Sally Gardner

Sally Gardner is a British children's literature writer and illustrator. She won both the Costa Book Award for Children's Book and the Carnegie Medal for Maggot Moon (Hot Key Books, 2012).

Life Sally Gardner is the daughter of two lawyers. She was raised in Birmingham; her parents separated and later divorced when she was five. Her mother, Nina Lowry, was a barrister and judge at the Old Bailey.

Gardner recalls being badly bullied in school, even being nicknamed 'Silly Sally' on account of her then undiagnosed dyslexia. She was formally diagnosed with severe dyslexia at 12

Gardner was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2025.

Writer Her first book as a writer was published by Orion Books in 1993: The Little Nut Tree, a children's picture book that she also illustrated. Her first full-length novel

The Double Shadow is historical fantasy that opens in 1937 Britain. Tinder (2013) is a historical novel set during the Thirty Years' War. Kirkus says the unnamed "Motherland's distinguishing features scream "Nazi Germany"" and suggests that we "call it Auschwitz lite". Its reviewer judged that the book must fail between younger and older readers: on the one hand, "short chapters and simple vocabulary and syntax ... oversimplified characters, a feeble setting and inauthentic science"; on the other hand, brutal content. Three months later it was recommended for ages 11+ by the panel of British librarians that named it to the Carnegie Medal shortlist with the comment: "A stunning book with an underdog hero, Maggot Moon offers a powerful depiction of an utterly convincing and frightening dystopia. With clever plotting, conspiracy theory and a truly original concept at the heart of it, this is a real tour de force without a hint of sentimentality."

In 2016 she wrote her first adult novel, entitled An Almond for a Parrot, which The Guardian called 'an irresistible erotic fairytale'.

The Magical Children series, originally published by Dolphin Paperbacks, comprises "stories about ordinary children who suddenly develop magical powers".

As writer only I, Coriander (2005) Lucy Willow (2006) The Red Necklace: A Story of the French Revolution (2007) The Silver Blade (2008) (sequel to The Red Necklace) The Double Shadow (2011) Maggot Moon (2012), illus. Julian Crouch Tinder (2013), illus. David Roberts The Door That Led to Where (2015) My Side of the Diamond (2017), illus. Nat Barlex The Snow Song (2020)

Wings & Co: The Fairy Detective Agency illustrated by David Roberts and published by Orion Operation Bunny (2012) Three Pickled Herrings (2012) The Vanishing of Billy Buckle (2013) The Matchbox Mysteries (2014) The Flying Carpet Thief (2017) Murder of Mrs Mop (forthcoming)

As illustrator only Robert and the Giant (Hamish Hamilton, 1990), by Marjorie Newman Suzi, Sam, George & Alice (1993), Beverley Birch Playtime Rhymes (1995) Gynormous!: The Ultimate Book of Giants (1996), Adrian Mitchell Hello? Is Anybody There? (1997), Jostein Gaarder, 144 pp. – orig. Hallo? Er det noen her? , 1996 The Real Fairy Storybook (1998), Georgie Adams Polly's Running Away Book (2000), Frances Thomas Polly's Absolutely Worst Birthday Ever (2001), Thomas Polly's Really Secret Diary (2002), Thomas

Adult novels under pseudonym of Wray Delaney An Almond for a Parrot (2016) The Beauty of the Wolf (2019)

Awards and nominations 2003 The Countess's Calamity, Nestlé Children's Book Prize bronze runner-up and Kids' Club Award winner, ages 6–8 years 2007 I, Coriander, shortlisted for the Stockton Children's Book of the Year 2012 Maggot Moon, Costa Book Awards, Children's Book