Malorie Blackman, author of literature and television drama for children and young adults. She has used science fiction to explore social and ethical issues. Her critically and popularly acclaimed Noughts & Crosses series uses the setting of a fictional dystopia to exploreracism.
Biography
Malorie Blackman was born in February 1962.[1] While at grammar school, in Peckham, she wanted to be an English teacher but grew up to become a systems programmer instead.[1][2] She earned a HNC at Thames Polytechnic and is a graduate of the National Film and Television School.[1][3]Blackman married her Scottish husband Neil in the 1990s and their daughter Elizabeth was born in 1995.[2] Blackman has described herself, “I’m just Malorie Blackman – a black woman writer.”[1]
Blackman’s first book, Not So Stupid, was a collection of horror and science fiction stories for young adults, published in November 1990.[4] Since then she has written more than fifty children’s books, including novels and short story collections, and also television scripts and a stage play.[4][5]Her work has won more than fifteen awards.[5][6] Blackman’s television scripts include episodes of the long-running, children’s drama Byker Grove, as well as television adaptations of her novels Whizziwig and Pig-Heart Boy.[5] Her books have been translated into over fifteen languages includingSpanish, Welsh, German, Japanese, Chinese and French.
Blackman’s award-winning Noughts & Crosses series, exploring love, racism, and violence, is set in a fictional dystopia. Explaining her choice of title, in a 2007 interview for the BBC‘s Blast website, Blackman said noughts and crosses is “…one of those games that nobody ever plays after childhood, because nobody ever wins…”[7] In an interview for The Times, Blackman said that before writing Noughts & Crosses her protagonists‘ ethnicites were never central to the plots of her books.[2] She has also said, “I wanted to show black children just getting on with their lives, having adventures, and solving their dilemmas, like the characters in all the books I read as a child.”[1] Blackman eventually decided to address racism directly.[2][7] She reused some details from her own experience, including an occasion when she needed a plaster and found they were designed to be inconspicuous only on white people’s skin.[2] The Times interviewer Amanda Craig speculated about why the Noughts & Crosses series was not, for a long time, published in the United States: “though there was considerable interest, 9/11 killed off the possibility of publishing any book describing what might drive someone to become a terrorist.”[2] Noughts and Crosses is now available in the US published under the title Black & White (Simon & Schuster Publishers, 2005).
Noughts & Crosses was #61 on the Big Read list, a 2003 BBC survey to find “The Nation’s Best-Loved Book”, with more votes than A Tale of Two Cities, several Terry Pratchett novels, and Lord of the Flies.
She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours.[8]
In 2010, Malorie Blackman’s name featured in Tinie Tempah’s song ‘Written In The Stars’ featuring Eric Turner.
Personal life
Malorie Blackman lives with her husband and daughter in Kent, England. In her free time she likes to play her piano, compose, play computer games and write poetry.
Works
Published works
Novels for young adults
- Not So Stupid!: Incredible Short Stories, The Women’s Press, 1990, ISBN 0-7043-4924-8
- Trust Me, Livewire, 1992, ISBN 0-7043-4931-0
- Words Last Forever, Mammoth, 1998, ISBN 0-7497-2983-X
- The Noughts & Crosses series
- Noughts & Crosses,[9] Doubleday, 2001, ISBN 0-385-60008-9
- An Eye for an Eye,[10] Corgi Children’s, 2003, ISBN 0-552-54925-8
- Knife Edge, Doubleday, 2004, ISBN 0-385-60527-7
- Checkmate, Doubleday, 2005, ISBN 0-385-60773-3
- Double Cross, Doubleday, 2008,6 November
- The Stuff of Nightmares, Doubleday, 2007, ISBN 0-385-61043-2
Black & White by Malorie Blackman,2007,ISBN 978-1-4169-0017-7
