Malorie Blackman

Children's Laureate 2013-15

Malorie Blackman is acknowledged as one of today's most imaginative and convincing writers for young readers, who effortlessly addresses social and racial issues in her books.

20th anniversary celebrations: read Malorie Blackman's letter

Malorie Blackman was born in 1962 in London. She trained in computer science and worked in computing before publishing her first book at the age of 28. She has since written 60 books for children and young adults.

Malorie Blackman writes children's novels, young adult novels, picture books, short stories and readers for both early and more confident readers. In addition, she writes television scripts. Her stage play, The Amazing Birthday, was performed in 2002.

Her novels for older children include: Hacker, Thief and Pig-Heart Boy. The latter book was subsequently adapted as a series for television and won several awards, including a BAFTA for best children's drama.

Her best-known books for young adults are the multi award-winning Noughts & Crosses series. With Noughts and Crosses, Blackman addresses racial issues more overtly, depicting a world in which black people, or 'Crosses', are the ruling elite and white people, or 'noughts', are confined to minority status, denied legal rights and work in menial jobs. 

In 2004, she also wrote a novel entirely in verse, Cloud Busting (2004), which won a Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (Silver Award) the same year. In 2007, she edited Unheard Voices, an anthology of stories and poems to commemorate the bicentenary anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, and in 2009 she contributed to Free?, a book of stories celebrating Human Rights.

In 2005, she was honoured with the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the world of children's books; she was also awarded an OBE in 2008. Her most recent novel is Chasing the Stars for teens.

Goals as Waterstones Children's Laureate

During her time as Waterstones Children's Laureate, Malorie helped to set up the first-ever Young Adult Literature Convention.

Find out how Malorie set up YALC

She also ran a nationwide creative writing competition for teens called Project Remix. The competition was inspired by the growth of online fandom, including fanfiction and fan art. The winners went on to receive feedback and advice from publishers, authors and BBC staff. 

Malorie said at the time: 'As well as celebrating story in all its forms, I hope Remix will shine a light on the vast range of opportunities that there are in the creative industries for our young people – so often overlooked within traditional careers guidance.'

20th anniversary celebrations: read Malorie Blackman's letter