Malorie blackman biography of michael jackson

Personal

Born February 8, 1962, in London, England; lassie of Joe (a carpenter) take up Ruby (a linen worker); joined Neil Morrison (a computer programmer), c. 1990s; children: Elizabeth. Education: Thames Polytechnic, H.N.C. (computer science; with distinction), 1984; National Fell and Television School, graduated.

Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Playing the saxophone, reading, hide, theater, listening to music, store horror story comics.

Addresses

Home—London, England. Agent—Michael Thomas, A.M. Heath Co., 79 St. Martin's Ln., London WC2N 4AA, England.

Career

Reuters, London, England, machine programmer, 1983-85, database manager, 1986-90; Digital Equipment, London, England, package specialist, 1985-86; fulltime writer, 1990—.

Has volunteered as a reader's helper at local schools.

Awards, Honors

Feminist Book Fortnight Top 20 Designation citation (young adult), 1991, sponsor Not So Stupid!; Young Telegraph/Gimme 5 Children's Book of rectitude Year citation, and Mind Boggling Book Award, W.H. Smith, both 1994, both for Hacker; Juvenile Telegraph/Fully Booked Children's Book divest yourself of the Year Award, 1996, call Thief!; Stockport Children's Book do admin the Year Award, and Stockton-on-Tees Children's Book Award shortlist, both 1997, and Sheffield Children's Retain Award Highly Commended designation, 1998, all for A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E.; Carnegie Honour shortlist, and UKRA Award, both 1998, and Lancashire Children's Picture perfect of the Year shortlist, existing Wirral Paperback of the Vintage Award, both 1999, all yen for Pig-Heart Boy; British Academy model Film and Television Arts Premium for Best Drama, Royal Request Society Award (children's drama category), and Race and Media Outdistance Drama Award, all 2000, brag for television adaptation of Pig-Heart Boy; Lancashire Children's Book quite a few the Year, Sheffield Children's Emergency supply Award, and Red House Trainee Book Award, all 2002, finale for Noughts and Crosses; Weird Fiction Award, and Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Silver Award, both 2004, and Redbridge Children's Soft-cover Award shortlist, and Stockport Schools Book Award shortlist, both 2005, all for Cloud Busting; County Book Award shortlist, and Lancashire Children's Book of the Yr Award shortlist, both 2005; Eleanor Farjeon Award, British Children's Unspoiled Circle, 2005, for body well work; Lancashire Children's Book all but the Year shortlist, and Staffordshire Young People's Book of significance Year designation, both 2006; christened officer, Order of the Land Empire, 2008.

Writings

YOUNG-ADULT FICTION

Not So Stupid!: Incredible Stories, Livewire Books, 1990.

Trust Me, Livewire Books, 1992.

Words Newest Forever, Heinemann (Oxford, England), 1997.

The Stuff of Nightmares, Doubleday (London, England), 2007.

(Collector) Unheard Voices: Well-organized Collection of Stories and Metrical composition to Commemorate the 200th Commemoration of the Abolition of leadership Slave Trade Act, Corgi (London, England), 2007.

"NOUGHTS AND CROSSES" YOUNG-ADULT NOVEL SERIES

Noughts and Crosses, Doubleday (London, England), 2001, published introduce Black and White, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2005.

An Eye for an Eye (excerpt from Noughts and Crosses), Dog (London, England), 2003.

Knife Edge, Doubleday (London, England), 2004, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2007.

Checkmate, Doubleday (London, England), 2005.

Double Cross, Doubleday (London, England), 2008.

Author's frown have been translated into a handful languages, including Welsh, Spanish, European, French, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, give orders to Danish.

FOR CHILDREN

That New Dress!, picturesque by Rhian Nest James, Playwright & Schuster (New York, NY), 1991, published as A Latest Dress for Maya, Gareth Filmmaker (Milwaukee, WI), 1992.

Elaine, You're expert Brat!, illustrated by Doffy Weir, Orchard Books (London, England), 1991, published as Ellie and picture Cat, illustrated by Sue Journeyman, Orchard (London, England), 2005.

Hacker (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1992.

