Biography
Malorie Blackman was born in 1962. She qualified in Computer Science and followed a successful career in computing, before becoming a writer at the age of 28. Her first published book was Not So Stupid! (1990), a book of short stories. Since then she has written many books and scripts, and her popularity has steadily grown. Her scripts for television include several episodes of Byker Grove, Whizziwig and Pig-Heart Boy, and she has also written original dramas for CITV and BBC Education. Her stage play, The Amazing Birthday, was performed in 2002.
She writes for all ages of children. Her picture books include I Want a Cuddle! (2001) and Jessica Strange (2002) and she has written many reader books for early and more confident readers. Her novels include: Hacker (1992); the story of Vicky, who saves her father from being wrongly convicted of stealing from the bank after hacking into the bank’s computer to solve the crime herself; Thief! (1995), about a child who is transported into the future after being accused of a crime she did not commit; and Pig-Heart Boy (1997), the diary of 13-year-old Cameron, who needs a heart transplant. The latter book and its subsequent adaptation as a series for television won several awards, including a BAFTA for best children’s drama in 2000.
Malorie Blackman's most well-known books for young adults are: Noughts & Crosses (2001); Knife Edge (2004); and Checkmate (2005) – which form the Noughts & Crosses Trilogy, the tale of two teenagers, Callum and Sephy. 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.
Malorie Blackman lives in Kent. In 2007 she collected stories and poems for the book Unheard Voices, commemorating the bicentenary anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. Her latest books are The Stuff of Nightmares (2007) and Double Cross (2008), Jessica Strange (2008). She was awarded an OBE in 2008
Bibliography
Not So Stupid! Women's Press, 1990
Elaine, You're a Brat! Orchard, 1991
Girl Wonder and the Terrific Twins (illustrated by Pat Ludlow) Gollancz, 1991
That New Dress (illustrated by Rhian Nest James) Simon & Schuster, 1991
Betsey Biggalow is Here! (illustrated by Lis Toft) Piccadilly, 1992
Betsey Biggalow, the Detective (illustrated by Lis Toft) Piccadilly, 1992
Girl Wonder's Winter Adventures (illustrated by Lis Toft) Gollancz, 1992
Hacker Doubleday, 1992
Trust Me Women's Press, 1992
Betsey Biggalow: Hurricane Betsey (illustrated by Lis Toft) Piccadilly, 1993
Crazy Crocs (with Alexander McCall Smith and Sally-Ann Lever) Longman, 1994
Girl Wonder to the Rescue (illustrated by Lis Toft) Gollancz, 1994
Magic Betsey! (illustrated by Lis Toft) Piccadilly, 1994
My Friend's a Gris-Quok (illustrated by Philip Hopman) Scholastic, 1994
Rachel and the Difference Thief (illustrataed by Kim Harley) Longman, 1994
Rachel versus Bonecrusher the Mighty Longman, 1994
Jack Sweettooth the 73rd Viking, 1995
Mrs Spoon's Family (illustrated by Jan McCafferty) Andersen Press, 1995
Operation Gadgetman! Yearling, 1995
The Space Stowaway Ginn, 1995
Thief! Doubleday, 1995
Whizziwig (illustrated by Stephen Lee) Viking, 1995
A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E Doubleday, 1996
Betsey Biggalow: Betsey's Birthday Surprise (illustrated by Lis Toft) Piccadilly, 1996
Grandma Gertie's Haunted Handbag (illustrated by David Price) Heinemann, 1996
Peril on Planet Pellia (illustrated by Patrice Aggs) Orchard, 1996
The Mellion Moon Mystery (illustrated by Patrice Aggs) Orchard, 1996
