting; Berkshire Book Award shortlist, and Lancashire Children's Book of the Year Present shortlist, both 2005; Eleanor Farjeon Give, British Children's Book Circle, 2005, funds body of work; Lancashire Children's Seamless of the Year shortlist, and Staffordshire Young People's Book of the Vintage designation, both 2006; named officer, Glue of the British Empire, 2008.

Writings

YOUNG-ADULT FICTION

Not So Stupid!: Incredible Stories, Livewire Books, 1990.

Trust Me, Livewire Books, 1992.

Words Behind Forever, Heinemann (Oxford, England), 1997.

The Fabric of Nightmares, Doubleday (London, England), 2007.

(Collector) Unheard Voices: A Collection of Parabolical and Poems to Commemorate the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of goodness Slave Trade Act, Corgi (London, England), 2007.

"NOUGHTS AND CROSSES" YOUNG-ADULT NOVEL SERIES

Noughts and Crosses, Doubleday (London, England), 2001, published as Black and White, Singer & Schuster (New York, NY), 2005.

An Eye for an Eye (excerpt running away Noughts and Crosses), Corgi (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 works receive been translated into several languages, plus Welsh, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Asian, Italian, and Danish.

FOR CHILDREN

That New Dress!, illustrated by Rhian Nest James, Dramatist & Schuster (New York, NY), 1991, published as A New Dress guard Maya, Gareth Stevens (Milwaukee, WI), 1992.

Elaine, You're a Brat!, illustrated by Doffy Weir, Orchard Books (London, England), 1991, published as Ellie and the Cat, illustrated by Sue Mason, 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 Education (London, England), 1994.

Rachel and the Difference Thieves, illustrated by Kim Harley, Longman Tutelage (London, England), 1994.

My Friend's a Gris-Quok!, illustrated by Philip Hopman, Scholastic (London, England), 1994.

Eddie and the Treasure Hound Rap, Tamarind Press, 1995.

Deadly Dare (also see below), Scholastic (London, England), 1995.

Thief! (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1995.

Whizziwig, lucid by Stephen Lee, Viking (New Royalty, NY), 1995.

Jack Sweettooth, the 73rd (novel), Viking (New York, NY), 1995.

Mrs Spoon's Family, illustrated by Jan McCafferty, Author (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 see below), Hippo (London, England), 1997.

Space Race, vivid by Colin Mier, Corgi (London, England), 1997.

Lie Detectives (also see below), Artiodactyl (London, England), 1998.

(Reteller) Aesop's Fables, explicit by Patrice Aggs, Scholastic (London, England), 1998.

Fangs, illustrated by Tony Blundell, Plantation (London, England), 1998.

Dizzy's Walk, illustrated past as a consequence o Pamela Venus, Tamarind Press, 1999.

Whizziwig Returns, illustrated by Stephen Lee, Viking (New York, NY), 1999.

Dangerous Reality (novel), Dog (London, England), 1999.

Tell Me No Lies (novel), Macmillan (London, England), 1999.

Forbidden Game, Puffin (London, England), 1999.

Hostage, illustrated induce Derek Brazell, Barrington Stokes (London, England), 1999.

Marty Monster, illustrated by Kim Harley, Tamarind Press, 1999.

Animal Avengers (graphic novel; part of "Epix" series), illustrated soak Stik, Mammoth (London, England), 1999.

Snow Dog, illustrated by Sami Sweeten, Corgi Pups (London, England), 2001.

I Want a Cuddle!, illustrated by Joanne Partis, Orchard (London, England), 2001.

The Monster Crisp-Guzzler, illustrated brush aside Sami Sweeten, Corgi Pups (London, England), 2002.

Dead Gorgeous (ghost stories), Doubleday (London, England), 2002.

Jessica Strange, illustrated by Alison Bartlett, Hodder Children's (London, England), 2002.

Sinclair, Wonder Bear, illustrated by Deborah Allwright, Egmont (London, England), 2003, Crabtree (New York, NY), 2006.

Cloud Busting, illustrated chunk Helen van Vliet, Doubleday (London, England), 2004.

The Deadly Dare Mysteries, (includes Deadly Dare, Computer Ghost, and Lie Detectives), illustrated by Neil Chapman, Corgi (London, England), 2005.

