Sally Gardner facts for kids
Sally Gardner is a British writer and illustrator of children's books. She is famous for her exciting stories and beautiful artwork. Sally won two big awards, the Costa Book Award for Children's Book and the Carnegie Medal, for her book Maggot Moon (published in 2012). She also writes novels for adults under the name Wray Delaney.
Contents
About Sally Gardner's Life
Sally Gardner grew up in Birmingham, England. Her parents were both lawyers. They separated and divorced when Sally was five years old. Her mother, Nina Lowry, became a judge at the famous Old Bailey court.
Overcoming Challenges: Dyslexia
Sally remembers being bullied a lot at school. Kids even called her 'Silly Sally'. This was because she had dyslexia, which wasn't known at the time. She was officially diagnosed with severe dyslexia when she was 12. Sally didn't learn to read properly until she was 14 years old. The first full book she read was Wuthering Heights.
From Art to Writing
Teachers noticed Sally's creative talent. She did very well in art college and then in drama college. Before becoming a writer and illustrator, she worked as a set designer for plays. Today, Sally lives in London. In 2019, she became an Ambassador for Listening Books, a charity that provides audiobooks.
Sally Gardner's Books for Young Readers
Sally Gardner's first book, The Little Nut Tree, came out in 1993. It was a picture book for children that she also illustrated.
Popular Novels for Kids
Her first full-length novel was a big success. I, Coriander won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in 2005 for readers aged 9–11. This story is set in London during the time of Oliver Cromwell. It follows Coriander, a silk merchant's daughter, who faces many challenges.
The Red Necklace: A story of the French Revolution and its sequel The Silver Blade take place mostly in France during the French Revolution. They also feature scenes in London. The main characters are an aristocratic girl and a gypsy boy, who are 12 and 14 years old at the start of the story. The boy, Yann, has real magic powers. A review from Kirkus Reviews even called The Red Necklace a fantasy book.
Exploring Different Worlds
The Double Shadow is a historical fantasy story that begins in Britain in 1937. Tinder (2013) is another historical novel. It is set during the Thirty Years' War, a major conflict in European history.
Award-Winning Maggot Moon
Maggot Moon (2012) won the prestigious Carnegie Medal. This award celebrates the best new book for children or young adults published in the UK. The story is an alternate history, meaning it imagines what if things happened differently. It is set in 1950s England during the space race. In this world, England is controlled by a powerful group called the Motherland.
Kirkus Reviews described the Motherland as being very similar to Nazi Germany. They noted the book's simple language and short chapters. However, they also mentioned its tough and serious content. Librarians who chose it for the Carnegie Medal shortlist recommended it for ages 11+. They called it a "stunning book with an underdog hero." They praised its "powerful depiction of an utterly convincing and frightening dystopia." The idea for Maggot Moon came from theories about the Moon landing and Sally's research into "what if" historical events.
Books by Sally Gardner
As Writer and Illustrator
( (‡) The Magical Children series includes "stories about ordinary children who suddenly develop magical powers." |
As Writer Only
As Illustrator Only
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Adult Novels by Wray Delaney
Sally Gardner also writes books for adults using the pen name Wray Delaney.
- An Almond for a Parrot (2016)
- The Beauty of the Wolf (2019)
Awards and Recognitions
Sally Gardner has won many awards for her books:
- 2003 The Countess's Calamity, won the Nestlé Children's Book Prize bronze award and Kids' Club Award (ages 6–8 years).
- 2005 I, Coriander, won the Nestlé Children's Book Prize (ages 9–11 years).
- 2006 I, Coriander, was a finalist for the National Book Awards, Children's Book of the Year.
- 2007 I, Coriander, was a finalist for the Stockton Children's Book of the Year.
- 2012 Maggot Moon, won the Costa Book Awards, Children's Book category.
- 2013 Maggot Moon, won the prestigious Carnegie Medal.
