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Theresa Breslin
OBE
Theresa Breslin at Jedburgh Town Hall (sq cropped).jpg
Breslin in 2023
Born
Theresa Green

Kirkintilloch, Scotland
Occupation Writer

Theresa Breslin is a Scottish writer who has written more than 50 books. She is famous for her stories for young people. In 1994, she won the important Carnegie Medal for her book Whispers in the Graveyard. This award is given to the best children's book of the year.

In 2019, Theresa Breslin received an O.B.E. from the Queen. This special award recognized her great work and contributions to literature.

About Theresa Breslin

Theresa Breslin grew up in a town called Kirkintilloch in Scotland. She started writing when she was a teenager. Her first stories were about a steel mill near her home that was closing down.

She studied at Aston University in Birmingham. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a librarian. This job helped her learn a lot about books. She has now published over 50 books for readers of all ages.

Winning the Carnegie Medal

One of Theresa Breslin's most famous books is Whispers in the Graveyard, published in 1994. This story is about a boy who has dyslexia. The book was very popular and won the annual Carnegie Medal. This award is one of the highest honors for children's books in the United Kingdom.

Another one of her books, Prisoners in the Graveyard, was also nominated for the Carnegie Medal in 2010.

In 2019, she received the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award. This was for her amazing contributions to literature. That same year, she also won the Scottish Book Trust's Outstanding Achievement Award.

Personal Life

Theresa Breslin is married and has four children.

Popular Books

Theresa Breslin has written many exciting books. Here are a few examples:

  • Divided City (2005): This book was her eighth for the publisher Doubleday.
  • The Medici Seal (2006): For this book, Theresa Breslin did a lot of research. She traveled to Italy to study famous artworks by Leonardo da Vinci. These included the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. The Medici Seal is an adventure story about a character named Matteo. He travels across Italy with Leonardo da Vinci, getting involved in mysteries and secrets.

List of Works

  • Simon's Challenge (1988)
  • Different Directions (1989)
  • Time to Reap (1991)
  • Kezzie (1993)
  • Bullies at School (1993)
  • Whispers in the Graveyard (1994)
  • Alien Force (1995)
  • A Homecoming for Kezzie (1995)
  • Missing (1995)
  • Death or Glory Boys (1996)
  • Name Games (1997)
  • Across the Roman Wall (1997)
  • Blair, the Winner! (1997)
  • Name Games (1997)
  • Bodyparts (1998)
  • Starship Rescue (1999)
  • Blair Makes a Splash (1999)
  • The Dream Master (1999)
  • Dream Master – Nightmare! (2000)
  • Duncan of Carrick (2000)
  • Remembrance (2002)
  • New School Blues (2002)
  • Dream Master – Gladiator (2003)
  • Prisoner in Alcatraz (2004)
  • Dream Master – Arabian Nights (2004)
  • Saskia's Journey (2004)
  • Divided City (2005)
  • The Medici Seal (2006)
  • The Nostradamus Prophecy (2008)
  • Prisoner of the Inquisition (2010)
  • Spy for the Queen of Scots (2012)

Awards and Recognition

Theresa Breslin has received many awards for her writing:

  • Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Children's Literature for Whispers in the Graveyard.
  • Awarded Honorary Membership of the Scottish Library Association in 2000. This was for her great service to children's literature and libraries.
  • Her books were chosen for the American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults list. They were also on the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age list in 2003.
  • She received a Civic Award from Strathkelvin.
  • Winner of the Scottish Book Trust Best of the Decade Award.
  • Winner of Young Book Trust's Kathleen Fidler Award for Simon's Challenge.
  • Winner of the Sheffield Children's Book Award for a longer novel.
  • Awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Association for Scottish Literary Studies in 2010.
  • Received an OBE for Services to Literature in 2019.

Other Nominations

Her books have also been nominated for many other awards, including:

  • The Children's Book Award (twice)
  • The Angus Book Award
  • The Lancashire Book Award
  • The Moray Book Award
  • North-East Book Award
  • The Sheffield Book Award (twice)
  • South Lanark Book Award
  • The Stockton Book Award
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