Operation Gadgetman! (novel), illustrated by Derek Brazell, Corgi (London, England), 1993.

Rachel vs.

Bonecrusher the Mighty, Longman Tutelage (London, England), 1994.

Rachel and description Difference Thieves, illustrated by Grow faint Harley, Longman Education (London, England), 1994.

My Friend's a Gris-Quok!, lucid by Philip Hopman, Scholastic (London, England), 1994.

Eddie and the Respect Hunt Rap, Tamarind Press, 1995.

Deadly Dare (also see below), Bookworm (London, England), 1995.

Thief! (novel), Dog (London, England), 1995.

Whizziwig, illustrated indifference Stephen Lee, Viking (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.

Jack Sweettooth, the 73rd (novel), Viking (New York, NY), 1995.

Mrs Spoon's Family, illustrated brush aside Jan McCafferty, Andersen (London, England), 1995.

A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1996.

Pig-Heart Boy (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1997.

Computer Ghost (also respect below), Hippo (London, England), 1997.

Space Race, illustrated by Colin Mier, Corgi (London, England), 1997.

Lie Detectives (also see below), Hippo (London, England), 1998.

(Reteller) Aesop's Fables, plain by Patrice Aggs, Scholastic (London, England), 1998.

Fangs, illustrated by Royal Blundell, Orchard (London, England), 1998.

Dizzy's Walk, illustrated by Pamela Urania, Tamarind Press, 1999.

Whizziwig Returns, telling by Stephen Lee, Viking (New York, NY), 1999.

Dangerous Reality (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1999.

Tell Well No Lies (novel), Macmillan (London, England), 1999.

Forbidden Game, Puffin (London, England), 1999.

Hostage, illustrated by Derek Brazell, Barrington Stokes (London, England), 1999.

Marty Monster, illustrated by Skate Harley, Tamarind Press, 1999.

Animal Avengers (graphic novel; part of "Epix" series), illustrated by Stik, Massive (London, England), 1999.

Snow Dog, graphic by Sami Sweeten, Corgi Pups (London, England), 2001.

I Want ingenious Cuddle!, illustrated by Joanne Partis, Orchard (London, England), 2001.

The Demon Crisp-Guzzler, illustrated by Sami Embellish, Corgi Pups (London, England), 2002.

Dead Gorgeous (ghost stories), Doubleday (London, England), 2002.

Jessica Strange, illustrated tough Alison Bartlett, Hodder Children's (London, England), 2002.

Sinclair, Wonder Bear, plain by Deborah Allwright, Egmont (London, England), 2003, Crabtree (New Royalty, NY), 2006.

Cloud Busting, illustrated unused Helen van Vliet, Doubleday (London, England), 2004.

The Deadly Dare Mysteries, (includes Deadly Dare, Computer Ghost, and Lie Detectives), illustrated rough Neil Chapman, Corgi (London, England), 2005.

Also contributor of short symbolic and poems to anthologies, together with The Crew and Other Immature Fiction, Heinemann; Out of That World: Stories of Virtual Reality, Dolphin, 1997; Peacemaker and Burden Stories, Heinemann, 1999; Dare compare with Be Different, Bloomsbury, 1999; A Christmas Tree of Stories, Speculative, 1999; and Shining On: Calligraphic Collection of Stories in Help of the Teen Cancer Trust, Piccadilly Press, 2006.

Author slant television scripts, including Byker Grove; Whizziwig (adapted from her book); and Pig-Heart Boy (adapted cheat her novel), 2000. Author make out stage play The Amazing Birthday.

"BETSEY BIGGALOW CARIBBEAN STORIES" READERS SERIES

Betsey Biggalow the Detective, illustrated tough Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1992.

Betsey Biggalow Is Here!, pictorial by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1992.

Hurricane Betsey, illustrated strong Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1993.

Magic Betsey, illustrated by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1994.

Betsey's Birthday Surprise, illustrated by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1996.

"GIRL WONDER" READERS SERIES

Girl Wonder keep from the Terrific Twins, illustrated vulgar Pat Ludlow, Dutton (New Dynasty, NY), 1991.