The Quasar Quartz Quest (illustrated by Patrice Aggs) Orchard, 1996
The Secret of the Terrible Hand (illustrated by Patrice Aggs) Orchard, 1996
Computer Ghost Hippo, 1997
Don't Be Afraid Ginn, 1997
Out of This World (contributor; includes 'Contact' short story) Dolphin, 1997
Pig-Heart Boy Doubleday, 1997
Space Race (illustrated by Colin Mier) Corgi, 1997
Aesop's Fables (retold with illustrations by Patrice Aggs) Scholastic, 1998
Fangs (illustrated by Tony Blundell) Orchard, 1998
Lie Detectives Hippo, 1998
Words Last Forever Mammoth, 1998
Animal Avengers (illustrated by Stik) Mammoth, 1999
Dangerous Reality Doubleday, 1999
Dizzy's Wak (illustrated by Pamela Venus) Tamarind, 1999
Forbidden Game Puffin, 1999
Hostage (illustrated by Derek Brazell) Barrington Stoke, 1999
Marty Monster (illustrated by Kim Harley) Tamarind, 1999
Peacemaker and Other Stories (illustrated by Peter Richardson and David Hine) Heinemann Educational, 1999
Whizziwig Returns (illustrated by Stephen Lee) Puffin, 1999
Tell Me No Lies McMillan Children's Books, 2000
Anansi and the Rubber Man Longman, 2001
I Want a Cuddle! (illustrated by Joanne Partis) Orchard, 2001
Noughts & Crosses Doubleday, 2001
Snow Dog (illustrated by Sami Sweeten) Corgi, 2001
Dead Gorgeous Doubleday, 2002
Jessica Strange (with Alison Bartlett) Hodder Children's Books, 2002
The Monster Crisp-Guzzler (illustrated by Sami Sweeten) Corgi, 2002
An Eye for an Eye (novella) Corgi, 2003
Sinclair Wonder Bear (illustrated by Deborah Allwright) Egmont, 2003
The Amazing Adventures of Girl Wonder (illustrated by Lis Toft) Barn Owl, 2003
Cloud Busting Doubleday, 2004
Knife Edge Doubleday, 2004
Checkmate Doubleday, 2005
Operation Gadgetman! Corgi, 2005
The Deadly Dare Mysteries (contents: 'Deadly Dare'; 'Computer Ghost';, 'Lie Detectives'; illustrated by Neil Chapman) Random House Children's Books, 2005
Whizziwig and Whizziwig Returns (re-published in one volume) Random House Children's Books, 2005
The Big Book of Betsey Biggalow (omnibus) Barn Owl Books, 2007
The Stuff of Nightmares Doubleday, 2007
Unheard Voices (editor) Corgi, 2007
Double Cross Doubleday, 2008
Jack Sweettooth Corgi, 2008
Jessica Strange (illustrated by Mark Hearld) Hodder Children's Books, 2008
The Bumper Book of Betsey Biggalow (omnibus) Barn Owl Books, 2008
Prizes and awards
1994 WH Smith Mind-Boggling Book Award Hacker
1994 Young Telegraph/Gimme 5 Children's Book of the Year Award Hacker
1996 Young Telegraph/Fully Booked Children's Book of the Year Award Thief!
1997 Excelle/Write Thing Children's Author of the Year Award
1997 Stockport Children's Book Award (Key Stage 3) A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E
1998 Carnegie Medal (shortlist) Pig-Heart Boy
1998 UKRA Award Pig-Heart Boy
1999 Wirral Children's Book of the Year Award Pig-Heart Boy
2000 BAFTA (best drama) Pig-Heart Boy
2000 Race and Media Best Drama Award Pig-Heart Boy
2000 Royal Television Society Award (Children's Drama) Pig-Heart Boy
2000 Stockport Children's Book Award (Key Stage 4) Tell Me No Lies
2001 Chicago TV Festival (shortlist) Pig-Heart Boy
2001 Prix Danube Children's Jury Prize Pig-Heart Boy
2002 Children's Book Award Noughts & Crosses
2002 Lancashire County Library Children's Book of the Year Award Noughts & Crosses
2002 Sheffield Children's Book Award Noughts & Crosses
2003 Wirral Children's Book of the Year Award Noughts & Crosses
2004 Fantastic Fiction Award Noughts & Crosses
2004 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (Silver Award) (6-8 years category) Cloud Bursting
2008 OBE