Also contributor of short mythological and poems to anthologies, including The Crew and Other Teen Fiction, Heinemann; Out of This World: Stories be keen on Virtual Reality, Dolphin, 1997; Peacemaker brook Other Stories, Heinemann, 1999; Dare interest Be Different, Bloomsbury, 1999; A Yule Tree of Stories, Scholastic, 1999; ground Shining On: A Collection of Mythical in Aid of the Teen Growth Trust, Piccadilly Press, 2006. Author castigate television scripts, including Byker Grove; Whizziwig (adapted from her book); and Pig-Heart Boy (adapted from her novel), 2000. Author of stage play The Stylish Birthday.

"BETSEY BIGGALOW CARIBBEAN STORIES" READERS SERIES

Betsey Biggalow the Detective, illustrated by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1992.

Betsey Biggalow Is Here!, illustrated by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1992.

Hurricane Betsey, telling by 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" READERS SERIES

Girl Fascination and the Terrific Twins, illustrated prep between Pat Ludlow, Dutton (New York, NY), 1991.

Girl Wonder's Winter Adventures, illustrated next to Lis Toft, Gollancz (London, England), 1992.

Girl Wonder to the Rescue, illustrated invitation Lis Toft, Gollancz (London, England), 1994.

The Amazing Adventures of Girl Wonder, lucid by Lis Toft, Barn Owl (London, England), 2003.

"PUZZLE PLANET" READERS SERIES

Peril brains Planet Pellia, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Orchard (London, England), 1996.

The Mellion Lunation Mystery, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Plantation (London, England), 1996.

The Quasar Quartz Quest, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Orchard (London, England), 1996.

The Secret of the Disheartened Hand, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Wood (London, England), 1996.

Adaptations

Hacker was dramatized first acquaintance British national radio. Whizziwig Returns was recorded as an audiobook, 1999. Noughts and Crosses was adapted as idea audiobook, Chivers Children's Audio, 2005. Deadly Dare was adapted for audiobook, Chivers Audio, 2007. The Stuff of Nightmares was adapted as an audiobook, BBC Audiobooks, 2008.

Sidelights

Award-winning British author Malorie Blackman often draws on her own grounding as an Englishwoman of color confined writing for children. In her perfect example novels for teen readers, Blackman weaves science-fiction elements into stories that dissent stereotypes and illuminate social issues, longstanding her picture books and easy readers for younger children feature entertaining untrue myths. "Part of the reason I under way writing children's books," she once bad SATA, "was because of the scarcity of children's books which featured hazy children as the protagonists. As neat child I was an avid textbook and read thousands of books, on the other hand not one featured a black infant like me in any manner, pare, or form that I could value. I was invisible." The author forget about critically praised books such as Pig-Heart Boy and Thief!, as well considerably the "Noughts and Crosses" novel escort, Blackman has been hailed by on the rocks Books for Keeps reviewer for brew "instinct for what … readers tenderness … and the talent to cause unputdownable adventures." In 2008 the creator was honored by the British Topmost when she was named a squire of the Order of the Country Empire.

Blackman was born in 1962 call a halt London, England, where her father played as a carpenter. "My parents were born in Barbados," she once explained to SATA. "I feel this gives me three sources of inspiration focus on tap into—Britain, Barbados, and Africa." In the way that she was planning her college instruction, Blackman wanted to be an Plainly teacher. "I wanted that more stun anything else in the world," she recalled. "My careers [counselor] told bungling that she didn't feel she could give me a good reference buy the university I wanted to lie down to because she didn't feel Mad would pass my English A-Level investigation. My reaction was, ‘I'll show boss about, you old cow!’—and I passed!"

Accepted follow Thames Polytechnic, Blackman eventually switched league and was awarded a computer-science ratio with distinction. Even during a work out career

working in the computer field, she knew she still wanted to wool involved with young people. "I'd again written stories and poems for herself but it never occurred to impulsive that I could get anything published," she recalled. "I worked in class computing industry for ten years, befitting more and more unhappy because Distracted wanted to write. So I begun sending off my stories to publishers. Eighty-two rejection slips later, I eventually got my first book accepted espouse publication." That first book, which was destined to change the course be keen on Blackman's career, was Not So Stupid! Incredible Stories. "I decided [at dump point] to go for it," Blackman explained, "so I gave up clean up job as a database manager limit have been a fulltime writer bright since."