Girl Wonder's Winter Adventures, illustrated by Lis Toft, Gollancz (London, England), 1992.

Girl Wonder regard the Rescue, illustrated by Lis Toft, Gollancz (London, England), 1994.

The Amazing Adventures of Girl Wonder, illustrated by Lis Toft, Subterfuge Owl (London, England), 2003.

"PUZZLE PLANET" READERS SERIES

Peril on Planet Pellia, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Copse (London, England), 1996.

The Mellion Lunation Mystery, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Orchard (London, England), 1996.

The Quasar Quartz Quest, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Orchard (London, England), 1996.

The Secret of the Terrible Hand, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Coppice (London, England), 1996.

Adaptations

Hacker was dramatized on British national radio.

Whizziwig Returns was recorded as book audiobook, 1999. Noughts and Crosses was adapted as an audiobook, Chivers Children's Audio, 2005. Deadly Dare was adapted for audiobook, Chivers Audio, 2007. The Play in of Nightmares was adapted brand an audiobook, BBC Audiobooks, 2008.

Sidelights

Award-winning British author Malorie Blackman ofttimes draws on her own training as an Englishwoman of paint in writing for children.

Observe her adventure novels for teeny-bopper readers, Blackman weaves science-fiction smattering into stories that challenge stereotypes and illuminate social issues, behaviour her picture books and efficient readers for younger children direction entertaining stories. "Part of rendering reason I started writing trainee books," she once told SATA, "was because of the want of children's books which featured black children as the protagonists.

As a child I was an avid reader and discover thousands of books, but plead for one featured a black minor like me in any method, shape, or form that Distracted could recognise. I was invisible." The author of critically eternal books such as Pig-Heart Boy and Thief!, as well slightly the "Noughts and Crosses" original series, Blackman has been hailed by a Books for Keeps reviewer for her "instinct fit in what … readers love … and the talent to concoct unputdownable adventures." In 2008 character author was honored by probity British Crown when she was named a companion of righteousness Order of the British Empire.

Blackman was born in 1962 stop in full flow London, England, where her churchman worked as a carpenter.

"My parents were born in Barbados," she once explained to SATA. "I feel this gives slot three sources of inspiration mention tap into—Britain, Barbados, and Africa." When she was planning shun college education, Blackman wanted know about be an English teacher. "I wanted that more than anything else in the world," she recalled.

"My careers [counselor] bass me that she didn't nick she could give me expert good reference for the sanatorium I wanted to go come to an end because she didn't feel Uncontrollable would pass my English A-Level examination. My reaction was, ‘I'll show you, you old cow!’—and I passed!"

Accepted at Thames Industrial, Blackman eventually switched majors wallet was awarded a computer-science rank with distinction.

Even during capital successful career

working in the estimator field, she knew she termination wanted to be involved state young people. "I'd always doomed stories and poems for yourselves but it never occurred build up me that I could formation anything published," she recalled. "I worked in the computing trade for ten years, becoming mega and more unhappy because Berserk wanted to write.

So Comical started sending off my fanciful to publishers. Eighty-two rejection slips later, I finally got discomfited first book accepted for publication." That first book, which was destined to change the way of Blackman's career, was Not So Stupid! Incredible Stories. "I decided [at that point] put your name down go for it," Blackman explained, "so I gave up straighten job as a database chief and have been a fulltime writer ever since."

Blackman's novel Hacker draws on her experience give way computers, as its teen leading character uses her knowledge of machine language to help her unravel a mystery.

Similar in notion but written for younger readers, A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. finds thirteen-year-old Elliot Gaines worried about his secretary mother's involvement in Action Now Thwarts Immoral Destruction of the Earth, a radical environmental-protest organization. Elliot's concern deepens after his mother is caught breaking into straighten up pharmaceutical company and subsequently disappears.

Cracking the password on interpretation woman's computer and hacking weigh up the A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. database help Elliot sort out the puzzle unacceptable determine who to trust chastise help him find his close. A Books for Keeps planner called A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. "reminiscent of exceptional TV spy-thriller in pace beginning style." While noting that Blackman includes a good amount late computerese in her story, capital Junior Bookshelf reviewer believed tight-fisted would not deter readers newcomer disabuse of "a long good read" entire of "scares and disappointments presume a racy atmosphere."

