Skip to content Skip to footer
Menu
Search term is required
  • Home
  • What we do Toggle What we do sub-navigation
    • Programmes and campaigns
    • Awards and prizes
    • Children's Laureate
    • Impact and research
    • BookTrust Cymru
    • BookTrust Northern Ireland
  • Books and reading Toggle Books and reading sub-navigation
    • HomeTime
    • Bookfinder
    • Our recommendations
    • Tips and advice
    • Disability and books
  • News and features Toggle News and features sub-navigation
    • News
    • Features
    • Writer in Residence
    • Press
  • About us Toggle About us sub-navigation
    • Governance
    • BookTrust affiliates
    • Work at BookTrust
    • Contact us
  • Support us Toggle Support us sub-navigation
    • Do your own fundraising
    • Become a Friend
    • Corporate partnerships
Donate
Practitioner login
Menu
BookTrust logo
  • Home
  • What we do
    • Programmes and campaigns
    • Awards and prizes
    • Children's Laureate
    • Impact and research
    • BookTrust Cymru
    • BookTrust Northern Ireland
  • Books and reading
    • HomeTime
    • Bookfinder
    • Our recommendations
    • Tips and advice
    • Disability and books
  • News and features
    • News
    • Features
    • Writer in Residence
    • Press
  • About us
    • Governance
    • BookTrust affiliates
    • Work at BookTrust
    • Contact us
  • Support us
    • Do your own fundraising
    • Become a Friend
    • Corporate partnerships
  • Donate
  • Site Search Dropdown
  • Home
  • Authors
  • G
  • Gardner, Sally
Back to previous page
 Sally Gardner

Sally Gardner

Sally Gardner grew up amongst the drama of London’s law courts, as both her parents were lawyers. Having been branded ‘unteachable’ by some and sent to various schools, Sally was eventually diagnosed at the age of twelve as being severely dyslexic. Sally is now an avid spokesperson for dyslexia; she sees it a gift, not a disability, and is passionately trying to change how dyslexics are perceived by society.
 
Sally published her first book in 1993, thus beginning her illustrious career as a writer-illustrator to great international acclaim. The Countess's Calamity won the Smarties Prize in 2003. Her first full-length novel, and a turning point in Sally’s career, was I, Coriander which won the Nestle Children’s Book Prize Gold Award in 2005. Her next novel The Red Necklace was shortlisted for the Guardian Book Prize in 2007, followed by the sequel, The Silver Blade. Her recent book, The Double Shadow, was hailed as ‘an astonishing departure for a writer who has found a new and very distinctive voice’. Sally lives in London.

Books

  • I, Coriander

    I, Coriander

    Author: Sally Gardner
    Publisher: Hachette
    Interest age: 10+
    Reading age: 10+

    Coriander Hobie's happy childhood in 17th-century London is brought to an abrupt end when her mother is murdered by an evil fairy queen from the land of her youth.

  • Invisible in a Bright Light

    Invisible in a Bright Light

    Author: Sally Gardner
    Publisher: Zephyr Books (imprint of Zeus)
    Interest age: 11-14
    Reading age: 10+

    A mysterious and riveting fantasy thriller, with elements of horror, that will especially appeal to readers who enjoy puzzles and problem-solving. It will keep you pinned to your seat for hours. 

  • Maggot Moon

    Maggot Moon

    Author: Sally Gardner
    Publisher: Hot Key Books
    Interest age: 13+
    Reading age: 11+

    Combining conspiracy theory and dystopia, this hugely original novel is set in an alternate 1950s in which Britain is dominated by the ruthlessly oppressive forces of The Motherland.

  • My Side of the Diamond

    My Side of the Diamond

    Author: Sally Gardner Illustrator: Nat Barlex
    Publisher: Hot Key Books
    Interest age: 13+
    Reading age: 10+

    A breathtaking Young Adult science fiction thriller that celebrates diversity: heart-breaking, terrifying but ultimately uplifting. The story will haunt you long after the last page is finished.

  • Operation Bunny

    Operation Bunny

    Author: Sally Gardner Illustrator: David Roberts
    Publisher: Orion Children's Books
    Interest age: 7+
    Reading age: 7+

    In the first case for the Fairy Detective Agency, Wings and Co, resourceful heroine Emily Vole must defeat the dastardly fairy-snatching villain Harpella.

  • The Door that Led to Where

    The Door that Led to Where

    Author: Sally Gardner
    Publisher: Hot Key Books
    Interest age: 14+
    Reading age: 14+

    There's a Dickensian flavour to this satisfying time-travel tale, which takes its teenage hero on a journey from gritty modern-day London, to the city of the 1800s.

  • The Double Shadow

    The Double Shadow

    Author: Sally Gardner
    Publisher: Orion Children's Books
    Interest age: 14+
    Reading age: 14+

    Sally Gardner lives up to her reputation for delivering ambitious and highly imaginative writing for teenagers in this unusual and complex historical novel.

  • The Red Necklace

    The Red Necklace

    Author: Sally Gardner
    Publisher: Orion Children's Books
    Interest age: 11+
    Reading age: 10+

    Gardner skilfully sets the scene, in which extra-sensory abilities can be turned to many uses, and where good and evil, identity and destiny are not as clear cut as we might think.

  • Three Pickled Herrings

    Three Pickled Herrings

    Author: Sally Gardner Illustrator: David Roberts
    Publisher: Orion
    Interest age: 7+
    Reading age: 8+

    A clever young girl called Emily, an 11-year-old fairy, and Fidget the talking cat run a detective agency, Wings & Co.

  • Tinder

    Tinder

    Author: Sally Gardner Illustrator: David Roberts
    Publisher: Indigo
    Interest age: 12+
    Reading age: 11+

    Award-winning author Sally Gardner teams up with David Roberts to put a new spin on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy-tale The Tinder Box in this dark and gripping tale.

  • Follow us

    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Youtube

    Keep in touch

    020 7801 8800

    queries@booktrust.org.uk

    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Site map
    • Press
    • Help using this site

    Sign up to our newsletters full of updates, activities, ways to support us and fun ideas to inspire children to read.

    Sign up
    • Cookies
    • Freedom of information
    • Privacy policy
    • Copyright notice

    Charity number 313343

    Copyright © 2019 BookTrust

    • Arts Council England
    • Fundraising Regulator
    Back to top