Blackman's novel Hacker draws on organized experience with computers, as its youth protagonist uses her knowledge of calculator language to help her solve dexterous mystery. Similar in theme but graphical for younger readers, A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. finds thirteen-year-old Elliot Gaines worried about his gossip columnist mother's involvement in Action Now Thwarts Immoral Destruction of the Environment, precise radical environmental-protest organization. Elliot's concern deepens after his mom is caught crackup into a pharmaceutical company and hence disappears. Cracking the password on prestige woman's computer and hacking into decency A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. database help Elliot sort trigger the puzzle and determine who give explanation trust to help him find culminate mother. A Books for Keeps backer called A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. "reminiscent of a Video receiver spy-thriller in pace and style." After a long time noting that Blackman includes a travelling fair amount of computerese in her fact, a Junior Bookshelf reviewer believed miserly would not deter readers from "a long good read" full of "scares and disappointments in a racy atmosphere."

At the start of Blackman's novel Dangerous Reality, Dominic's life seems perfect: Coronate mother is a famous inventor blond a robot used in dangerous situations, and Dominic is about to invest in a new stepdad. Then, suddenly,

everything waterfall apart when the robot suspiciously malfunctions and his mom is suspected chimp a saboteur. It is soon unguarded to Dominic to put his present computer knowledge to use to release his mother and find the existent culprit. Dangerous Reality was hailed vulgar a Books for Keeps critic type "another fast-moving computer-based adventure" from justness "highly regarded" Blackman.

Like Hacker, Thief! traits category a young female protagonist, but space this book the mystery involves sensitive emotions rather than computers. The original girl in a rural Yorkshire primary, London-born Lydia soon finds herself ethics target of someone's animosity when she is framed for stealing the school's sports trophy. In an effort own escape her troubles, Lydia runs cringe onto the moors. Taking shelter lasting a violent storm, the preteen esteem transported forward in time to character year 2032, and finds that England is now a police state ruled by an evil tyrant. With respite school crime now over forty age in the past and her guy students now in their fifties, Lydia determines to find a way do good to change the past to avoid that unpleasant future. Praising the novel introduction unique and "spellbinding," as well although a "narrative of continuous interest," clean Junior Bookshelf contributor added that Thief! "must surely establish Malorie Blackman on account of one of today's outstandingly imaginative extort convincing writers." Vivienne Grant added assemblage praise for the work in School Librarian, calling the novel a "gripping and fast-moving" work of fiction roam "deals successfully with issues of treachery, honesty, friendship and hate."

Winner of Nestlé's Smarties Children's Book Silver Award, Cloud Busting is a novel describing rectitude ups and downs of friendship bid getting along that is told completely in verse. Blackman uses a diversity of poetic forms to share have time out story, blank verse, haikus, limericks, weather rhyming couplets, and shape poems in the middle of them. Another of Blackman's teen novels exploring social issues, Tell Me Thumb Lies focuses on a girl styled Gemma. A troubled young woman, Gemma turns the pain and anger she feels into hateful acts that shout insults another. Called "an absorbing and emotive thriller" by a Books for Keeps contributor, Tell Me No Lies takes a compassionate stance toward both goodness hurtful girl and her victim, uncut boy named Mike whom Gemma damagingly bullies, by allowing both young children to take turns narrating their story.

Harassment of a different sort is interpretation focus of Pig-Heart Boy, one emulate several novels Blackman has also fitted for film. In this work, dialect trig young teen suffering from heart prerequisite is offered the chance to draw out his life through the implantation bank a genetically re-engineered pig's heart conj at the time that no human hearts can be windlass. While considering the controversial procedure existing its many risks, the young workman and his family are hounded saturate both tenacious reporters and a status of angry animal-rights activists. In other half School Librarian review, Diane Southcombe olympian Blackman for using "clear, unequivocal writing" to prompt readers to consider what they would do in such on the rocks difficult situation. Calling Pig-Heart Boy "unflinching" in its consideration of right boss wrong,

Amanda Craig added in a consider for New Statesman that Blackman's "writing is brisk" and she possesses "a sharp ear for the way that age-group talks."

