Robin Jarvis facts for kids

Robin Jarvis (born 8 May 1963) is a British author who writes exciting books for young people. He is known for his stories in the dark fantasy, suspense, and supernatural thriller genres. His books often feature thrilling adventures and mysterious events.

For older readers (young adults), Robin Jarvis has created many different worlds. Some of his stories include a coastal town fighting a huge evil with a magical guardian, and tiny shape-shifters called Werglers battling evil faerie creatures. He has also written about a dark future where a strange book causes people to switch worlds. Other books feature ancient Norse Fates, crow-demons, and even a time-traveling teddy bear! He also wrote about dark powers and old evils on the North Yorkshire coast, and an epic medieval adventure. One of his unique series is a science-fiction story set in an alternate Tudor time, with robot servants and animals, ruled by Queen Elizabeth I.

For younger readers, Jarvis writes about anthropomorphic (human-like) animals, especially mice. His famous The Deptford Mice series features these characters. Many of his stories are set in places like London (especially Deptford and Greenwich), Felixstowe, or Whitby. The Whitby Witches trilogy and his newer series, The Witching Legacy, are set in Whitby. His first novel, The Dark Portal, which introduced the Deptford Mice, was a runner-up for the Smarties book prize in 1989. People have described his work as "original, spooky, unusual, psychological supernatural horror fantasy with a very modern twist." Robin Jarvis himself says he doesn't write "horror," but his books have been compared to those by authors like Stephen King, but for young adults. The Deptford Mice was even turned into a play in 2010 and 2011.

About Robin Jarvis

Early Life and Education

Robin Jarvis was born in Liverpool, England, on May 8, 1963. He was the youngest of four children. He grew up in Warrington and went to Penketh High School. At school, he really enjoyed Art and English classes.

After high school, he decided to study Graphic Design at Newcastle Polytechnic, which is now called Northumbria University. This helped him develop his creative skills.

Career and Home Life

After finishing college, Robin Jarvis moved to London. He worked in the television and advertising industries. In these jobs, he was a model-maker, creating miniature models for shows and commercials. This work likely helped him imagine the detailed worlds in his books. Today, he lives in Greenwich, a part of southeast London.