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Malorie Blackman Honored for Transforming YA Literature
12 Jun
Summary
- Malorie Blackman, author of over 70 books, is now a Dame.
- Her Noughts And Crosses series explores a society divided by racism.
- She was the first non-white person to write for Doctor Who.
Dame Malorie Blackman, a prolific author with over 70 books to her name, has been recognized for her extensive work in children's and young adult literature by being appointed a Dame in the King's Birthday Honours.
Blackman, who served as Children's Laureate from 2013 to 2015, is widely celebrated for her Noughts And Crosses series. This influential series depicts a society segregated by racism, featuring characters from both the ruling 'Cross' class and the oppressed 'Nought' underclass.
Her literary impact extends beyond the Noughts And Crosses series; books like Pig-Heart Boy have been adapted into successful television series. Blackman also made history in 2018 as the first non-white writer for the iconic Doctor Who television show.
Born in London in 1962 to Barbadian parents who were part of the Windrush generation, Blackman published her first book, Not So Stupid!, in 1990. She previously received an OBE in 2008 and the PEN Pinter prize in 2022 for her transformative contributions to young adult literature.