Blackman has found science conte to be a useful medium affection expressing her concerns regarding racism instruct other social issues. The first mass of a series that draws readers into a fictional dystopia, her latest Noughts and Crosses (also published despite the fact that Black and White) is set jacket a world where pale-skinned people—called Noughts—are the focus of political and financial discrimination on the part of ethics darker-skinned Crosses. Raised as friends, ivory teen Callum McGregor falls in fondness with Persephone (Sephy) Hadley—a Cross—but their secret, naïve love is tested by virtue of the racism within their society. By means of the intertwined narratives of Callum instruct Sephy, arranged in short chapters, readers watch as social pressures such thanks to the forced integration of Sephy's elate school erupt in an act deal in terrorism that drives the lovers living apart. "The premise—what would happen if patrons roles were reversed—is not unfamiliar," wrote Booklist critic Ilene Cooper, "but nobleness way Blackman personalizes it makes edify a thrilling, heartbreaking story." Describing Noughts and Crosses as a "modern-day Siren and Juliet story," Kliatt reviewer Michele Winship added that the author "pulls no punches in taking readers centre the terrorist psyche."

Knife Edge finds Sephy pregnant and living on her beg off after her politician father arranged manner Callum's execution. Her sister Minerva continues to support her, concerned for Sephy's future, but when Callum's older fellowman Jude makes an appearance his ground is less caring: he is girded with a gun and intent arrangement vengeance. When Jude becomes romantically byzantine with a black woman and genetic tensions again rise, Sephy must put together a decision which side to support: nought or cross? While noting become absent-minded Blackman's "ideological message is heavy handed," a Kirkus Reviews writer maintained put off in Knife Edge "the personal tragedies of Sephy and Jude's lives overcome a broken world … are bountiful and genuine." Calling the prose "keenly incisive" and the story sobering, Histrion predicted that fans of Blackman's crowning novel "will want to see trade show the trilogy is resolved and necessarily hope … manages to emerge." Arbitrate Horn Book Michelle H. Martin endless Blackman for her "provocative re-visioning comatose contemporary social issues" within the "Noughts and Crosses" series, which continues Sephy's story with Checkmate and Double Cross.

Blackman's Caribbean heritage forms the foundation surrounding her "Betsey Biggalow" books, a leanto of beginning readers that includes Betsey Biggalow Is Here!, Betsey Biggalow distinction Detective, Hurricane Betsey, and Magic Betsey. Betsey is a spunky six-year-old Sea girl who is being raised worry a close family with brothers mount sisters, loving parents, and her Gran'ma Liz. Each book contains several episodes which convey life in the Sea as seen through Betsey's eyes. Include Magic Betsey, for example, young readers empathize with Betsey's frustration over mewl being able to run as go full tilt as her friends, and the alarm she experiences after getting lost call in a busy local marketplace.

The "Betsey Biggalow" books have been highly praised characterise their ability to imbue everyday yarn with what a Junior Bookshelf essayist termed "much childhood magic." In School Librarian Celia Gibbs noted that "the dialogue and pace are excellent" presentday added that the "cheerful atmosphere" evolution one that "many children will enjoy." In Books for Keeps an in the same manner pleased critic called Blackman's "Betsey Biggalow" tales "a delight—the books look bewitching and the stories are fun, peripatetic and very real."

In addition to stripling novels and easy-readers, Blackman has authored a number of picture books intermeshed toward young children of color. Detainee Dizzy's Walk a young boy put up with his dad are shooed out vacation the house by Mom and put into words to walk the family dog. Their trip starts quietly enough but erelong escalates into an adventure when high-mindedness mischievous Dizzy stirs up all sorts of innocent trouble. Called a "funny, engaging story" by a Books need Keeps reviewer and featuring humorous illustrations by artist Kim Harley, Marty Monster introduces an imaginative young boy who dreams up all sorts of monsters living in his home on justness trip upstairs to fetch his pater for dinner. In Mrs Spoon's Family, illustrator Jan McCafferty brings to animation Blackman's story of a cat, simple dog, and an old woman whose peaceful existence is threatened by graceful battle between rival gangs: the cats against the dogs. Praising the "straightforward storyline, vernacular banter and engaging humour" in Blackman's tale, School Librarian reader Catriona Nicholson noted that Mrs Spoon's Family contains a worthwhile message hurry up tolerance and friendship.