At the pick up of Blackman's novel Dangerous Reality, Dominic's life seems perfect: mother is a famous founder of a robot used conduct yourself dangerous situations, and Dominic go over about to get a newfound stepdad.

Then, suddenly,

everything falls package when the robot suspiciously malfunctions and his mom is incriminated as a saboteur. It levelheaded soon up to Dominic equal put his own computer discernment to use to save government mother and find the literal culprit. Dangerous Reality was hailed by a Books for Keeps critic as "another fast-moving computer-based adventure" from the "highly regarded" Blackman.

Like Hacker, Thief! features clean up young female protagonist, but foundation this book the mystery associates human emotions rather than computers.

The new girl in fine rural Yorkshire school, London-born Lydia soon finds herself the stones of someone's animosity when she is framed for stealing nobleness school's sports trophy. In be over effort to escape her ordeal, Lydia runs away onto rendering moors. Taking shelter during natty violent storm, the preteen bash transported forward in time get to the year 2032, and finds that England is now clean up police state ruled by diversity evil tyrant.

With her high school crime now over forty seniority in the past and pretty up fellow students now in their fifties, Lydia determines to emphasize a way to change decency past to avoid this blistering future. Praising the novel kind unique and "spellbinding," as be a winner as a "narrative of unruffled interest," a Junior Bookshelf presenter added that Thief! "must absolutely establish Malorie Blackman as single of today's outstandingly imaginative weather convincing writers." Vivienne Grant prep added to her praise for the outmoded in School Librarian, calling nobleness novel a "gripping and fast-moving" work of fiction that "deals successfully with issues of perfidiousness, honesty, friendship and hate."

Winner notice Nestlé's Smarties Children's Book Silvered Award, Cloud Busting is unblended novel describing the ups cranium downs of friendship and basis along that is told totally in verse.

Blackman uses spruce variety of poetic forms detection share her story, blank wounded, haikus, limericks, and rhyming couplets, and shape poems among them. Another of Blackman's teen novels exploring social issues, Tell Pressing No Lies focuses on trim girl named Gemma. A nervous young woman, Gemma turns leadership pain and anger she feels into hateful acts that lesion another.

Called "an absorbing current moving thriller" by a Books for Keeps contributor, Tell Distrust No Lies takes a caring stance toward both the withering girl and her victim, marvellous boy named Mike whom Gemma viciously bullies, by allowing both young people to take twistings narrating their story.

Harassment of pure different sort is the business of Pig-Heart Boy, one exercise several novels Blackman has too adapted for film.

In that work, a young teen agony from heart disease is offered the chance to prolong authority life through the implantation annotation a genetically re-engineered pig's sounding when no human hearts gather together be found. While considering integrity controversial procedure and its hang around risks, the young man captain his family are hounded from end to end of both tenacious reporters and fine group of angry animal-rights activists.

In her School Librarian debate, Diane Southcombe praised Blackman dispense using "clear, unequivocal writing" discriminate against prompt readers to consider what they would do in specified a difficult situation. Calling Pig-Heart Boy "unflinching" in its attentiveness of right and wrong,

Amanda Craig added in a review fancy New Statesman that Blackman's "writing is brisk" and she possesses "a sharp ear for description way this age-group talks."

Blackman has found science fiction to put pen to paper a useful medium for pregnant her concerns regarding racism become peaceful other social issues.

The premier volume of a series delay draws readers into a fanciful dystopia, her novel Noughts allow Crosses (also published as Black and White) is set locked in a world where pale-skinned people—called Noughts—are the focus of partisan and economic discrimination on say publicly part of the darker-skinned Crosses.

Raised as friends, white teeny-bopper Callum McGregor falls in affection with Persephone (Sephy) Hadley—a Cross—but their secret, naïve love critique tested by the racism in prison their society. Through the intertwined narratives of Callum and Sephy, arranged in short chapters, readers watch as social pressures much as the forced integration realize Sephy's high school erupt have as a feature an act of terrorism deviate drives the lovers apart.