- Unheard Voices: An Anthology of Stories and Poems to Commemorate the Bicentenary Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, editor Malorie Blackman, Corgi Children’s, 2007, ISBN 0-552-55600-9
Short stories for young adults
- “Humming Through My Fingers” in the multi-author collection Shining on: A Collection of Stories in Aid of the Teen Cancer Trust, Picadilly Press, 2006, ISBN 1-85340-893-X
- Short story in the multi-author collection The Crew and Other Teen Fiction, Heinemann Library, ISBN 0-431-01875-8
Novels for children
- Hacker, Doubleday, 1992, ISBN 0-385-40278-3
- Operation Gadgetman!, Doubleday, 1993, ISBN 0-385-40337-2
- Jack Sweettooth the 73rd, Viking Children’s Books, 1995, ISBN 0-670-85539-1
- The Space Stowaway, Ginn, 1995, ISBN 0-602-26393-X
- Whizziwig (illustrated by Stephen Lee), Viking Children’s Books, 1995, ISBN 0-670-85705-X
- Thief!, Doubleday, 1996, ISBN 0-552-52808-0
- A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E, Doubleday, 1997, ISBN 0-552-52839-0
- Pig-Heart Boy, Doubleday, 1997, ISBN 0-385-40681-9
- Animal Avengers (illustrated by Bill Greenhead and Stik), Mammoth, 1999, ISBN 0-7497-3557-0
- Dangerous Reality, Doubleday, 1999, ISBN 0-385-40680-0
- Don’t Be Afraid [11] (illustrated by Bob Harvey), Ginn, 1999, ISBN 0-602-27549-0
- Forbidden Game, Puffin Books, 1999, ISBN 0-14-130321-2
- [[Hostage [12] (illustrated by Derek Brazell), Barrington Stoke, 1999, ISBN 1-902260-12-0
- Tell Me No Lies, Macmillan Children’s Books, 1999, ISBN 0-333-72645-6
- Whizziwig Returns (illustrated by Stephen Lee), Puffin, 1999, ISBN 0-14-130458-8
- Dead Gorgeous, Doubleday, 2002, ISBN 0-385-60009-7
- Cloud Busting, Doubleday, 2004, ISBN 0-385-60796-2
- The Deadly Dare Mysteries (contents: “Deadly Dare“, “Computer Ghost“, “Lie Detectives“; illustrated by Neil Chapman), Corgi Children’s, 2005, ISBN 0-552-55353-0
- Whizziwig and Whizziwig Returns [13] (illustrated by Stephen Lee), Corgi Children’s, 2005, ISBN 0-440-86657-X
Short stories for children
- “Contact” in the multi-author collection Out of This World: Stories of Virtual Reality (chosen by Wendy Cooling), Dolphin, 1997, ISBN 1-85881-602-5
- Aesop’s Fables (retold by Malorie Blackman, illustrated by Patrice Aggs), Scholastic, 1998, ISBN 0-590-54382-2
- “Dare to be Different” (illustrated by Jane Ray) in the multi-author collection Dare to be Different, Bloomsbury Publishing, 1999, ISBN 0-7475-4021-7
- “Peacemaker” in the multi-author collection Peacemaker and Other Stories (illustrated by Peter Richardson and David Hine), Heinemann Educational, 1999, ISBN 0-435-11600-220220202857574939
Books for new readers
- The Betsey Biggalow stories:
- Betsey Biggalow the Detective (illustrated by Lis Toft), Piccadilly Press, 1992, ISBN 1-85340-163-3
- Betsey Biggalow is Here! (illustrated by Lis Toft), Piccadilly Press, 1992, ISBN 1-85340-172-2
- Hurricane Betsey (illustrated by Lis Toft), Piccadilly Press, 1993, ISBN 1-85340-199-4
- Magic Betsey (illustrated by Lis Toft), Piccadilly Press, 1994, ISBN 1-85340-237-0
- Betsey’s Birthday Surprise (illustrated by Lis Toft), Piccadilly Press, 1996, ISBN 0-590-55864-1
- The Girl Wonder series:
- Girl Wonder and the Terrific Twins (illustrated by Pat Ludlow), Orion Children’s Books, 1991, ISBN 0-575-05048-9
- Girl Wonder’s Winter Adventures (illustrated by Lis Toft), Orion Children’s Books, 1992, ISBN 0-575-05383-6
- Girl Wonder to the Rescue (illustrated by Lis Toft), Gollancz, 1994, ISBN 0-575-05774-2
- The Amazing Adventures of Girl Wonder (illustrated by Lis Toft), Barn Owl Books, 2003, ISBN 1-903015-27-8
- The Puzzle Planet adventures:
- Peril on Planet Pellia (illustrated by Patrice Aggs), Orchard Books, 1996, ISBN 1-85213-935-8
- The Mellion Moon Mystery (illustrated by Patrice Aggs), Orchard Books, 1996, ISBN 1-85213-936-6
- The Secret of the Terrible Hand (illustrated by Patrice Aggs), Orchard Books, 1996, ISBN 1-86039-370-5
- Quasar Quartz Quest (illustrated by Patrice Aggs) Orchard Books, 1996, ISBN 1-85213-938-2
