Patrice Lawrence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrice Lawrence
MBE, FRSL
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Lawrence in a 2022 discussion at the British Library
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| Born | 1960s |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Fiction writer and journalist |
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Notable work
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Orangeboy (2016); Eight Pieces of Silva (2020) |
| Awards | The Bookseller YA Book Prize; Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Children; Jhalak Prize (Children's & YA) |
Patrice Lawrence is a British writer and journalist. She writes stories for both adults and young people. Her books have won many awards, including the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Children and The Bookseller YA Book Prize. In 2021, she won the Jhalak Prize for children's and young adult books with her novel Eight Pieces of Silva (2020).
Contents
About Patrice Lawrence
Patrice Lawrence was born in Brighton, Sussex, England. She grew up in an Italian-Trinidadian family. Her mother came to England from Trinidad to train as a nurse.
Patrice studied writing for film and TV. The BBC even helped her learn to write comedy. Her first story, "Duck, Duck, Goose," was published in a book called The Decibel Penguin Prize Anthology in 2006.
How Orangeboy Began
Patrice got the idea for her first young adult novel, Orangeboy, during a writing course. This course focused on crime writing.
Orangeboy was published in 2016. It quickly won several awards. These included The Bookseller's 2017 YA Book Prize and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Children in 2017. It was also a finalist for the 2016 Costa Children's Book Award.
Reviewers loved Orangeboy. One reviewer called it a "moving story" full of "tears and laughter." The book is about a teenage boy facing difficult situations. Patrice Lawrence wanted her story to show hope, even when dealing with the real challenges some young people face in Britain.
Other Popular Books
Her next book, Indigo Donut (2017), was also very popular. A reviewer from The Times called it "addictive." The story explores themes like bullying, foster care, and teenage relationships. The Guardian said Patrice Lawrence was a "bold, fresh voice" in young adult fiction. Both Orangeboy and Indigo Donut are set in Hackney, London. Patrice has lived in Lower Clapton, Hackney, since 1997.
Sharing Her Writing Journey
Patrice Lawrence writes a blog called The Lawrence Line. In her blog, she shares her experiences of writing and getting her books published. She wants to help other new writers, especially young Black writers. She hopes to show them that publishing can be a good experience and encourage them to tell their own stories.
Other Contributions
Patrice also contributed to the 2019 book New Daughters of Africa. This book is a collection of writings by African women.
In 2021, Patrice became an ambassador for First Story. This charity helps young people learn creative writing, especially those from low-income areas.
In 2023, she was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. This is a special honor for writers in the UK.
