Peace Maker

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

by Malorie Blackman, illustrated by Matthew Griffin

Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 8+

Published by Barrington Stoke, 2016

Adventure
Science fiction
Dyslexia

About this book

In Michela's world, aggression is forbidden. In order to maintain the peace, every person aboard their spaceship must wear a peacemaker, which controls their temper. However, Michela has tampered with hers, as she is determined to feel the whole range of emotions she has read about in the forbidden library, belonging to her mother, the captain. When they accidentally fly into enemy territory, peace is no longer an option - and Michela may be the ship's only hope.

This short story by former Children's Laureate Malorie Blackman is an interesting look into times when standing up for yourself and fighting is the only option. It is well-paced and designed to appeal to reluctant or hesitant readers, as well as being dyslexia-friendly.

About the author

Malorie Blackman is acknowledged as one of today's most imaginative and convincing writers for young readers.

The novels in her Noughts & Crosses sequence have won several awards, including the Children's Book Award, and she has won many other awards for her books for the Random House list. Both Hacker and Thief! won the Young Telegraph/Gimme 5 Award – Malorie is the only author to have won this award twice – while Hacker also won the WH Smith Mind-Boggling Books Award in 1994.

Her work has appeared on screen, with Pig-Heart Boy, which was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, being adapted into a BAFTA-award-winning TV serial. Malorie has also written a number of titles for younger readers. In 2005, Malorie was honoured with the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the world of children's books.

In 2008, she was then honoured with an OBE for her services to Children's Literature. She was the Waterstones Children's Laureate for 2013-2015.

More books like this

Hacker

by Malorie Blackman

9 to 14 years
Endgame

by Malorie Blackman

11 to 14 years
We're Going to Find the Monster

by Malorie Blackman, illustrated by Dapo Adeola

2 to 7 years
Ellie and the Cat

by Malorie Blackman, illustrated by Matt Robertson

5 to 14 years

Explore our Bookfinder

Lists of recommended reads

Books for reluctant readers (older children)

There's a book out there for every child, even the most reluctant of readers. Try a few of the books below to see if they click with your child and help them love reading. There's fiction, non-fiction, rhyme and laugh-out-loud moments! Let us know which one works for your 9-12 year old.
Black Lives Matter

Our pick of the top books that examine the structural oppression experienced by people of colour, aimed at inspiring and empowering young children to talk about anti-racism.
Dyslexia-friendly books for 6+

This list aims to provide a range of books that may appeal to children of 6+ with reading difficulties. The list includes books that are particularly dyslexia-friendly and/or have a high interest level and low reading age.
Top 15 books by Malorie Blackman

Here's a list of of our favourite Malorie Blackman books

Discover more booklists