- The Longman Book Project (with translations to Welsh):
- Rachel versus Bonecrusher the Mighty, Longman, 1994, ISBN 0-582-12151-5
- Rachel and the Difference Thief (illustrated by Kim Harley), Longman, 1994, ISBN 0-582-12152-3
- Crazy Crocs (with Alexander McCall Smith and Sally-Ann Lever), Longman, 1994, ISBN 0-582-12208-2
- Elaine You’re a Brat! [14] (illustrated by Doffy Weir), Orchard Books, 1991, ISBN 1-85213-365-1
- My Friend’s a Gris-Quok (illustrated by Philip Hopman), Scholastic, 1994, ISBN 0-590-55864-1
- Grandma Gertie’s Haunted Handbag (illustrated by David Price), Heinemann, 1996, ISBN 0-434-97225-8
- Space Race (illustrated by Colin Mier), Corgi Children’s, 1997, ISBN 0-552-54542-2
- Fangs (illustrated by Tony Blundell), Orchard Books, 1998, ISBN 1-86039-734-4
- Snow Dog (illustrated by Sabrina Good), Corgi Children’s, 2001, ISBN 0-552-54703-4
- The Monster Crisp-Guzzler (illustrated by Saynab Abdalla), Corgi Children’s, 2002, ISBN 0-552-54783-2
- Sinclair, Wonder Bear (illustrated by Deborah Allwright), Egmont Books, 2003, ISBN 1-4052-0589-X
Picture books
- That New Dress [15] (illustrated by Rhian Nest James), Hodder Wayland, 1991, ISBN 0-7500-0442-8
- Mrs Spoon’s Family (illustrated by Jan McCafferty), Andersen Press, 1995, ISBN 0-86264-582-4
- Dizzy’s Walk (illustrated by Pamela Venus), Tamarind, 1999, ISBN 1-870516-41-9
- Marty Monster (illustrated by Kim Harley), Tamarind, 1999, ISBN 1-870516-42-7
- I Want a Cuddle! (illustrated by Joanne Partis), Orchard Books, 2001, ISBN 1-84121-823-5
- Jessica Strange (with Alison Bartlett), Hodder Children’s Books, 2002, ISBN 0-340-77963-2
- Contributed to A Christmas Tree of Stories, Scholastic Press, 1999, ISBN 0-439-01192-2
Television scripts
- Episodes of Byker Grove
- Episodes of Whizziwig
- Episodes of Pig Heart Boy
Stage plays
- 2002, The Amazing Birthday
Noughts & Crosses by the RSC
Awards and nominations
Body of work
- 1997, Excelle/Write Thing Children’s Author of the Year Award.[5]
- 2005, Children’s Book Circle‘s Eleanor Farjeon Award.[6]
Novels
For Hacker (1992)
- 1994, W.H. Smith Mind Boggling Book of the Year Award.[5]
- 1994, Young Telegraph/Gimme 5 Children’s Book of the Year Award.[5]
- 1995, Birmingham/TSB Children’s Book Award (shortlist).
For Thief! (1996)
- 1996, Young Telegraph/Fully Booked Children’s Book of the Year Award.[5]
For A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E (1997)
- 1997, Stockport Children’s Book of the Year Award (Key Stage 3 category).[5]
- 1997, Stockton-on-Tees Children’s Book Award (shortlisted).[6]
- 1998, Sheffield Children’s Book Award (highly commended).[6]
- 2001, Stockport Schools Book Award (shortlisted).[6]
For Pig-Heart Boy (1997)
- 1998, Carnegie Medal (shortlist).[5]
- 1998, UKRA Award.[5]
- 1999, Lancashire Children’s Book of the Year (shortlist).[6]
- 1999, Wirral Paperback of the Year Award.
For Tell Me No Lies (1999)
- 2000, Stockport Children’s Book Award (shortlisted) (Key Stage 4 category)
For Dead Gorgeous (2002)
- 2003, Calderdale Book of the Year (shortlist).[6]
- 2003, Salford Children’s Book Award (shortlist).
For books in the Noughts & Crosses series
- 2002, Lancashire Children’s Book of the Year.[5][6]
- 2002, Red House Children’s Book Award.[5][6]
- 2002, Sheffield Children’s Book Award.[5][6]
- 2003, Wirral Paperback of the Year Award.[5][6]
- 2004, Fantastic Fiction Award.[5]
- 2005, Berkshire Book Award (shortlist).[6]
- 2005, Lancashire Children’s Book of the Year (shortlist).[6]
- 2005, Redbridge Teenage Book Award (shortlist).[6]
- 2006, Lancashire Children’s Book of the Year (shortlist).[6]
- 2006, Staffordshire Young People’s Book of the Year.
For Cloud Busting (2004)
- 2004, Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (Silver Award) (6–8 years category).[5]
- 2005, Redbridge Children’s Book Award (shortlist).[6]
- 2005, Stockport Schools Book Award (shortlisted).[6]
- 2006, Nottingham Children’s Book Award (shortlist) (10–11 years category).[6]
- 2006, West Sussex Children’s Book Award (shortlist).
