David Hill (author) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Hill CNZM
Hill in 2024
Born	Clive David Hill 1942 (age 82–83) Napier, New Zealand
Occupation	Fiction writer children's writer playwright reviewer journalist
Genre	General fiction young fiction

Clive David Hill (born in 1942) is a well-known New Zealand author. He is especially famous for his books written for young people. Two of his popular books, See Ya, Simon (1992) and Right Where It Hurts (2001), have won many awards. He also writes many articles for newspapers like The New Zealand Herald.

About David Hill

David Hill was born in Napier, New Zealand, in 1942. He went to Victoria University of Wellington and earned a special degree in 1964. Before becoming a full-time writer in 1982, he taught English. He taught in high schools in both New Zealand and England.

David Hill writes many different kinds of stories. These include novels, plays, and articles for magazines. His books for young people range from picture books for younger kids to novels for teenagers. His stories are published all over the world. They have also been translated into different languages. Sometimes, his work is even broadcast on the radio.

He enjoys writing for teenagers a lot. He believes teens are exciting and challenging readers. He sees them as smart readers who are discovering many new ideas and experiences for the first time. He says his favorite authors include Maurice Gee, Joy Cowley, and Margaret Mahy. David Hill currently lives in New Plymouth.

Awards and Special Recognitions

David Hill has received many important awards for his writing. In 2003, he was a writer-in-residence in Dunedin. This means he lived there for a few months just to focus on writing. In 2010, he took part in a special writing program at the University of Iowa in the United States.

In 2004, he was given the title of Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This was to honor his great contributions to literature. In 2005, he received the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal. This is a very important award for children's authors in New Zealand.

Many of David Hill's books have won or been nominated for awards. They are often listed as Storylines Notable Books. His book See Ya Simon won the Times Educational Supplement Award in 1994. It also won the Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award in 2002 as a "Much-loved Book." In 2013, his book My Brother's War won the Junior Fiction Award. It also won the children's choice award in that category.

In 2021, David Hill received the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction. This is one of the highest honors for writers in New Zealand. In 2024, he was promoted to Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This was again for his amazing work in literature, especially for children's books.

Books by David Hill

• The Seventies (1970)
• Introducing Maurice Gee (1981)
• On Poetry: Twelve Studies of Work by New Zealand Poets (1984)
• Ours But to Do (1986)
• Taranaki (1987)
• The Boy (1988)
• A Time to Laugh (1990)
• The Games of Nanny Miro (1990)
• See Ya, Simon (1992) (This book won several awards, including the 1994 Times Educational Supplement Award and the Children's Literature Foundation Gaelyn Gordon Award.)
• A Day at a Time (1994)
• Curtain Up (1995)
• Kick Back (1995)
• Take It Easy (1995)
• The Winning Touch (1995)
• Second Best (1996)
• Fat, Four-eyed and Useless (1997) (Winner of the Esther Glen Medal in 1998.)
• Just Looking, Thanks (1999)
• Right Where It Hurts (2001) (Winner of the 2003 LIANZA Esther Glen Medal.)
• The High Wind Blows (2001)
• The Sleeper Wakes (2001)
• The Name of the Game (2001)
• Where All Things End (2002)
• My Story: Journey to Tangiwai, The Diary of Peter Cotterill, Napier 1953 (2003)
• No Big Deal (2003)
• No Safe Harbour (2003)
• Coming Back (2004)
• Bodies and Soul (2005)
• Running Hot (2005)
• Aim High (2006)
• Hill Sides (2006)
• How I met myself (2006)
• Black Day (2007)
• The Forgotten Children (2007)
• Duet (Youth Book) (2007)
• My Brother's War (2012) (Won the Junior Fiction Award in 2013.)
• The Red Poppy (2012)
• Sinking (2013)
• The Deadly Sky (2014)
• First to the Top: Sir Edmund Hillary’s Amazing Everest Adventure (2015) (Won the Children's Choice Award in 2016.)
• Enemy Camp (2016)
• Speed King (2016)
• Flight Path (2017)
• Sky High: Jean Batten's Incredible Flying Adventures (2019)
• Taking the Lead: How Jacinda Ardern Wowed the World (2020)
• Below (2023) (Winner of the Esther Glen Award in 2023.)