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Berlie Doherty
Berlie Doherty has loved stories for as long as she can
remember. Her father used to read to her at bedtime and when he
died she discovered that he had always wanted to be a writer
himself. Perhaps that was why he was always very encouraging of
Berlie's writing. As a child, Berlie always took a notebook around
with her so that she could jot down interesting things about
people, such as what somebody looked like or the snippets of
conversations she overheard.
Berlie was an avid reader as a child. She loved Little
Women, Heidi, the What Katy Did stories and Dickens - any story
where the characters were more important than the plot.
As part of Berlie's teacher training course she had to
write a short story that was later broadcast on Radio Sheffield.
Radio Sheffield then commissioned Berlie to write for a schools
series and after that she never stopped writing. She worked as a
teacher before becoming a full-time writer in 1983.
Berlie has written more than 35 books for children and
has won the prestigious Carnegie Medal twice. She loves working in
collaboration with children and two of her books, How Green You Are
and Spellhorn, were written with the help of children.
Berlie lives in Edale in Derbyshire and she draws a
lot of her inspiration from the beautiful countryside.
Bella's Den
Bella's greatest pleasure - and her most precious secret - is watching the foxes glide by in the moonlight as they set out on their night prowls. She'd never harm the foxes and she knows how important it is to keep their whereabouts secret. But Bella's secret is betrayed and the special magic of her place is spoilt forever. (8+)
Published by Egmont Books Limited
Granny was a Buffer Girl
Jess has never taken much interest in her family before, but then she and Granny Dorothy begin to share secrets. Jess finds out about her grandparents, their lives and especially about granny's work as a buffer girl in one of the cutlery shops in Sheffield. This warm family story about loves and losses shows how things have both changed and remained the same over generations. (12+)
Published by Egmont Books Limited
The Snake-Stone
James is happy with life with his adoptive parents and especially with his great success as a diving champion. But then he starts thinking about his birth mother. He realizes that if he wants to forge a future he must begin to understand his past. To find out who he really is, James travels to his true home and arrives at some important and satisfying answers. (12+)
Published by Collins
Spellhorn
Swept away from her own world on the back of a unicorn, Laura is chosen as the leader of Sloe, Fastfoot, Woodfetch, Flight and Sideman - the Wild Ones whom she must lead to safety. Together they must reach the shelter of the Bright Wilderness. But does Laura want to leave everything she knows behind? (9+)
Published by Collins
Street Child
Set against the grim background of poverty in the nineteenth century, Street Child is the brave and tragic story of how Jim struggles to survive on his own after his mother's death. Left in the Workhouse, he knows he must escape. But London is a dangerous - and frightening - place. Can Jim manage alone? Rescue comes at last when he finds the Ragged School and the wonderful Dr Barnardo. (10+)
Published by Collins
Our Field
Sandy rescues a dog from drowning but dogs are expensive - they need feeding and a licence. Will Mother let the children keep him? Mother is sympathetic but the money is tight. Happy playing in their enchanted new field, the children forget about raising the money. Can they do it? Only a fairy godmother can help and, at the very last moment, one turns up. (7+)
Published by Picture Collins
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[ Windows Media Clip 1- The Snake-Stone ]
[ Windows Media Clip 2- Writing for teenagers is terrifically exciting ]
[ Windows Media Clip 3- I was always a child who wanted to be on her own ]
[ Windows Media Clip 4- My favourite book as a child ]
