Malorie Blackman is acknowledged as one of today’s most imaginative and convincing writers for young readers, who effortlessly addresses social, ethical and racial issues in her books.
Before publishing her first book, Malorie trained in computer science and worked in computing. Her debut book was a collection of horror and science fiction stories for young adults and she has since written over 70 books, mainly for children and young adults. Her best-known is the multi-award-winning Noughts & Crosses series for young adults, which has been turned into a BBC TV series and a stage play for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Malorie novels for older children include Hacker, Thief and Pig heart boy, which was adapted as a series for TV and won several awards including a BAFTA for best children’s drama. She also writes television scripts, most notably was the first person of colour writer to work on Doctor Who TV series.
Malorie has been the recipient of many honours for her work including the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the world of children’s books, and she has been awarded an OBE for her services to Children’s Literature. Malorie lives in Kent with her family.
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 (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.
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.’
by Malorie Blackman, illustrated by Matthew Griffin
2016 5 to 14 years
Adventure
Science fiction
Dyslexia
In Michela’s world, aggression is forbidden – but sometimes fighting is the only way to keep the peace. This is a well-paced and interesting story, designed to appeal to reluctant or hesitant readers, as well as dyslexia-friendly.
Sam’s sickle-cell anaemia means he has trouble keeping up with the other boys in his class, but a school trip into the wild gives him the chance to be a hero. A fast-paced adventure story with plenty of peril and heart.
To celebrate 20 years of the Waterstones Children’s Laureates in 2019, we asked Malorie Blackman to tell us about her memories of holding the post in 2013–15
