Michelle Magorian
Michelle Magorian was born in Portsmouth, England, and grew up in such diverse places as Perth, Australia, and Singapore. She now makes her home in London.
An actress, dancer, and writer by profession, Ms. Magorian has worked with numerous touring and repertory companies, and spent two years training as a mime at Marcel Marceau's world-renowned L'Ecole Intenationale de Mime in Paris, France. An absorbing interest in the history and nature of children's books led her to try her hand at writing for younger readers. Her first book, Good Night, Mr. Tom, grew out of a short story she had written about the meeting of the two main characters.
Books
A Spoonful of Jam
Author: Michelle Magorian
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 9-12
Reading age: 10+
To avoid a gang of bullies during the summer holidays, 12-year-old Elsie eagerly accepts a role in a play at the local theatre.
Goodnight Mister Tom
Author: Michelle Magorian
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 10+
Willie Beech, a lonely and deprived child, is evacuated to a tiny English village just before the Second World War, and finds himself living with reclusive widower Thomas Oakley.
Just Henry
Author: Michelle Magorian
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 11+
Film fanatic Henry Dodge lives in post-war Sternsea with his fractured family. His father died a hero, saving a deserter's life.
The Front Room
Author: Michelle Magorian Illustrator: Vladimir Stankovic
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 7+
Hannah and her brother Benjy are on holiday. But instead of relaxing, Hannah is terrified: convinced there's something dreadful in her room. The suspense builds chillingly in this pared-down, atmospheric ghost story.