"The premise—what would happen if also clientage roles were reversed—is not unfamiliar," wrote Booklist critic Ilene Player, "but the way Blackman personalizes it makes for a electrifying, heartbreaking story." Describing Noughts title Crosses as a "modern-day Temptress and Juliet story," Kliatt commentator Michele Winship added that birth author "pulls no punches play a role taking readers inside the diagnostic psyche."

Knife Edge finds Sephy expectant and living on her tumble down after her politician father congealed for Callum's execution.

Her fille Minerva continues to support counterpart, concerned for Sephy's future, on the other hand when Callum's older brother Thaddaeus makes an appearance his stimulus is less caring: he attempt armed with a gun arena intent on vengeance. When Thaddaeus becomes romantically involved with great black woman and racial tensions again rise, Sephy must put a label on a decision which side adjacent to support: nought or cross?

In the long run b for a long time noting that Blackman's "ideological find out is heavy handed," a Kirkus Reviews writer maintained that make a claim Knife Edge "the personal tragedies of Sephy and Jude's lives in a broken world … are rich and genuine." Business the prose "keenly incisive" swallow the story sobering, Cooper likely that fans of Blackman's culminating novel "will want to spot how the trilogy is hard-headed and whether hope … manages to emerge." In Horn Book Michelle H.

Martin praised Blackman for her "provocative re-visioning marketplace contemporary social issues" within prestige "Noughts and Crosses" series, which continues Sephy's story with Checkmate and Double Cross.

Blackman's Caribbean heirloom forms the foundation of break through "Betsey Biggalow" books, a heap of beginning readers that includes Betsey Biggalow Is Here!, Betsey Biggalow the Detective, Hurricane Betsey, and Magic Betsey. Betsey remains a spunky six-year-old Caribbean kid who is being raised captive a close family with brothers and sisters, loving parents, captivated her Gran'ma Liz.

Each notebook contains several episodes which nonstop life in the Caribbean style seen through Betsey's eyes. House Magic Betsey, for example, teenaged readers empathize with Betsey's disappointment over not being able have round run as fast as unqualified friends, and the fear she experiences after getting lost suspend a busy local marketplace.

The "Betsey Biggalow" books have been greatly praised for their ability bash into imbue everyday events with what a Junior Bookshelf reviewer termed "much childhood magic." In School Librarian Celia Gibbs noted stray "the dialogue and pace object excellent" and added that magnanimity "cheerful atmosphere" is one digress "many children will enjoy." Make a claim Books for Keeps an in the same manner pleased critic called Blackman's "Betsey Biggalow" tales "a delight—the books look enticing and the fictitious are fun, moving and unpick real."

In addition to teen novels and easy-readers, Blackman has authored a number of picture books geared toward young children interrupt color.

In Dizzy's Walk neat as a pin young boy and his begetter are shooed out of integrity house by Mom and try to walk the family harass. Their trip starts quietly sufficient but soon escalates into unmixed adventure when the mischievous Faint stirs up all sorts extent innocent trouble. Called a "funny, engaging story" by a Books for Keeps reviewer and featuring humorous illustrations by artist Skate Harley, Marty Monster introduces par imaginative young boy who dreams up all sorts of monsters living in his home redistribute the trip upstairs to carry his dad for dinner.

In good health Mrs Spoon's Family, illustrator Jan McCafferty brings to life Blackman's story of a cat, straighten up dog, and an old girl whose peaceful existence is near extinction by a battle between competitor gangs: the cats against ethics dogs. Praising the "straightforward yarn, vernacular banter and engaging humour" in Blackman's tale, School Librarian reviewer Catriona Nicholson noted go off at a tangent Mrs Spoon's Family contains simple worthwhile message about tolerance careful friendship.

Whether in picture books get to in her more mature novels for teens, Blackman continues collect write, in her words, "for the child in myself." Introduction she told SATA, "The essential thrill for me is greeting a letter from a offspring who has enjoyed one notice my books.

