The former children’s laureate shares her sometimes enraging story of rejection, determination and resilienceAt the beginning of Malorie Blackman’s engrossing and often shocking memoir, the former children’s laureate asks: “Why am I an author?” What she goes on to tell us certainly shows how she was able to succeed: absolute determination, powered by rejection and by the love and support of others.The memoir eschews a strictly chronological approach. There are five themes – Wonder, Loss, Anger, Perseverance, Representation and Love. The prose and occasional poem contain intimate, often painful and sometimes funny insights into the author’s life.Born in south London in 1962, Blackman’s parents were part of what’s now referred to as the Windrush generation – British citizens encouraged to move to the UK after the war. In Barbados, her father had been a master carpenter. In the UK he drove buses. Her mother worked in a factory, denied further education back home, since school money was saved for the boys. It was a “staggered” family – Blackman’s parents coming to England first, her older Barbados-born siblings joining them later. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2022-10-19 06:30:17 UTC ]
Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Mon, 15/08/2011 - 15:17 The Way With Words festival is celebrating its 20th year by launching a new family arts and books event in south London this October. Word Up! will take place in South Dulwich at the Alleyn's School theatre space from 22-24th... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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