Hilary McKay facts for kids

Hilary McKay, born on June 12, 1959, is a talented British author. She writes wonderful books for children. Her very first novel, The Exiles, won a special award in 1992. It was called the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. This award is given only once to an author.

About Hilary McKay

Hilary McKay grew up in Boston, Lincolnshire. She was the oldest of four sisters. She went to St Andrews University. There, she studied English, animals (Zoology), and plants (Botany). Before writing, she worked as a scientist. Today, she lives in Derbyshire with her husband, Kevin.

Hilary McKay remembers loving books as a child. She once said, "I protected myself from the big, scary world with lots of books. The local library felt as comfortable as my own home."

The Casson Family Books

The Casson Family series is a popular collection of books. It features an English family of artists, the Cassons. The first book, Saffy's Angel (2001), won the Whitbread Award.

There are five more books in this series:

• Indigo's Star (2004)
• Permanent Rose (2005) – This book was also nominated for the Whitbread Award.
• Caddy Ever After (2006)
• Forever Rose (2007)
• Caddy's World (2011) – This story happens before Saffy's Angel.

The first three books focus on one character's view. But Caddy Ever After is told by each child in the family. Forever Rose is also told from a character's point of view.

The Porridge Hall Books

The Porridge Hall series was written between 1994 and 1998. These books are about Robin Brogan and his mother. They live in a house called Porridge Hall. It is on the coast of Yorkshire.

Porridge Hall used to be Mrs. Brogan's family home. Now, it is split into two houses. She and Robin live in one half. Mrs. Brogan also runs a bed and breakfast there. The Robinson family lives in the other half. The two families are very good friends.

These books have also been made into audiobooks. Famous actors like Nigel Lambert and Judy Bennett have read them. One book, Dog Friday, was even made into a German movie! The books have been translated into many languages. These include Dutch, Estonian, Czech, Danish, Greek, Polish, Spanish, and Thai. The Amber Cat has also been translated into French.

Awards Hilary McKay Has Won

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. It won in the 9–11 years category and overall.
• Saffy's Angel won the 2002 Whitbread Children's Book Award.
• Permanent Rose was nominated for the 2005 Whitbread Award.
• The Skylarks' War (2018) won the 2019 Costa Children's Book Award.

Selected Works by Hilary McKay