Hilary McKay facts for kids

Hilary McKay (born 12 June 1959) is a British writer who creates wonderful books for children. Her very first novel, The Exiles, won a special award called the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 1992. This award was unique because it was judged by other British children's authors.

About Hilary McKay

Hilary McKay was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. She is the oldest of four sisters. She went to St Andrews University where she studied English, animals (Zoology), and plants (Botany). Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a scientist, helping to keep people safe. Today, she lives in Derbyshire with her husband, Kevin.

Hilary McKay has shared that when she was a child, she loved reading books. She said that her local library felt as familiar and comfortable to her as her own home. Reading helped her explore new worlds and feel safe.

The Casson Family Books

The Casson Family series is a popular collection of books by Hilary McKay. These stories are about an English family of artists, the Cassons. The first book in the series, Saffy's Angel (published in 2001), won the Whitbread Award.

The series includes several other books:

• Indigo's Star (2004)
• Permanent Rose (2005)
• Caddy Ever After (2006)
• Forever Rose (2007)
• Caddy's World (2011) – This book tells a story that happens before Saffy's Angel.

The first three books are told from the point of view of the character in the title. Caddy Ever After is special because each of the children takes turns telling the story. Forever Rose is also told from a first-person perspective.

The Porridge Hall Books

The Porridge Hall series, written between 1994 and 1998, follows Robin Brogan and his mother. They live in a house called Porridge Hall, located on the Yorkshire coast. Porridge Hall used to be Mrs. Brogan's family home. Now, it is split into two houses. Mrs. Brogan and Robin live in one half, where Mrs. Brogan also runs a bed and breakfast. The Robinson family lives in the other half, and the two families are very good friends.

These books have also been made into audiobooks. Dog Friday was even turned into a German film called Ein Hund namens Freitag. The Porridge Hall books have been translated into many languages around the world.

Awards and Recognition

Hilary McKay has won several important awards for her books:

• The Exiles won the 1992 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.
• The Exiles At Home won the 1994 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for ages 9–11 years and was the overall winner.
• Saffy's Angel won the 2002 Whitbread Children's Book Award.
• Permanent Rose was a finalist for the 2005 Whitbread Award.
• The Skylarks' War (published in 2018) won the 2019 Costa Children's Book Award.

Selected Works