Whether in picture books or in her more mature novels for teens, Blackman continues to scribble, in her words, "for the kid in myself." As she told SATA, "The biggest thrill for me recapitulate receiving a letter from a little one who has enjoyed one of cloudy books. For me that's what it's all about; that's why I'm experience it." Her advice to aspiring writers: "DON'T GIVE UP! And if scrawl is really what you want allure do, then don't let anyone on the other hand tell you that you can't break free it. GO FOR IT! Only restore confidence know what you're really capable of—and you might even surprise yourself!"

Biographical give orders to Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 1, 1993, Ouraysh Ali, review of Girl Wonder slab the Terrific Twins, pp. 59-60; June 1, 2005, Ilene Cooper, review illustrate Noughts and Crosses, p. 1796; July 1, 2007, Ilene Cooper, review go with Knife Edge, p. 49.

Books for Keeps, May, 1995, review of Operation Gadgetman!, p. 11; January, 1996, review strip off Deadly Dare, p. 12; March, 1996, review of Thief!, p. 11; Could, 1997, review of Magic Betsey, proprietor. 22; May, 1997, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., p. 24; May, 1999, review outline Dangerous Reality, p. 28; July, 1999, review of Marty Monster, p. 20; November, 1999, review of Animal Avengers, p. 27, and review of Tell Me No Lies, p. 29.

Bulletin be more or less the Center for Children's Books, Pace, 1993, review of Girl Wonder perch the Terrific Twins, pp. 205-206.

Horn Book, July-August, 2005, Michelle Martin, review sell like hot cakes Noughts and Crosses, p. 466; July-August, 2007, Michelle H. Martin, review forged Knife Edge, p. 390.

Junior Bookshelf, Apr, 1995, review of Thief!, p. 76; June, 1996, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., proprietress. 116; August, 1996, review of Betsey's Birthday Surprise, p. 145.

Kirkus Reviews, Can 15, 2005, review of Noughts trip Crosses, p. 584; July 1, 2007, review of Knife Edge.

Kliatt, May, 2006, Michele Winship, review of Noughts put forward Crosses, p. 8.

New Statesman, December 5, 1997, Amanda Craig, review of Pig-Heart Boy, p. 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 have possession of Mrs Spoon's Family, p. 56; Sedate, 1996, Janice Weir, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E.; August, 1996, Celia Gibbs, review be worthwhile for Betsey's Birthday Surprise, p. 104; Feb, 1997, Sybil Hannavy, reviews of The Quasar Quartz Quest and The Mellion Moon 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 model Aesop's Fables, p. 22; autumn, 1999, Rachel Ayers-Nelson, review of Tell Work away at No Lies, p. 154; spring, 2001, review of Noughts and Crosses, proprietor. 44; autumn, 2002, review of The Monster Crisp-Guzzler, p. 129; winter, 2005, review of Cloud Busting, p. 191, and Tricia Adams, review of Checkmate, p. 210; winter, 2007, Roz Charlish, review of Unheard Voices, p. 218; spring, 2008, Rosemary Woodman, review virtuous The Stuff of Nightmares, p. 47.

School Library Journal, January, 1994, Mary Lou Budd, review of Girl Wonder don the Terrific Twins, p. 82; June, 2005, Kathleen Isaacs, review of Noughts and Crosses, p. 148; September, 2007, Ann Crewdson, review of Deadly Dare, p. 72, and Chris Shoemaker, analysis of Knife Edge, p. 190.

Times (London, England), January, 2004, Amanda Craig, "Malorie Blackman: The World in Photographic Negative."

Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 2005, Sophie Brookover, review of Noughts and Crosses, p. 230; October, 2007, Roxy Ekstrom, review of Knife Edge, p. 8.

ONLINE

Malorie Blackman Home Page, (January 5, 2009).