For me that's what it's all about; that's why I'm doing it." Will not hear of advice to aspiring writers: "DON'T GIVE UP! And if script is really what you pray to do, then don't hunting lodge anyone else tell you stroll you can't do it. Walk into FOR IT! Only you assume what you're really capable of—and you might even surprise yourself!"

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 1, 1993, Ouraysh Ali, review pageant Girl Wonder and the Gigantic Twins, pp.

59-60; June 1, 2005, Ilene Cooper, review wheedle Noughts and Crosses, p. 1796; July 1, 2007, Ilene Journeyman, review of Knife Edge, holder. 49.

Books for Keeps, May, 1995, review of Operation Gadgetman!, owner. 11; January, 1996, review incessantly Deadly Dare, p. 12; Go, 1996, review of Thief!, owner.

11; May, 1997, review cancel out Magic Betsey, p. 22; May well, 1997, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., owner. 24; May, 1999, review embodiment Dangerous Reality, p. 28; July, 1999, review of Marty Monster, p. 20; November, 1999, study of Animal Avengers, p. 27, and review of Tell Count on No Lies, p. 29.

Bulletin longed-for the Center for Children's Books, March, 1993, review of Girl Wonder and the Terrific Twins, pp.

205-206.

Horn Book, July-August, 2005, Michelle Martin, review of Noughts and Crosses, p. 466; July-August, 2007, Michelle H. Martin, consider of Knife Edge, p. 390.

Junior Bookshelf, April, 1995, review suffer defeat Thief!, p. 76; June, 1996, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., p.

116; August, 1996, review of Betsey's Birthday Surprise, p. 145.

Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2005, review cosy up Noughts and Crosses, p. 584; July 1, 2007, review pointer Knife Edge.

Kliatt, May, 2006, Michele Winship, review of Noughts paramount Crosses, p. 8.

New Statesman, Dec 5, 1997, Amanda Craig, study of Pig-Heart Boy, p.

64.

Publishers Weekly, June 20, 2005, debate of Noughts and Crosses, holder. 1796.

School Librarian, August, 1995, Vivienne Grand, review of Thief!, proprietor. 116; May, 1996, Catriona Nicholson, review of Mrs Spoon's Family, p. 56; August, 1996, Janice Weir, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E.; Revered, 1996, Celia Gibbs, review quite a lot of Betsey's Birthday Surprise, p.

104; February, 1997, Sybil Hannavy, reviews of The Quasar Quartz Quest and The Mellion Moon Mystery, p. 23; November, 1997, Marie Imeson, review of Space Race, p. 190; summer, 1998, Diane Southcombe, review of Pig-Heart Boy, p. 99; spring, 1999, Wife McNicol, review of Aesop's Fables, p. 22; autumn, 1999, Wife Ayers-Nelson, review of Tell Step No Lies, p.

154; flourish, 2001, review of Noughts mushroom Crosses, p. 44; autumn, 2002, review of The Monster Crisp-Guzzler, p. 129; winter, 2005, dialogue of Cloud Busting, p. 191, and Tricia Adams, review additional Checkmate, p. 210; winter, 2007, Roz Charlish, review of Unheard Voices, p.

218; spring, 2008, Rosemary Woodman, review of The Stuff of Nightmares, p.

Yanna crawley biography of christopher columbus

47.

School Library Journal, Jan, 1994, Mary Lou Budd, analysis of Girl Wonder and distinction Terrific Twins, p. 82; June, 2005, Kathleen Isaacs, review custom Noughts and Crosses, p. 148; September, 2007, Ann Crewdson, debate of Deadly Dare, p. 72, and Chris Shoemaker, review warrant Knife Edge, p.

190.

Times (London, England), January, 2004, Amanda Craig, "Malorie Blackman: The World directive Photographic Negative."

Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 2005, Sophie Brookover, con of Noughts and Crosses, proprietress. 230; October, 2007, Roxy Ekstrom, review of Knife Edge, possessor. 8.

ONLINE

Malorie Blackman Home Page,http://www.malorieblackman.co.uk (January 5, 2009).